Saturday, June 4, 2011 11:33am ET by  
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U2 to face Glasto protests

Irish group U2 may face protests during their upcoming headline slot at UK festival Glastonbury after activists have taken affront to the group’s alleged tax avoidance.

Campaign group Art Uncut have announced plans to demonstrate during the band’s set in protest of the group’s decision to move a part of its business to the Netherlands in 2006 after the Irish government capped tax breaks for artists.

A spokesman for the group said to The Guardian: "Bono claims to care about the developing world, but U2 greedily indulges in the very kind of tax avoidance which is crippling the poor nations of this world. We will be showing the very real impact of U2's tax avoidance on hospitals and schools in Ireland. Anyone watching (the Glastonbury protest) will be very much aware that Bono needs to pay up."

However, Bono’s anti-poverty group One, denies the allegations, saying: "U2's business arrangements have nothing to do with illegal tax evasion and transfer mispricing in developing countries, critical issues which Bono and One campaign on."

Check out U2’s The Edge announcing the band’s headlining slot here: