PMQs: Jeremy Corbyn Attacks Cameron Over Tax

Britain's Leader of the Opposition, Jeremy Corbyn, has attacked Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservative party for allegedly opposing EU efforts to boost tax transparency.

Speaking in the British parliament at Prime Minister's Questions, Corbyn raised proposals published by the European Commission yesterday on tackling tax evasion and avoidance. The proposals include a suggestion for so-called "country-by-country reporting," whereby all large multi-nationals operating in Europe are required to publish information on the tax they pay, country-by-country.

"Conservative MEPs [Members of the European Parliament] voted against the proposal for country-by-country reporting [in the past]," Corbyn claimed, asking "can the Prime Minister now assure us that Conservative MEPs will support the new proposal?"

A spokesperson for the Conservatives in the European parliament tells Newsweek he is not certain of which vote Corbyn is referring to. He says that, so far, the European Parliament's Conservative group has been against public country-by-country reporting which might disadvantage the EU competitively, but in favour of establishing a system of private reporting.

He says the group has not yet agreed a position on the new proposals, launched by British commissioner Jonathan Hill, but would be looking at them. "Given it's come from a Conservative commissioner, it's probably something which we would probably end up supporting," he says.

Elsewhere in Wednesday's session, David Cameron hit out at Corbyn over his tax return, published on Monday, and subsequently revealed to have been handed in late to the authorities. "His tax return was a metaphor for Labour policy, it was late, it was chaotic, it was inaccurate, it was uncosted," Cameron said.

Watch Corbyn's response below: