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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2016/may/03/were-demanding-an-end-to-offshore-secrecy-any-questions
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| Three activists demanding an end to offshore secrecy answer your questions | Three activists demanding an end to offshore secrecy answer your questions |
| (4 months later) | |
| 1.36pm BST | 1.36pm BST |
| 13:36 | 13:36 |
| Maeve Shearlaw | Maeve Shearlaw |
| Hi all, | Hi all, |
| I’m afraid that’s all we have time for. Thanks for all of your questions and thanks to the panel for the extensive, thoughtful answers. | I’m afraid that’s all we have time for. Thanks for all of your questions and thanks to the panel for the extensive, thoughtful answers. |
| Follow Patrick Wintour and the Guardian’s Panama Papers team for the latest updates from next week’s anti-corruption summit. | Follow Patrick Wintour and the Guardian’s Panama Papers team for the latest updates from next week’s anti-corruption summit. |
| 1.33pm BST | 1.33pm BST |
| 13:33 | 13:33 |
| Why haven’t the Panama Papers been made public? | Why haven’t the Panama Papers been made public? |
| Mauricio asks: | Mauricio asks: |
| Why the Panama Papers are not public? And why did only a few selected journalists have access to them? | Why the Panama Papers are not public? And why did only a few selected journalists have access to them? |
| The panel responds: | The panel responds: |
| Ala’a: The ICIJ – the body that has the Panama Papers is being extremely cautious about the publication of any personal information, probably for legal reasons. I personally feel a sense of urgency about publishing the documents and believe there should be greater access. Having said that, the ICIJ has given access to a far greater number of journalists than the past so lets give them some time. | Ala’a: The ICIJ – the body that has the Panama Papers is being extremely cautious about the publication of any personal information, probably for legal reasons. I personally feel a sense of urgency about publishing the documents and believe there should be greater access. Having said that, the ICIJ has given access to a far greater number of journalists than the past so lets give them some time. |
| Oliver: I think you have to be very careful in exposing information like this to a wide audience, since there could be all sorts of unintended consequences. These leaks contain so much data that it’s very hard to be sure that the information being put out there isn’t going to harm someone. Speaking as a journalist, I would hate to think I had accidentally put an innocent person in harm’s way by irresponsibly spreading information, so I would always err on the side of caution. I think the journalists controlling these troves probably feel the same way. | Oliver: I think you have to be very careful in exposing information like this to a wide audience, since there could be all sorts of unintended consequences. These leaks contain so much data that it’s very hard to be sure that the information being put out there isn’t going to harm someone. Speaking as a journalist, I would hate to think I had accidentally put an innocent person in harm’s way by irresponsibly spreading information, so I would always err on the side of caution. I think the journalists controlling these troves probably feel the same way. |
| 1.28pm BST | 1.28pm BST |
| 13:28 | 13:28 |
| Will greater transparency help house prices fall? | Will greater transparency help house prices fall? |
| Timothy Rutter asks: | Timothy Rutter asks: |
| Do you believe even a call for transparency of beneficial ownership, relating to offshore companies, will cause a fall in house prices in prime central London? | Do you believe even a call for transparency of beneficial ownership, relating to offshore companies, will cause a fall in house prices in prime central London? |
| The panel responds: | The panel responds: |
| Ala’a: since the Panama Papers, sales of property in central London appear to be declining, according to the Financial Times who say the rich are being put off by not being able to “buy quietly”. | Ala’a: since the Panama Papers, sales of property in central London appear to be declining, according to the Financial Times who say the rich are being put off by not being able to “buy quietly”. |
| Oliver: Yes, though not by as much as some think. There have long been strong tax reasons for legal foreign investors to buy UK property via offshore jurisdictions, and they’ll keep doing so even if their names are exposed. They’re not doing anything wrong, after all. | Oliver: Yes, though not by as much as some think. There have long been strong tax reasons for legal foreign investors to buy UK property via offshore jurisdictions, and they’ll keep doing so even if their names are exposed. They’re not doing anything wrong, after all. |
