John McDonnell MP, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, speaking after Treasury Questions, where he called on the government to support Labour’s calls to bring forward legislation requiring any political party to return money found to have been donated by from money launderers and tax evaders, said:

“Today the Government further confirmed that it doesn’t take clamping down on tax avoidance seriously.

“The Tories could have shown they were prepared to change by simply agreeing to make it illegal for any political party to accept donations from money launderers and tax dodgers, and force them to return the money. But they refused.

“The next Labour Government will implement thorough measures to crack down on tax dodging under our Tax Transparency and Enforcement Programme. Unlike the Conservatives, we will create a country and an economy that works for the many, not the few.”