A Searchmetrics.com report has shown that online retailer Amazon is the clear leader of paid search advertising on Google, the UK's leading search engine.

Described by deputy prime minister Nick Clegg as a model of "responsible capitalism", John Lewis' shifting focus towards online sales has seen 325 staff in varying managerial positions made redundant.

John Lewis managing director Andy Street is the first of British retailers to urge the government to investigate the problem of American multi-nationals paying such small amounts of tax to the U.K Treasury.