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Theresa May’s election strategist trousered a six-figure payout from a mysterious firm in a tax haven.

Sir Lynton Crosby’s ­windfall came despite a PM vow to hit duty dodgers.

Lib Dem John Pugh said: “This is Tory hypocrisy of the highest order.

"The Chancellor claims he wants companies to pay their fair share internationally, yet the man driving this cold, mean-spirited Tory election campaign that will benefit only the very richest turns out to have received money from a company registered in a tax haven.

“He should not be involved in the Tory election campaign.”

(Image: TA)

Aussie Sir Lynton, who devised the Tory “strong and stable” mantra, is a shareholder and former director of now defunct Rutland Holdings Limited based in Malta, according to corporate data specialists Bureau van Dijk, where foreign companies pay as little as 5% in corporation tax.

Latest accounts show it paid out £826,000 in dividends in 2015, when he was working in the UK to help David Cameron win the election.

Sir Lynton, known for his attack dog style of PR campaiging, was due to receive £150,000 of it.

As he is a non-dom for tax purposes here, he would not need to cough up UK duty on it, so long as it does not comeinto Britain. He insisted the firm was not set up to avoid tax but refused to reveal what it does.

(Image: i-Images Picture Agency)

One of his business partners in Rutland is anonymous, hidden behind a Maltese trust. There is no suggestion he has done anything illegal.

But his use of a tax haven will be a major embarrassment to Mrs May, who has repeatedly declared she would tackle rich firms and individuals trying to duck duties.

Chancellor Philip Hammond vowed to make them “pay their fair share”.

We confronted Sir Lynton about his mystery firm but he refused to comment.

(Image: PA)

A spokesman said later: “Rutland never did any business in the UK or Europe, nor did it receive fees from any company, body, entity or individual in those countries.

“Lynton Crosby complies with his full tax obligations, including paying tax in the UK, on his UK earnings.”

The Mirror revealed Sir Lynton’s links to Rutland four years ago.

Power instead of principles, says Jason Beattie, Head of Politics at the Daily Mirror

If you are angry at Lynton Crosby using a tax haven, you are not alone.

In her conference speech last year, Theresa May hit out at international firms that “treat tax laws as an optional extra”.

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It was essential, she said, that business showed “everyone is playing by the same rules”. With a glower for the cameras, she concluded: “I’m putting you on warning. This can’t go on any more.”

(Image: Andrew Parsons)

Except it is still going on — and with the approval of the Prime Minister.

She has hired Lynton Crosby’s firm to run her election campaign even though it practises the opposite of what she preaches. Mrs May said a citizen of the world is a citizen of nowhere.

A perfect example is Crosby, an Australian who runs consultancies on three continents and uses tax havens, legally, to bank profits.

If you want to know why this is deemed unpalatable again, turn to Mrs May.

The “spirit of citizenship” is broken when people who make money in this country fail to pay their fair share of tax.

She should review the Tory contract with Crosby. Or does she care more about