| Roman: Even if it does cause a selloff in central London, which I doubt, the properties affected would be so outside of reach of ordinary people that it won’t have any effect on the general market. Cleaning dirty money out of our capital and solving the acutest housing crisis are two different issues and should not be confused. | Roman: Even if it does cause a selloff in central London, which I doubt, the properties affected would be so outside of reach of ordinary people that it won’t have any effect on the general market. Cleaning dirty money out of our capital and solving the acutest housing crisis are two different issues and should not be confused. |
| 1.19pm BST | 1.19pm BST |
| 13:19 | 13:19 |
| How do we protect the whistleblowers? | How do we protect the whistleblowers? |
| Alex asks: | Alex asks: |
| What protections exists for whistle blowers who expose this type of information? Are they strong enough? | What protections exists for whistle blowers who expose this type of information? Are they strong enough? |
| The panel responds: | The panel responds: |
| Ala’a: Different countries afford different protections and it is important that whistleblowers weigh up the legal implications of how, when and where to publish information and seek trusted advice. | Ala’a: Different countries afford different protections and it is important that whistleblowers weigh up the legal implications of how, when and where to publish information and seek trusted advice. |
| Oliver: There aren’t nearly enough, just look at Luxembourg, where Edouard Perrin is on trial for writing about tax avoidance schemes. Fortunately, such prosecutions are not entirely deterring whistleblowers, and I hope we see more leaks like the Panama Papers. In fact, I hope they’re leaked to me. | Oliver: There aren’t nearly enough, just look at Luxembourg, where Edouard Perrin is on trial for writing about tax avoidance schemes. Fortunately, such prosecutions are not entirely deterring whistleblowers, and I hope we see more leaks like the Panama Papers. In fact, I hope they’re leaked to me. |
| Roman: I’d like to see a US-style whistleblower encouragement where the sources of information leading to financial penalties can be rewarded with up to 30% of the fine imposed. | Roman: I’d like to see a US-style whistleblower encouragement where the sources of information leading to financial penalties can be rewarded with up to 30% of the fine imposed. |
| 1.13pm BST | 1.13pm BST |
| 13:13 | 13:13 |
| Do we have any chance of credible transparency? | Do we have any chance of credible transparency? |
| A reader who asked for their name to be withheld asked: | A reader who asked for their name to be withheld asked: |
| With a majority of the rich and powerful having vested interests in maintaining financial opacity, what real chance is there of obtaining credible and exploitable transparency? | With a majority of the rich and powerful having vested interests in maintaining financial opacity, what real chance is there of obtaining credible and exploitable transparency? |
| The panel responds: | The panel responds: |
| Ala’a: There is a real chance. Not only has there been a real shift in the past couple of years but the Panama Papers highlighted that political elites have exploited this opacity for personal gain, setting themselves over and above the general public. | Ala’a: There is a real chance. Not only has there been a real shift in the past couple of years but the Panama Papers highlighted that political elites have exploited this opacity for personal gain, setting themselves over and above the general public. |
| The lived realities of economic inequality, and the increasing realisation that trillions of tax revenue are being lost through these loopholes are putting pressure on countries like the UK. | The lived realities of economic inequality, and the increasing realisation that trillions of tax revenue are being lost through these loopholes are putting pressure on countries like the UK. |
| Oliver: cheer up, the good guys don’t always lose. Ukraine had massive corruption problems under president Viktor Yanukovych. Now, it has a public register of beneficial ownership, online procurement mechanisms, a new anti-corruption bureau and anti-corruption prosecutors. It still has massive problems, but it has definitely improved. Britain is also more transparent than it once was. Huge challenges remain, but politicians are beginning to understand how important this is. | Oliver: cheer up, the good guys don’t always lose. Ukraine had massive corruption problems under president Viktor Yanukovych. Now, it has a public register of beneficial ownership, online procurement mechanisms, a new anti-corruption bureau and anti-corruption prosecutors. It still has massive problems, but it has definitely improved. Britain is also more transparent than it once was. Huge challenges remain, but politicians are beginning to understand how important this is. |
