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Topshop's flagship London store hit by tax protest | |
(40 minutes later) | |
Campaigners protesting against tax avoidance by big business have taken over Topshop's flagship branch and forced it to close temporarily. | |
Activists targeted the Oxford Street store in London and other UK branches, including Glasgow and Birmingham. | |
The London protest started at 1100 GMT when protesters started blowing whistles and chanting. | The London protest started at 1100 GMT when protesters started blowing whistles and chanting. |
Topshop boss Sir Philip Green has been criticised because his wife, the firm's direct owner, lives in a tax haven. | Topshop boss Sir Philip Green has been criticised because his wife, the firm's direct owner, lives in a tax haven. |
No-one from Topshop's parent company Arcadia was available for comment. | No-one from Topshop's parent company Arcadia was available for comment. |
'Direct action' | 'Direct action' |
Protest organisers UK Uncut have been providing updates on Twitter and they claim more stores have been forced to shut. | Protest organisers UK Uncut have been providing updates on Twitter and they claim more stores have been forced to shut. |
Many campaigners were forcibly removed from the Oxford Street branch by private security guards and police. | Many campaigners were forcibly removed from the Oxford Street branch by private security guards and police. |
Topshop owner Sir Philip is one of the UK's most successful retailers. | Topshop owner Sir Philip is one of the UK's most successful retailers. |
With a personal fortune of more than £4bn, he owns the Arcadia Group, whose fashion chains include Topshop, Burton, Dorothy Perkins, Evans and Miss Selfridge. | With a personal fortune of more than £4bn, he owns the Arcadia Group, whose fashion chains include Topshop, Burton, Dorothy Perkins, Evans and Miss Selfridge. |
His wife Tina is the direct owner of Arcadia, and she is officially a resident of Monaco. This enabled her to gain a tax-free £1.2bn dividend in 2005. | |