![](\"https:\/\/cdni.rt.com\/files\/2018.04\/thumbnail\/5adf0e22fc7e9313448b45d1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
MPs have called for an investigation into HM Revenue & Customs after it turned down a request to probe one of the Tory party\u2019s biggest donors. It comes amid claims the Tory government is \u201ccorrupt.\u201d<\/p>\n
BuzzFeed News exposed last week how HMRC refused to collaborate with French authorities as they investigated telecoms giant Lycamobile amid allegations<\/a> of money laundering and tax evasion. In its written response, HMRC pointed out Lycamobile is the \u201cbiggest corporate donor to the Conservative Party\u201d<\/em> and gives money to a trust founded by Prince Charles.<\/p>\n Head of the Treasury Committee Nicky Morgan said HMRC\u2019s response was \u201ccompletely inappropriate\u201d<\/em> and that the government tax agency would be investigated as part of the committee\u2019s economic crime review.<\/p>\n READ MORE:\u00a0Govt stopped raid on company suspected of money laundering because it is \u2018biggest Tory donor\u2019<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n The response by HMRC, which came from an official dealing with foreign requests of law enforcement, also cautioned against carrying out raids on the company headquarters in London as the telecoms giant would likely pursue a case in court in response, before adding France is yet to gather \u201csolid information\u201d<\/em> on the allegations.<\/p>\n At that point France had already arrested 19 people over their alleged use of the company\u2019s accounts to launder money from organized criminal networks in 2016.<\/p>\n QC\u00a0Jo Maugham highlighted\u00a0HMRC has a legal obligation to provide any information on Lycamobiles’ tax affairs under the\u00a0UK-France Double Tax Treaty.<\/p>\n What makes it all even more bizarre is that HMRC has an obligation under the UK-France Double Tax Treaty to provide information that is foreseeably relevant to Lycamobile’s tax affairs (see here with the OECD’s commentary on that Article). pic.twitter.com\/zzoEWk3QSc<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Jo Maugham QC (@JolyonMaugham) April 23, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n It comes after Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell claimed on ITV on Sunday that HMRC \u201cisn\u2019t independent as much as it should be.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWe want an independent supervisory board put together so that it is absolutely independent in its decision-making and has a clear mandate,\u201d<\/em> he said.<\/p>\n Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn also stressed the importance of HMRC being able to \u201cinvestigate every company without fear and without favor about its tax affairs to make sure they pay the correct amount of tax and there\u2019s no hiding place, no evasion from it, whoever they are.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n READ MORE:\u00a0Revealed! Big money bankrolling Tory campaign linked to claims of fraud, tax dodging<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Corbyn\u2019s former spokesperson, Matt Zarb-Cousin, hit out at the mainstream media for failing to give the issue enough coverage. Others branded the British state as \u201ccorrupt.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Corbyn\u2019s former spokesperson, Matt Zarb-Cousin, hit out at the mainstream media for failing to give the issue enough coverage. Others branded the British state as \u201ccorrupt.\u201d<\/p>\n How is Buzzfeed\u2019s story that found HMRC shielding Lycamobile from a French tax probe because they\u2019re Conservative Party donors – having first denied doing so – not bigger news. Are we all now just accepting this country\u2019s turned into a kleptocracy<\/p>\n \u2014 Matt Zarb-Cousin (@mattzarb) April 22, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Britain truly is the world capital of covert corruption, cover ups, child sexual abuse & contempt for the poor<\/p>\n Facilitated, protected & exported by the British establishment (BBC, the Church, Conservatives,Boarding Schools etc)<\/p>\n\n\n
\n\n
\n\n