| Roman: I think there is a great chance of establishing a global regime of transparency. Everybody is appalled by the Panama Papers revelations, but the authorities won’t do it alone. Transparency needs to be exploited by the global civil society to achieve credible results. | Roman: I think there is a great chance of establishing a global regime of transparency. Everybody is appalled by the Panama Papers revelations, but the authorities won’t do it alone. Transparency needs to be exploited by the global civil society to achieve credible results. |
| 12.59pm BST | 12.59pm BST |
| 12:59 | 12:59 |
| What about the UK territories? | What about the UK territories? |
| Joseph J Boyle asks: | Joseph J Boyle asks: |
| Most ‘offshores’ are UK dependencies: what can Cameron’s government do about this? | Most ‘offshores’ are UK dependencies: what can Cameron’s government do about this? |
| The panel responds: | The panel responds: |
| Ala’a: The UK government can put more pressure to make corporate registries of beneficial owners public in its own territories for a start. | Ala’a: The UK government can put more pressure to make corporate registries of beneficial owners public in its own territories for a start. |
| Oliver: Credit where credit’s due, David Cameron has done more than anyone else has done to try to improve things. We have a public register of beneficial ownership opening up in the UK next month, and the government is pressuring the overseas territories and crown dependencies – not very successfully so far but it’s trying – to follow suit... things are, slowly, moving in the right direction. | Oliver: Credit where credit’s due, David Cameron has done more than anyone else has done to try to improve things. We have a public register of beneficial ownership opening up in the UK next month, and the government is pressuring the overseas territories and crown dependencies – not very successfully so far but it’s trying – to follow suit... things are, slowly, moving in the right direction. |
| Roman: Everything. tarting from gently asking, and ending with imposing transparency and disclosure. There is precedent: in 2000 homosexuality was decriminalised in some overseas territories after direct rule from London. We shall see what Prime Minister will announce at the Global Anti-Corruption Summit, hopefully it can be achieved with mutual agreement not order. | Roman: Everything. tarting from gently asking, and ending with imposing transparency and disclosure. There is precedent: in 2000 homosexuality was decriminalised in some overseas territories after direct rule from London. We shall see what Prime Minister will announce at the Global Anti-Corruption Summit, hopefully it can be achieved with mutual agreement not order. |
| 12.49pm BST | 12.49pm BST |
| 12:49 | 12:49 |
| How do we get general citizens to take action? | How do we get general citizens to take action? |
| Gohar Orozco asks: | Gohar Orozco asks: |
| How are you planning to bring general masses to act? The biggest challenge is it seems nobody cares, but there are people like me who would at least like to try and participate in protests. | How are you planning to bring general masses to act? The biggest challenge is it seems nobody cares, but there are people like me who would at least like to try and participate in protests. |
| The panel responds: | The panel responds: |
| Ala’a: This matters to every British citizen because it affects house prices, leads to a housing shortage as developers focus on luxury property. Action needs to be take to show political leaders that this is an issue that matters to the British public.It is also a matter that affects citizens in foreign countries whose money is being embezzled abroad. So there is a lot of common interest and transnational solidarity that can be built around this issue. | Ala’a: This matters to every British citizen because it affects house prices, leads to a housing shortage as developers focus on luxury property. Action needs to be take to show political leaders that this is an issue that matters to the British public.It is also a matter that affects citizens in foreign countries whose money is being embezzled abroad. So there is a lot of common interest and transnational solidarity that can be built around this issue. |
