Amazon tax to save high streets: MSP
Online retailers should face an “Amazon tax” to help struggling high street stores compete more fairly, a Tory MSP has suggested.
The growing dominance of shopping through websites has left many traditional retailers struggling, and the issue has been ignited by the £4.6m tax bill paid by Amazon last week – down from £7.4m last year.
Murdo Fraser, Scottish Conservative finance spokesman, said: “The last few days have once again exposed how the playing field is unfairly tipped against the high street and in favour of online retailers.
“We need to back the high street, or we face the prospect of towns and cities across Scotland disfigured by boarded-up shop fronts.
“One option would be for the chancellor to introduce a new Uk-wide ‘Amazon tax’ on online goods.
“It would boost income for public services and reduce the unfair competition between online retailers and the high street.”
But Andy Mulcahy, of the Interactive Media in Retail Group, the UK’S online retail association, said punishing consumers was not the answer.
He said: “Politicians need to realise the downturn on the high street is primarily being driven by social and technological change.
“Using tax in isolation is not going to bring shoppers back to the high street in their droves unless it makes online unviable for businesses in the process.”