The UK Government has given the Christmas truce single a boost, announcing that Value Added Tax (VAT) will be waived on the charity tribute to the ceasefires of 1914.
All Together Now, released as a new track by music stars who’ve united as ‘The Peace Collective,’ is aiming to be the Christmas Number One.
Proceeds will go to the British Red Cross and the Shorncliffe Trust, a charity campaigning to build a national education centre and heritage park on the site of a major First World War military training camp near the English Channel port of Folkestone.
Chancellor George Osborne, the minister in charge of the UK government’s finances, announced his decision to waive all VAT on sales of the single on December 19th 2014.
Mr Osborne said: “I want as much money as possible that is made from this single to go towards supporting our brave armed forces – that is why I am giving back the tax paid on sales.
“It’s only right that we use the centenary of the Christmas Truce of 1914 to commemorate our soldiers who fought for this country in the First World War, and to support our brave forces who are still fighting to defend Britain.”
Bank fines
The move, described by the Government as the latest step in its Centenary commemorations, will be funded by misconduct fines imposed on the banks.
‘All Together Now,’ originally written in 1990 by The Farm vocalist Peter Hooton as a tribute to the soldiers who took part in the Christmas truce, was re-recorded by ‘The Peace Collective’ and released on December 15th.
The line-up includes Mick Jones of The Clash, Leo Sayer, Suzi Quatro, Shara Nelson from Massive Attack, and the Proclaimers.
Britain’s Treasury has already waived VAT on the ceramic poppies, sold in aid of service charities, which drew huge crowds to the Tower of London from August-November 2014.
Bank fines are also being used to fund a UK memorial tour of the main poppy installations which will run until the centenary of the Armistice in 2018.
VAT won’t be raised on this year’s Band Aid Ebola single, and previous waivers include the Military Wives Choir 2011 Christmas Number One, ‘Wherever You Are.’
To discover more about the Christmas truce single, ‘All Together Now,’ click here.
Source: UK Treasury
Images: Peter Alhadeff, Centenary News
Posted by: Peter Alhadeff, Centenary News