| Roman: We are trying very hard to attract public attention to the issue. Take our kleptocracy tours, the global media coverage they received is a great way of making people aware of the problem. We will be running the tours all next week to coincide with the Global Anti-Corruption Summit and you can join us. | Roman: We are trying very hard to attract public attention to the issue. Take our kleptocracy tours, the global media coverage they received is a great way of making people aware of the problem. We will be running the tours all next week to coincide with the Global Anti-Corruption Summit and you can join us. |
| Oliver: There is much more awareness of the damage caused by tax havens than there used to be, and I think it’s just a question of keeping the issue live, by talking about it and researching it. | Oliver: There is much more awareness of the damage caused by tax havens than there used to be, and I think it’s just a question of keeping the issue live, by talking about it and researching it. |
| Many countries now have organisations like the Tax Justice Network or Global Witness that are helping to expose what is going on. Journalists are also increasingly interested in the issue. I’ve recently been working on a film, due out on Monday, that looks into the damage corruption has done to Ukraine and features some of the people who are fighting back. | Many countries now have organisations like the Tax Justice Network or Global Witness that are helping to expose what is going on. Journalists are also increasingly interested in the issue. I’ve recently been working on a film, due out on Monday, that looks into the damage corruption has done to Ukraine and features some of the people who are fighting back. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.08pm BST | at 1.08pm BST |
| 12.36pm BST | 12.36pm BST |
| 12:36 | 12:36 |
| I have savings abroad, why do you need to know about them? | I have savings abroad, why do you need to know about them? |
| Stuart Greenhalgh asks: | Stuart Greenhalgh asks: |
| I worked overseas for 30 years and have savings and investments aboard. Why should there be calls for greater transparency than savings and investments in the UK? | I worked overseas for 30 years and have savings and investments aboard. Why should there be calls for greater transparency than savings and investments in the UK? |
| The panel responds: | The panel responds: |
| Oliver: It’s a good question. I suppose the problem is that, for every proper taxpayer who happens to have savings abroad like you, there are thousands of dishonest people who’d like to use offshore accounts to hide their money and avoid paying their fair share of taxes. | Oliver: It’s a good question. I suppose the problem is that, for every proper taxpayer who happens to have savings abroad like you, there are thousands of dishonest people who’d like to use offshore accounts to hide their money and avoid paying their fair share of taxes. |
| Roman: There should not be greater transparency just the same. We are not demanding to publish the details of your bank account but argue just that it should be visible to the UK authorities. | Roman: There should not be greater transparency just the same. We are not demanding to publish the details of your bank account but argue just that it should be visible to the UK authorities. |
| 12.22pm BST | 12.22pm BST |
| 12:22 | 12:22 |
| Are offshore companies wrong or illegal? | Are offshore companies wrong or illegal? |
| Daud Malik asks: | Daud Malik asks: |
| Why is having an offshore company is wrong or illegal? Is it because you don’t want to pay taxes on all your wealth? Is it because you want to hide your wealth? Or is it a channel for hiding money? | Why is having an offshore company is wrong or illegal? Is it because you don’t want to pay taxes on all your wealth? Is it because you want to hide your wealth? Or is it a channel for hiding money? |
| The panel responds: | The panel responds: |
| Oliver: There’s nothing intrinsically wrong with having an offshore company. It’s perfectly logical, say, for a consortium of people to pool their assets into a single holding company in a neutral jurisdiction – Jersey, for example – and then get a returns on your investment. The World Bank’s experts on this say, however, that you should get suspicious when there are more than three links in the chain. | Oliver: There’s nothing intrinsically wrong with having an offshore company. It’s perfectly logical, say, for a consortium of people to pool their assets into a single holding company in a neutral jurisdiction – Jersey, for example – and then get a returns on your investment. The World Bank’s experts on this say, however, that you should get suspicious when there are more than three links in the chain. |
