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Billy Bragg in tax protest over RBS bonuses |
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Billy Bragg: "We have to worry about the moneypit that is RBS" The singer and activist Billy Bragg has threatened not to pay his taxes in protest against the bonuses being paid out by Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS). He is calling on the government to intervene and limit the proposed £1.5bn that the bank, which is 84%-owned by the taxpayer, wants to pay in bonuses. Mr Bragg said he felt frustrated and powerless to stop the bonus culture. He has set up a protest page on social networking website Facebook, which has been signed by 5,000 people. Conflict of interest "We have a short window of opportunity between now and 31 January, but the two main political parties don't seem to be interested," Mr Bragg told the BBC. "This is a frustration borne out of a sense of powerlessness in the face of the bonus culture. I don't know what else to do," he said. Large bonuses have caused outrage across the world, but particularly when paid out by banks that have been bailed out by taxpayers. The banks argue that they have to pay out large bonuses to keep the best staff who can best generate large profits to repay the taxpayer. Paying bonuses, they say, is, therefore, in the best interests of taxpayers. Last week, RBS chief executive Stephen Hester defended his bank's policy on bonuses, saying that he earned the "going rate" for his job. |
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Upcoming Tours
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12/02/2011 |
National Coastwatch Institution, Fundraiser Event - Bridport, England, DT6 4PT |
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18/02/2011 |
NEW RESCHEDULED DATE UK Tour - Glasgow - Glasgow, Scotland, G2 8DL |
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23/02/2011 |
Nashville Songwriters Festival - Solo Concert - Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT7 1JQ |
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24/02/2011 |
Nashville Songwriters Festival - In the Round Concert - Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT7 1JQ |
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24/02/2011 |
Nashville Songwriters Festival - Workshop - Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT7 1JQ |
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12/03/2011 |
HOPE NOT HATE - Manchester Academy 2 - Manchester, England, M13 9PR |
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24/03/2011 |
Stone Mountain Arts Center - Brownfield, United States of America, ME 04010 |
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25/03/2011 |
The Music Hall - Portsmouth, United States of America, NH 3801 |
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26/03/2011 |
Flynn Center - Burlington, United States of America, VT 05401 |
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27/03/2011 |
Music Hall - Tarrytown, United States of America, NY 10591 |
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29/03/2011 |
City Winery - At Home In the City - New York, United States of America, NY 10013 |
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30/03/2011 |
City Winery - At Home In the City - New York, United States of America, NY 10013 |
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31/03/2011 |
City Winery - At Home In the City - New York, United States of America, NY 10013 |
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02/04/2011 |
Zeiterion Performing Arts Center - New Bedford, United States of America, MA 02741 |
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11/05/2011 |
Italy Tour - Circolo degli Artisti - 42 00182 Rome, Italy, Italy 06 7 |
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12/05/2011 |
Italy Tour - sPAZIO211 - 211 10155 Turin, Italy, Italy 011 |
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13/05/2011 |
Italy Tour - Bronson - Madonna Dell`Albero Ravenna, Italy, 48100 Rave |
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14/05/2011 |
Italy Tour - Teatro delle Muse - 60122 Ancona, Italy, 071 54390 |
Welcome to the official Billy Bragg site
The internet offers huge potential for artists who want to make music on their own terms. As the old business model crumbles to dust, artists have much to gain from entering into dialogue with their fans, not least from encouraging them to buy their music directly from the farm gate, secure in the knowledge that the money they spend will support the artist in their work.
I want this website to be my main source of communication with the world: songs I record, articles that I write, clips I film on my phone, merchandising I produce, blogs, comments, posts, all will be available here.
It's time to start our own revolution and cut out the middleman....
www.billybragg.co.uk/
