What a gift Shell has given to Keir Starmer (Calls for bigger windfall tax after Shell makes ‘obscene’ $40bn profit, 2 February), one that could lead him into No 10 and the Labour party into government. But only if he grasps the nettle immediately, is bold and decisive, and discards his normal cautious, conservative and “sit on the fence” approach to controversial events.
Shell’s excess/windfall profits, if taxed in the interests of the majority, would fund pay increases for teachers, nurses, care workers and other deserving employees and show their paltry pay offers to be truly disgraceful by comparison. The company’s profits have been achieved not by increased productivity and efficiency but by the vagaries of an unregulated global energy sector, of which Shell and others have taken advantage. Starmer must take on the company, the energy sector and the government now, with the full force that his status as leader of the opposition allows.
Such an initiative would garner massive public support and show an exciting side to Starmer, for which we have all been waiting. The country needs you to rise to the occasion, Keir Starmer: what’s stopping you?
Michael Freedman
London
• Shell’s global profits are reported to be $40bn (£32bn) and its British windfall taxes $134m for 2022. The scale of this “obscenity” is totally obscured by the seemingly trivial difference between “bn” and “m”. The reality is that Shell paid 0.335% of its profits to the British exchequer. I am happy, so to speak, paying my taxes; but I would be even happier if we really were all in it together.
Fr Alec Mitchell
Holyhead, Anglesey
