The highest monarch ruling individual, Queen Elizabeth II has been called out for avoidance of tax based on some off-shore account that was traced to her. Main British opposition party, Labour party revealed this information during John McDonnell’s interview with Sky News. McDonnell who happens to be the Chancellor of Labour Party called out the Queen and the Prime Minister for transparency over the allegations.
McDonnell wrote on Twitter, “In spite of government claims of cracking down on tax dodgers, #paradisepapers confirm tax avoidance is clearly continuing. The PM or the chancellor need to explain how this scandal has been allowed to go on so long and what action is to be taken now.”
Rolling on the leaked papers, A BBC programme on Sunday highlighted the investment of 10 million pounds, an equivalent of 13 million dollars into funds in the Cayman Islands and Bermuda by the queen’s Duchy of Lancaster estate.
The broadcaster demands clarity on the legality of the matter, that even though such schemes are legal, the motif was questioned about whether the monarch should be investing offshore. .
Former Conservative deputy chairman, Michael Ashcroft, widely known as Lord Ashcroft, was also identified in the papers. McDonnell added “If the identification of Lord Ashcroft, a major Tory party founder, is on the list and if the allegations of tax avoidance are true, it means that the prime minister has questions to answer.”
The Chancellor called for a public inquiry and measures to ensure openness and transparency on tax avoidance for a better review of the monarch’s position and involvement in the case as it unfolds to limelight.
