Google was branded devious, calculating and unethical as MPs stepped up pressure on the internet giant over its efforts to shelter its multi-billion profits from UK taxes. At a stormy session of the Commons public accounts committee (PAC), members reacted with incredulity to claims that the company – which paid just £6m in corporation tax in 2011 – did not carry out advertising sales in the UK, despite generating more than £3bn a year in revenues. Vice-president Matt Brittin, Google's head of operations in northern Europe, insisted that he stood by evidence he gave last year that all the company's European sales were routed through its operation in Ireland and so were not liable to UK taxes. But he was told by the committee chairman, Margaret Hodge: "You are a company that says you do no evil and I think that you do do evil in that you use smoke and mirrors to avoid paying tax." [refers to Amazon, Starbucks]