Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell has vowed to “end the social scourge of tax avoidance” by doubling HMRC staff numbers and banning “tax-dodging companies” from winning public sector contracts.

If elected in the next parliament, the Labour party would create a new Tax Enforcement Unit at HMRC to grow the number of staff working on tax avoidance issues twofold, Mr McDonnell told supporters at the UK Labour Party’s annual conference in Liverpool yesterday (26/09/2016). 

It would also ensure that suitable legislation is produced to close tax havens, including introducing a new requirement...