This is my first time at Davos, and I find it quite a bewildering experience to be honest.

I mean 15,000 private jets have flown in here to hear Sir David Attenborough speak about, you know, how we're wrecking the planet.

And, I mean, I hear people talking the language or participation and justice and equality and transparency, but then, I mean, almost no one raises the real issue of tax avoidance right?

And of the rich just not paying their fair share. I mean, it feels like I'm at a firefighters conference and no one's allowed to speak about water, right?

There was only one panel hidden away in the media centre that was actually about tax avoidance. I was one of the 15 participants. Something needs to change here.

I mean, 10 years ago, the World Economic Forum asked the question, what must industry do to prevent a broad social backlash?

The answer is actually very simple: just stop talking about philanthropy, and start talking about taxes, taxes, taxes.

We need - just two days ago there was a billionaire in here, what's his name? Michael Dell. And he asked a question like, name me one country where a top marginal tax rate of 70 per cent has actually worked?

And, you know, I'm a historian - the United States, that's where it has actually worked, in the 1950s during Republican President Eisenhower, you know, the war veteran.

The top marginal tax rate in the US was 91 per cent for people like Michael Dell. You know the top estate tax for people like Michael Dell was more than 70 per cent.

I mean, this is not rocket science. I mean, we can talk for a very long time about all these stupid philanthropy schemes. We can invite Bono once more.

But, come on, we've got to be talking about taxes. That's it. Taxes, taxes, taxes. All the rest bulls**t in my opinion.