Ealing Tax Inspectors Protest Over Office Closure

More than 250 people will face redundancy or relocation

Tax inspectors joined a demo outside International House, Ealing's HMRC, on Monday in protest over its impending closure.

Ealing Tax office is one several earmarked to shut its doors with around 260 staff facing redundancy or relocation to either Stratford or Croydon.

Ealing Central and Acton MP Rupa Huq who joined the protestors said, “Speaking to these dedicated civil servants I can see the human impact of this office closure. Those who are disabled or carers who commute from all over west London and beyond will be hardest hit as well as our local economy in Ealing where staffers and have lunch breaks and spend in local shops. Cutting the jobs of experienced tax professionals from the party of tax-dodgers – you couldn’t make it up. This Tory government has seen head-teachers march on Downing Street and now by ploughing ahead they are radicalising tax inspectors in opposition to their poorly thought through plans.”

Ealing is the last tax office left in what is known as the Heathrow corridor following closures at Uxbridge, Wembley and Staines.

Union spokesperson Cathy Cross said: “We believe that the closure of this office will threaten the effective operation of HMRC in London especially with the uncertainty of Brexit in March 2019. A visible tax presence is essential to maintaining the confidence of local businesses and to tackle illegal tax activity in this crucial part of London”.

Other speakers included Lydia Ndoinjeh, chair of Ealing PCS branch who travels from West Drayton daily and Eve Turner of Ealing Trades Council who all received rapturous applause from the assembled crowd.

Ealing Council have also passed a motion fully supporting the Ealing HMRC staff fighting to save their jobs. Huq maintained to keep up the pressure in conjunction with PCS, the local authority and Ealing Trades council when Parliament resumes from its party conference season next week as the closure programme equals 7000 jobs nationwide and there is precedent for other offices being saved.

A HMRC spokesperson said, “HMRC is transforming into a smaller, more highly-skilled organisation offering modern, digital services. In November 2015, we announced a ten-year transformation programme to create a tax authority fit for the future, by creating 13 new modern regional centres serving every nation and region in the UK.

“We will continue to support people in relocating to the regional centres and in trying to find alternative solutions for those that can’t. We want to keep as many staff as possible and expect the vast majority of the current workforce will either work in a regional centre or see out their career in an HMRC office.”

3rd October (updated 8th) 2018