Amazon donated £ 1 billion in public money to the government as an “insult to hard-working Britons”

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The US-based online giant has raked in the huge sum over six years by providing “cloud†computing services, including data storage and email systems, to almost all government agencies and local councils

Amazon has been handed around £ 1 billion in British public cash – despite allegations of not paying enough taxes here.

The US online giant, owned by Jeff Bezos, has raked in the huge sum over six years by providing “cloud” computing services, including data storage and email systems, to almost all government departments and local councils.

Labor Deputy Leader Angela Rayner said, “That stinks. It’s the latest insult to hard-working Brits who pay their taxes. “

Amazon Web Services customers include the Home Office (£ 236 million), HMRC (£ 163 million), Dept for Work and Pensions (£ 64 million) and Justice Department (£ 46 million), and Northern England Councils (£ 400 million) ). ).

This week it reported it paid £ 492 million in taxes last year – despite the UK’s revenue climbing to £ 20.6 billion during the pandemic.

The Cabinet Office said, “Amazon Web Services is just one of thousands of government cloud service providers.”

Amazon said contracts may be worth the amount listed, but not always that amount – and all public sector contracts are run through AWS UK so reasonable taxes are paid.

It added to its status as a public supplier, “is a privilege to be continually earned” through quality and value.