This is interesting - the UN now getting involved in Western Governments tax policies!
UK tax rises breach human rights rules
The United Nations has recommended the UK takes a socially responsible approach to its tax policies after finding the government’s austerity measures to be in breach of international human rights.
According to the Centre for Welfare reform, the UN reviewed the impact caused by the UK’s austerity policy in social equality. The UN "expressed concern" over the VAT increases and reductions in inheritance and corporation tax. To remedy this, the UN recommends the UK adopt a “socially equitable” tax policy and enforce strict measures to tackle tax abuse, in particular by corporations and high-net-worth individuals.
Outside of tax, the UN urged the UK to tackle the growing reliance on food banks, homelessness, lack of social housing, and slammed the national living wage as being insufficient. Reacting to the UN’s review, Chair of Just Fair Jamie Burton said: “[The UN] considered extensive evidence and gave the Government every opportunity to show why its tax and policy reforms were necessary and fair.
“In many important respects the Government proved unable to do this. It is clear that since 2010, ministers were fully aware that their policies would hit lower income groups hardest and deepen the suffering of many already facing disadvantage without offering any long term gain for the pain they inflicted.”
Source: http://www.accountingweb.co.uk/tax/hmrc-policy/9am-lowdown-uk-tax-rises-breach-human-rights-rules