Sitting Target Poem by NAYYAR SHABBIR AHMAD

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I'm no rich Banker

I can't threaten to leave the Country

Unless I'm paid a large sum of money



I'm no ‘Non-dom', either

I can't evade UK's punishing tax system

And, I'm certainly not any part of Middle England

I can ferret away precisely NOTHING


Then again, I'm not a big Company like GE

who can afford to pay wily accountants

Or influential Amazon and Google who are able

to store their dosh in off-skore Islands


All I am is a poor UK Citizen

Without any means of jetting out of the Country

Each time the heat is turned on me



Successive UK Governments are petrified of

increasing the taxes of the rich

just in case, they leave these shores

in order to thrive in lucrative regions

far away from their Nation's jurisdiction



Since you can't get hold of the big fish

Try the small fry

We're exactly where you'd expect us to be



You can - and, do - take full advantage of me

You tax me to the hilt

I'm your typical Sitting target

Poor, hard working and, honest



You need people like me very badly

Fortunately, there are many of us, around



So, don't worry

All of us are Loyal

Dependable

And, very, very Taxable!