Labour MP Caroline Flint tells Zac Goldsmith to ‘come clean’ over Cayman Islands tax deal

"Come clean": Caroline Flint has challenged Zac Goldsmith over his use of a company in the Cayman Islands
PA Wire
Pippa Crerar3 March 2016
WEST END FINAL

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A senior member of Parliament’s public spending watchdog today called on Zac Goldsmith to “come clean” over his use of a company in the Cayman Islands to buy and sell his homes.

Labour former minister Caroline Flint called on him to speak out against the misuse of tax havens which she said often “illegally” deprived Londoners of money that could be used for public services.

She argued leaving the European Union, a position the Tory mayoral candidate supports, would make it more difficult for the authorities to crack down on tax havens.

Mr Goldsmith has stated that properties he has lived in have been purchased and sold through the overseas trust set up by his billionaire father, and that the trust was a beneficiary. There is no suggestion of any illegality.

The Standard understands that he and his wife have a high street mortgage for their family homes in Barnes.

The Tory candidate has also published his tax return showing he had made more than £10 million — and paid more than £4 million in tax — since becoming an MP. However, Labour said Mr Goldsmith should provide more details of transactions made by his family trust.

Ms Flint said: “Zac Goldsmith must come clean on his own use of offshore companies.”

A spokesman for Mr Goldsmith said: “Zac has delivered on his transparency commitment.”

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