In Labour’s new Party Political Broadcast Art Malik rails against tax avoidance, claiming “the government squeezes the less well off while letting the richest avoid paying the taxes that the rest of us do”. Malik is the director of a company called ML&J Ltd. The firm, which claims to engage in “motion picture production activities”, employs as its company secretary one Gina Malik, Art’s wife. A textbook little trick used by hundreds of actors, musicians and entertainers.

ML&J Ltd is registered to 24 Bedford Row, London. Coincidentally, that is also the address of its accountants, Mehta & Tengra. On their website Mehta & Tengra do not disguise how they help their clients’ companies avoid tax:

“Our accountants can conduct a review of your firm to determine areas where they can reduce your corporate tax exposure with an efficient strategy… forward planning can ensure compliance and result in considerable tax savings.”

Not only that, Mehta & Tengra even offer specialist “offshore tax planning” services.

Labour’s new crusader against tax avoidance owns a company that employs his wife and is registered to the address of his accountant specialising in aggressive tax avoidance…