| Roman: The problem is that offshore companies are often used to help evade taxes or channel proceeds of crime, often under the auspices of protecting someone’s privacy. The best example: Panama Papers revealed that a close friend of Russian President Putin, a career cellist, has amassed a $2-billion-dollar fortune in various offshore companies. Russia’s official position is that he is a modest man and does not want to advertise his wealth. | Roman: The problem is that offshore companies are often used to help evade taxes or channel proceeds of crime, often under the auspices of protecting someone’s privacy. The best example: Panama Papers revealed that a close friend of Russian President Putin, a career cellist, has amassed a $2-billion-dollar fortune in various offshore companies. Russia’s official position is that he is a modest man and does not want to advertise his wealth. |
| Ala’a: Setting up an offshore company is not illegal in itself, and different offshore companies operating under various jurisdictions have different rules regarding transparency and disclosure. This is the key point: we are demanding that offshore companies publish registers of beneficial owners, so that they stop being vehicles for hiding wealth. | Ala’a: Setting up an offshore company is not illegal in itself, and different offshore companies operating under various jurisdictions have different rules regarding transparency and disclosure. This is the key point: we are demanding that offshore companies publish registers of beneficial owners, so that they stop being vehicles for hiding wealth. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.50pm BST | at 12.50pm BST |
| 12.12pm BST | 12.12pm BST |
| 12:12 | 12:12 |
| What can we do to stop tax avoidance? | What can we do to stop tax avoidance? |
| Flavian Vallance asks: | Flavian Vallance asks: |
| What are the simplest and most effective measures we all can take as countries for making the multinational companies pay tax where they earn their money? You earn so you pay to support the country you earn from, just like me as a taxpayer. | What are the simplest and most effective measures we all can take as countries for making the multinational companies pay tax where they earn their money? You earn so you pay to support the country you earn from, just like me as a taxpayer. |
| The panel responds: | The panel responds: |
| Oliver: The simplest way would be to force multinationals to report their financial results separately for each company they operate in. That would mean we could see where their revenues came from and when those revenues are moved to lower-tax jurisdictions. | Oliver: The simplest way would be to force multinationals to report their financial results separately for each company they operate in. That would mean we could see where their revenues came from and when those revenues are moved to lower-tax jurisdictions. |
| Roman: Transparency again is the answer, but this time the transparency of earnings and cash flows for every country.Multinational corporations should report and be audited on each individual nation’s level: it is the simple and effective solution to tax sheltering problems. The OECD has introduced a reporting template to help this happen but unfortunately only 31 countries subscribe to the plan. | Roman: Transparency again is the answer, but this time the transparency of earnings and cash flows for every country.Multinational corporations should report and be audited on each individual nation’s level: it is the simple and effective solution to tax sheltering problems. The OECD has introduced a reporting template to help this happen but unfortunately only 31 countries subscribe to the plan. |
| 12.05pm BST | 12.05pm BST |
| 12:05 | 12:05 |
| Maeve Shearlaw | Maeve Shearlaw |
| Hi all, | Hi all, |
| Just to let you know that the panel are with us and the live Q&A is about to start. | Just to let you know that the panel are with us and the live Q&A is about to start. |
| If you’d like to post a question in the next hour please do so using the form below. | If you’d like to post a question in the next hour please do so using the form below. |
| Thanks and let’s begin... | Thanks and let’s begin... |
| 10.01am BST | 10.01am BST |
| 10:01 | 10:01 |
| 'Corruption kills by making medicines more expensive' | 'Corruption kills by making medicines more expensive' |
| Oliver Bullough | Oliver Bullough |
| Corruption kills, by making medicines more expensive, hampering efforts to fight disease, and undermining public health campaigns. | Corruption kills, by making medicines more expensive, hampering efforts to fight disease, and undermining public health campaigns. |
| Take Ukraine for example, which has one of the fastest-growing HIV epidemics in the world. Less than half of HIV positive Ukrainians have access to the medicines they need while public health campaigns are woefully inadequate. | Take Ukraine for example, which has one of the fastest-growing HIV epidemics in the world. Less than half of HIV positive Ukrainians have access to the medicines they need while public health campaigns are woefully inadequate. |
