Sainsbury’s and Marks & Spencer clash over online tax plans

Sainsbury's and others call for tax on internet sales, while Marks & Spencer says that would punish' go-ahead outlets

A battle is shaping up between major retailers over whether the UK should introduce an online sales tax, with Sainsbury's demanding it to help revive struggling high streets while M&S argues it would have the opposite effect.

A day before the government's three-month consultation on changes to business taxes closes, the finance director of Sainsbury's reiterated calls for an increase in taxes on digital retailers to fund a reduction on the business rates levied on physical stores.