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Labour has revealed it wants a "global Hippocratic oath" for accountants - to stop them dodging tax.

Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell made the bombshell suggestion as he parked his tanks on the lawn of the World Economic Forum in Switzerland.

In a speech to global elites this morning he was due to complain they "sit in splendour" at the Davos ski resort thanks to a "rigged system" and declare: "Pay your taxes".

And he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "In Davos they’re in this sealed-off compound.

"I’m saying to them outside that compound, listen to what people are saying, what they’ve gone through."

In his speech Mr McDonnell was due to say: "The status quo allows a powerful few here in Davos to sit in splendour whilst the great many lose out.

(Image: REUTERS) (Image: AFP)

"But the status quo is not inevitable. It is the product of a rigged system, and systems can be changed.

"The alternative is a refusal to act that will allow the increasing inequality and injustice that affects the many in our world to continue, to benefit a few among the Davos elite."

The Hippocratic oath is taken by doctors to uphold ethical standards.

Mr McDonnell was due to say: "We and the public are tired of seeing increasingly complex schemes being cooked up by accountancy firms with a direct interest in obscuring and hiding the earnings of their clients.

"I am suggesting that there should be a global Hippocratic oath that commits accountants to ensuring that the companies and individuals who use them eschew the use of tax avoidance and evasion schemes."

Mr McDonnell was also using the event to restate Labour's plans for anyone earning more than £1 million, and for large firms to publish their tax returns.

He was due to say: "The next Labour government will rewrite the economic rules in the UK, and we will work with our international partners who wish to join us on this path to do the same globally.

(Image: REUTERS) (Image: Reuters) (Image: Reuters)

"Britain has been for too long one of the world's leading facilitators of tax avoidance and tax evasion. I can tell you now, those days are coming to an end."

Exchequer Secretary Robert Jenrick insisted ministers had taken action to tackle tax dodgers.

"Since 2010 we have raised an extra £160 billion in taxes for public services by tackling tax evasion and avoidance," he said.

"If John McDonnell was serious, he would back the anti-avoidance measures we are taking in the Budget that will raise an extra £4.8 billion, instead of opposing them as Labour have done so far.

"Labour admit they are 'high risk' for our economy and just like last time working people would pay the price with more debt, higher taxes and fewer jobs."