| Yet in 2013 the Anti-Corruption Action Centre alleged that the health ministry was overpaying for HIV and tuberculosis medicines by nearly a third. | Yet in 2013 the Anti-Corruption Action Centre alleged that the health ministry was overpaying for HIV and tuberculosis medicines by nearly a third. |
| The campaigners also claimed that middlemen cut themselves into the procurement process and jacked up prices, via companies based in Cyprus, London and elsewhere. | The campaigners also claimed that middlemen cut themselves into the procurement process and jacked up prices, via companies based in Cyprus, London and elsewhere. |
| As a result there were fewer drugs available, and a treatable epidemic spread unchecked. | As a result there were fewer drugs available, and a treatable epidemic spread unchecked. |
| It is vital that, while helping Ukraine and other countries fight corruption, we also stop anonymous ownership of such companies. | It is vital that, while helping Ukraine and other countries fight corruption, we also stop anonymous ownership of such companies. |
| Greater accountability will prevent corrupt officials abusing their positions to earn money from vulnerable people. | Greater accountability will prevent corrupt officials abusing their positions to earn money from vulnerable people. |
| 9.55am BST | 9.55am BST |
| 09:55 | 09:55 |
| 'From hotels to luxury houses: Gulf investment in London is shrouded in secrecy' | 'From hotels to luxury houses: Gulf investment in London is shrouded in secrecy' |
| Ala'a Shehabi | Ala'a Shehabi |
| “I have the honour to be the mayor of the eighth emirate” London mayor Boris Johnson boasted in 2013. | “I have the honour to be the mayor of the eighth emirate” London mayor Boris Johnson boasted in 2013. |
| His comment highlights the fact that for rich sheikhs London is seen as a safe haven for large investments, with offshore companies offering the added bonus of buying property anonymously. | His comment highlights the fact that for rich sheikhs London is seen as a safe haven for large investments, with offshore companies offering the added bonus of buying property anonymously. |
| It’s estimated that in 2014 alone Gulf countries accounted for 10% of the total £17bn of direct capital flows into the UK real estate market, an estimated £1.96bn. At Bahrain Watch, we believe these estimates are conservative – to say the least. | It’s estimated that in 2014 alone Gulf countries accounted for 10% of the total £17bn of direct capital flows into the UK real estate market, an estimated £1.96bn. At Bahrain Watch, we believe these estimates are conservative – to say the least. |
| Gulf investments over the past two decades have been touted as “good for London”, and have been associated with prominent landmarks from the Shard to the Olympic Park and Harrods. | Gulf investments over the past two decades have been touted as “good for London”, and have been associated with prominent landmarks from the Shard to the Olympic Park and Harrods. |
| But the Panama Papers have revealed the extent of to which rich individuals have built up vast swathes of property, often anonymously. | But the Panama Papers have revealed the extent of to which rich individuals have built up vast swathes of property, often anonymously. |
| The leaked documents showed that Sheikh Khalifa, from the United Arab Emirates, was the beneficial owner of at least 30 companies established in the British Virgin Islands, through which he held at least $1.7bn in London commercial and residential property. | The leaked documents showed that Sheikh Khalifa, from the United Arab Emirates, was the beneficial owner of at least 30 companies established in the British Virgin Islands, through which he held at least $1.7bn in London commercial and residential property. |
| And there have previously been questions raised about the King of Bahrain’s billion-dollar property portfolio, and the lavish Kensington property linked to the sons of ousted Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak. | And there have previously been questions raised about the King of Bahrain’s billion-dollar property portfolio, and the lavish Kensington property linked to the sons of ousted Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak. |
| So while it’s generous that Boris Johnson welcomes this money into London, it also shows clearly these investments are unlikely to ever serve the citizens of the countries it came from. | So while it’s generous that Boris Johnson welcomes this money into London, it also shows clearly these investments are unlikely to ever serve the citizens of the countries it came from. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 11.45am BST | at 11.45am BST |
| 9.37am BST | 9.37am BST |
| 09:37 | 09:37 |
