One would have thought that any UK government, anxious to increase revenue, would refuse contracts to those companies which had their "operations based in tax havens" (Majority of firms with state contracts "not paying fair tax", 20.10.19). Sadly this is clearly not the case, and the researcher at the thinktank Demos makes a valid point when saying that public procurement is "pretty much the best opportunity the government has to demonstrate what a good British business looks like".
Perhaps, however, an even better opportunity might arise if Roosevelt`s 1930s policy was adopted, and amended so that not only the government but the whole of the British public would know where to do their "shopping". FDR instigated the Blue Eagle awards, for companies which were seen to be acting in the best interest of America, not just their shareholders, and which could then be used in stores and in advertising.
A similar scheme in this country could be devised for companies which put the following policies into practice: paying their taxes in full, adopting sensible pay ratios to end short-termism and outrageous bonus schemes, and to ensure all workers received at least the living wage, using zero-hours contracts only when advantageous to employees, introducing co-determination with workers` representatives on company boards, and having functional apprenticeship schemes. Government could of course also include criteria relating to their green targets.
Demos said there was "a need for new measures", including "minimum standards for public procurement", but why not apply those standards to all of our companies, and award accordingly?
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