TAX JUSTICE UK - SPREADING THE WORD - EXPOSING THE ROLE OF RUSSIAN MONEY IN LONDON FINANCE AND THE TORY PARTY

 As I get updates that shape my own understanding so I share with you. Here's the latest newsletter from Tax Justice UK, with thanks to Talk-Business for the photo image that I have added: 

The City of London - a world financial centre, home for the laundering of Russian oligarchs' money. 

 

Dear Rob, The long time tax justice campaigner Prem Sikka has frequently pointed the finger at what he calls the “pinstripe mafia”. This is the army of professionals who enable the flow of dirty money through London. Accountants, lawyers, bankers and PR agents have helped corrupt officials, tax dodgers and other criminals. In parliament this week the Conservative MP Bob Seely expressed his frustration at lawyers working for Russian clients to intimidate the media. The war in Ukraine has yet again highlighted the role of London as the dirty money capital of the world. The government has scrambled to respond. On Monday, the Prime Minister introduced a long promised Economic Crime Bill. This includes many measures that we’ve campaigned for, including more transparency over offshore owners of UK property. This will be a real step forward. It’s been known for years that the UK has been a favourite destination for ill gotten gains. It’s taken an international crisis in Ukraine to make the government act. We have been working alongside other campaigners to push the government to act. This could be the best chance in a generation to seal up the loopholes that allow London to be home to so much dirty money. The public clearly cares, with over 117,000 signing our petition for action. New laws are good but we also need a change in culture. Professionals should think really hard about the role that they play as gatekeepers against bad behaviour. The government also needs to invest much more in enforcing existing laws. Our friends at Spotlight on Corruption have set out what this should look like. You can share this analysis with your friends and networks using this link. I've also done a thread on twitter here. Finally I also want to add a personal note of thought if you or your family have been affected by the conflict in Ukraine. Let's hope the coming days bring swift action to de-escalate, end the fighting and restore a free Ukraine. Thanks as always for your support, Robert Robert Palmer, Executive Director Ps please consider helping our work go further by supporting our work with a monthly donation of £10, or whatever you can afford.