Anger over Cadbury corporation tax avoidance Published duration 7 December 2015

image copyright AP image caption The Cadbury factory in Bournville opened in 1879

The union representing workers at Cadbury's chocolate factory has reacted with anger to news its parent company has not paid UK corporation tax.

The Sunday Times reported Mondelez International "lawfully avoided tens of millions of pounds" of tax since its takeover of Cadbury five years ago.

In 2014 it made a profit of £149m.

Unite union regional officer Joe Clarke said: "Nifty footwork by clever accountants meant that the Treasury was denied millions of pounds in corporation tax that could have been spent on the NHS and other much-needed public services.

"Once again, [chancellor] George Osborne is turning a blind eye to the accounting machinations of big powerful multi-nationals, but turning the screw on those struggling financially.

"While the exchequer is denied its due from Mondelez, shareholders are feasting on dividend payments of £1.3bn."

image copyright Getty Images image caption Mondelez (then named Kraft) took over Cadbury in 2010

History of Cadbury

1824: John Cadbury's shop opens in Bull Street, Birmingham

1879: The factory, later named Bournville, opens four miles outside the city centre

1905: Dairy Milk is launched

1930: Cadbury becomes the 24th largest manufacturing firm in Britain

1969: The firm merges with Schweppes

2010: A hostile takeover from Kraft is accepted by shareholders

2012: Kraft Foods is renamed Mondelez International

Attempts by Cadbury to fend off a hostile takeover from Mondelez International (then called Kraft) failed in 2010 when the US company increased its offer to £11.5bn.

image copyright Getty Images image caption Some Fruit and Nut fans were annoyed when Cadbury added sultanas - which are cheaper than raisins - to the 90-year-old recipe

In response to criticism over its tax activities, Mondelez International said: "We comply with UK tax law and, as with all global businesses, pay tax based on the laws of the country we operate in.

"We have invested over £200m into the future of our UK business over the past five years and we contribute £1.06bn to the UK economy."

Labour's Margaret Hodge, who chairs the Commons all-party group on responsible tax, told the Sunday Times the Quakers who founded Cadbury in Birmingham in 1824 would be "turning in their graves".