Campaign Info

 View The Following Campaign Issues

 Thalidomide Morale Obligations

 Tax & Compensation Info

 Thalidomide UK Campaign Record

(the following information is based on facts)

Saturday 23rd October 1993

Freddie Astbury Founded Thalidomide Action Group UK (Thalidomide UK)

(supported by fellow thalidomiders Kevin Donnellon & Gary Skyner)

 Friday 24th December 1993

Freddie Astbury Starts Hunger Strike on Christmas Eve

Campaign Issue Diageo: Trust Was Running Out of Money

Thursday 4th May 1995

Diageo Donates £2.5M for the next fifteen years 1995 to 2009

 ……………………………………………………………

Wednesday 23rd August 1995

Thalidomide UK Launch Campaign Against the Government

Campaign Issue Government: Tax Exemption of The Thalidomide Trust

Wednesday 5th June 1996

Government Donates Announces It’s to £7M one of payment

(no clear reason was given by the government for donation)

……………………………………………………………

Thursday 29th February 2000

Thalidomide UK Launch Boycott against Diageo/Guinness

(Support by Celebrities Westlife, Ronan Keating and Michael Owen)

(Robbie Fowler & Prince Naseem)

Monday 10th April 2000

Thalidomide UK Launch Scottish Boycott

(Support by Footballer Paul Gascoigne)

(Scottish Members of Parliament All Parties)

Campaign Issue Diageo: Thalidomide Victim Health Deterate

Thursday 1st June 2000

Diageo PLC agrees to extend the company’s payments to the Trust of £2.5 million per year beyond 2009, up to the year 2022. Diageo also agreed to index link this payment from April 2000 in line with the annual increase in the UK Retail Price Index.

……………………………………………………………

Tuesday 7th October 2003

Press Conference: Thalidomiders - Unfair Tax

Freddie Astbury (Thalidomide UK) & Michael Howard (Conservative Leader)

Dr Martin Johnson (Director The Thalidomide Trust) and other Beneficiaries attended

Campaign Issue (Re-launch): Tax Exemption for Beneficiaries of The Thalidomide Trust

Two of our fellow thalidomiders Nicholas Dobrik & Guy Tweedy help lead the campaign in parliament by writing over 3,500 letters to Lords, MPs, and beneficiaries.

Thursday 15th July 2004

Government gives Tax Exemption to Beneficiaries of The Thalidomide Trust.

Thalidomide UK Existing Campaigns

Unfair Tax

Thalidomide people are taxed at 34% on income payments they receive from their trust fund (The Thalidomide Trust), however a certain percentage can be claimed back. However items relating to their disabilities i.e. adaptation are tax exempted. Thalidomide people campaigns for total tax exemption.