Today is Holocaust Memorial Day and it was a privilege to attend a moving ceremony in Hackney Town Hall. As the Holocaust moves from living memory to history, it’s all the more important we remember it and remain vigilant against such atrocities happening again.
 
The Public Accounts Committee spoke with HMRC officials and covered Nadhim Zahawi’s tax affairs. Whilst HMRC would not publicly discuss an individual’s tax arrangements, we learnt that those nominated for an honour have a health check about their tax affairs that is passed on to the nominations board that is responsible for the honours system. But no such automatic information is passed on to the Prime Minister when he makes decisions about appointing ministers. Nadhim Zahawi only reached a settlement with HMRC when he was Chancellor of the Exchequer – this is shocking and he should do the decent thing and resign.
 
And I backed a cross-party amendment to the Economic Crime and Transparency Bill that would create a new criminal corporate offence of failing to prevent money laundering and fraud. Hearteningly the Minister indicated the Government will seriously look at this proposal and try to incorporate it into the final version of the Bill.