The Conservatives are stonewalling any meaningful action to tackle tax avoidance – Peter Dowd

Peter Dowd MP, Labour’s Shadow Chief
Secretary to the Treasury responding to the publishing of the EU Parliament’s
report on Money Laundering, Tax Avoidance and Tax Evasion and ahead of Labour’s
attempt to block the Government’s plans to protect offshore trusts from UK tax,
said:

“The report from the EU Parliament
reinforces once again the Conservative Government’s stonewalling of any
meaningful action to tackle tax avoidance and offshore trusts.

“The report’s publication comes on the
same day that the Conservative Government is trying to peddle a Finance Bill
which is a charter for tax dodgers exempting their offshore trusts from UK tax.

“Labour has consistently demanded that
the Government introduce a register for offshore trusts but we have found our
attempts to amend the Finance Bill frustrated by a Government using arcane
procedural tricks.

“Labour’s Tax Transparency and
Enforcement Programme will make Britain a leader in tackling global tax
avoidance and ensuring that wealthy individuals and companies pay their fair
share.”