| 'It’s time to meet the kleptocrat next door' | 'It’s time to meet the kleptocrat next door' |
| Roman Borisovich | Roman Borisovich |
| Ensuring transparency of ownership is key to addressing the problem of money laundering, especially in the London property market. | Ensuring transparency of ownership is key to addressing the problem of money laundering, especially in the London property market. |
| Not only will it help law enforcement and tax authorities go after dirty money, but it will also help lift the threat of libel hanging over the media. | Not only will it help law enforcement and tax authorities go after dirty money, but it will also help lift the threat of libel hanging over the media. |
| When we host “kleptocracy tours” – a coach taking journalists around various London properties – our guides tell stories of how graft of biblical proportions has been used to purchase some of the capital’s most expensive addresses, often via offshore companies. | When we host “kleptocracy tours” – a coach taking journalists around various London properties – our guides tell stories of how graft of biblical proportions has been used to purchase some of the capital’s most expensive addresses, often via offshore companies. |
| But no matter how much circumstantial evidence links a politician or oligarch to a particular property, the secrecy of offshore companies renders it impossible to establish, and in some cases report on, true ownership. | But no matter how much circumstantial evidence links a politician or oligarch to a particular property, the secrecy of offshore companies renders it impossible to establish, and in some cases report on, true ownership. |
| It’s time to stop secret property ownership and meet the kleptocrat next door. | It’s time to stop secret property ownership and meet the kleptocrat next door. |
| 1.16pm BST | 1.16pm BST |
| 13:16 | 13:16 |
| We're demanding an end to offshore secrecy – any questions? | We're demanding an end to offshore secrecy – any questions? |
| Maeve Shearlaw | Maeve Shearlaw |
| A month after the Panama Papers revealed global elites were using a warren of offshore business opportunities to protect their money from taxation, David Cameron is getting ready to host an anti-corruption summit in London. | A month after the Panama Papers revealed global elites were using a warren of offshore business opportunities to protect their money from taxation, David Cameron is getting ready to host an anti-corruption summit in London. |
| The UK prime minister has talked a strong game in the run up the summit, promising to deliver an international agreement that will leave the “perpetrators of corruption with nowhere to hide”. | The UK prime minister has talked a strong game in the run up the summit, promising to deliver an international agreement that will leave the “perpetrators of corruption with nowhere to hide”. |
| But some have questioned his commitment to this issue after his family’s financial affairs were revealed in the leak – and with London repeatedly described as a magnet for “dirty money”. | But some have questioned his commitment to this issue after his family’s financial affairs were revealed in the leak – and with London repeatedly described as a magnet for “dirty money”. |
| As the summit approaches we’ve convened a panel of anti-corruption specialists and asked them which issues they think should be most urgently addressed on 12 May. | As the summit approaches we’ve convened a panel of anti-corruption specialists and asked them which issues they think should be most urgently addressed on 12 May. |
| Meet the panel | Meet the panel |
| Roman Borisovich, who runs London’s “kleptocracy tours” highlighting the dirty money propping up London’s property market; Oliver Bullough, a journalist investigating corruption in Russia and Ukraine; and Ala’a Shehabi, from NGO Bahrain Watch. | Roman Borisovich, who runs London’s “kleptocracy tours” highlighting the dirty money propping up London’s property market; Oliver Bullough, a journalist investigating corruption in Russia and Ukraine; and Ala’a Shehabi, from NGO Bahrain Watch. |
| Any questions? | Any questions? |
| The panel will join us for a live Q&A on Friday 6 May from 12-1pm BST. Any questions? Post them using the form below or tweet them at @GuardianNewEast. | The panel will join us for a live Q&A on Friday 6 May from 12-1pm BST. Any questions? Post them using the form below or tweet them at @GuardianNewEast. |
| Please note that due to the legally sensitive nature of this topic we may not be able to have comments open during the live Q&A | Please note that due to the legally sensitive nature of this topic we may not be able to have comments open during the live Q&A |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.06pm BST | at 2.06pm BST |
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