HMRC's former boss honoured ... for services to tax avoidance

Disguised in tuxedos as sharp as they come, a well-spoken band of undercover protesters known as The Intruders are planning to disrupt high-class gala events across the City – after gatecrashing a dinner to present an award for services to "corporate tax avoidance" to the UK's former top taxman.

 
In the opening move of what could become a new direct action anti-corporate campaign, eight protesters, including two former Oxford students, snuck inside a lavish dinner at a corporate tax planning conference, where the former HMRC boss Dave Hartnett was giving a speech.

After presenting Mr Hartnett with a spoof "Golden Handshake" gong, the group were ejected by a dinner guest who called them "trespassing scum". 

A video of their exploits went viral yesterday on YouTube. Under Mr Hartnett's watch, HMRC was accused of agreeing "sweetheart deals" with major corporations such as Goldman Sachs and Vodafone.

A Public Accounts Committee report criticised Mr Hartnett for being "too cosy" with big business. He was accused of signing off on a deal that saved Goldman Sachs £20m in tax payments and another which cut Vodafone's tax bill from £8bn to £1.25bn.