Op-Ed: The boss of Boots the Chemist in the UK had decided to publicly campaign for the British Tory Party. He did this at the weekend when he voiced his concerns for the British economy if the electorate sees sense and opts to return a Labour government in May 2015, which he views as a "catastrophe", but were his motives purely mercenary and personal? Boots has grown since its days as a small pharmacy chain of stores. Their larger stores often sell a range of goods and cover a few floors; music, cameras, optician and photography services while you get your prescription dispensed. But it is not all good news for the consumer. Boots does operate a rewards scheme that allows you to build up points which are redeemed against goods but you have to spend a great deal of money along the way. As many of Boots products are way over-priced in the end you are rewarded with little if anything. But one big winner is tax exile Stefano Pessina who is the acting chief executive of Boots. He told Tory publication the Telegraph that Ed Miliband would be a 'catastrophe' for Britain but many hard-pressed British people who actually live in the UK will disagree; they will view the Tory led coalition currently running the country as a disaster. But Labour always knew the Tory big guns, those who profit from a Conservative government, would try every trick in the book to get the election result they want. Perhaps as Greece takes a huge step to the left, with Spain looking likely to follow suit, Pessina is running scared. Pessina thinks a Labour government would be a big blow for business in the UK but with Tesco and Morrisons already in trouble and shedding jobs he is off the mark. The billionaire boss of Boots lives in Monte Carlo, with a fortune estimated at £7.5bn. "Boots was targeted by tax campaigners when it moved its formal tax residence from Britain to Switzerland following Pessina’s private equity-backed buyout in 2007. Last year when Pessina merged Boots with US group Walgreens, there were plans to move the headquarters from the US to Switzerland for tax reasons, although the idea had to be abandoned in the face of a US political row and a potential customer backlash" reports the Guardian. Labour's Chuka Umunna, the shadow business secretary, was quick to retaliate saying the electorate was unlikely to "listen to someone who does not live or pay tax in the UK." Telegraph readers may view him differently but not if they bother to uncover the whole picture. Miliband is accused of being anti-business but why would British people re-elect David Cameron is obviously anti-British people? There is already a campaign to boycott Boots in the UK. Boots is not a good employer although it may have been years ago. It offers some workers controversial zero hours contracts which could involve working abroad with little choice. If you refuse The Tory government has stitched up any chances you had of benefits until you find a proper job. Big Business and this government walk hand in hand. Paying the minimum wage Boots frowns on a Labour government who may increase that to a living wage. For this writer Boots is way overpriced and in reality that is the truth for all of the British electorate when all they do is take their profits elsewhere.
4 Comments
Hannah
2/2/2015 05:06:14 am
Yes, he would belittle Labour. He nothing but benefit from his friends and they from him but the public gets kicked about. It is a brilliantly written including many good points and information. High time people's eyes are opened to what goes on. Thank you Eileen.
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eileen
2/2/2015 08:06:10 am
Thanks Hannah - as always you are too generous.
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Hannah
2/3/2015 01:34:24 am
He names Labour as a "catastrophe"? What does he call the Tories then, if he is truthful? At the moment there i widespread starvation which made the food banks spreading like mushrooms to prevent death. People living in caves which had never been seen or heard of since Victorian times. Why does he not come back and looks around in the Midlands and North and sees what his glorious friends done to this country?
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eileen
2/3/2015 04:31:03 am
What he means Hannah is a catastrophe for he and other fat cats. They like austerity measures and tax breaks. The USA would not allow him to screw their system in the same way but we mugs here do.
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