Boris Johnson: 'Don't sneer at Starbucks'

London Mayor Boris Johnson has urged people not to "sneer" at the coffee chain Starbucks over its decision to pay £20m in corporation tax.

The company, which has come under considerable criticism for paying nothing over the past three years, announced the move earlier this month.

But Mr Johnson told The Andrew Marr Show, Starbucks was showing "corporate responsibility" and the issue was "difficult".

The company has paid £8.6m in corporation tax in its 14 years of trading in the UK and nothing in the last three years, despite UK sales of nearly £400m in 2011.