The Treasury say:

“The dividend income relates to shares in Osborne and Little Group Limited, a UK resident manufacturing company of wallpapers and fabrics that was founded by his father. The dividends are derived from shares that the Chancellor of the Exchequer owns directly, and also as life tenant* of a family trust, based and resident in the UK which holds, as its sole asset, shares in that company. The Chancellor of the Exchequer paid income tax on these dividends.”

Osborne and Little has been hit by its own offshore row. The PM, Chancellor and Shadow Chancellor have all released summaries of their tax returns – the Leader of the Opposition still can’t find his…

*A life interest trust is a trust established to provide the beneficiary with (who is known as the ‘life tenant’) the right to receive the income (after expenses) from the trust.  This right is usually given for their lifetime.  On their death the trust fund passes to the other named beneficiaries, known as the ‘residuary beneficiaries’.  Basically it protects the family capital and ensures it passes to children rather than, for example, ex-wives…