SIR – The reported deal between the British and Swiss governments to collect tax on money salted away in secret Swiss bank accounts by rich British tax dodgers is an indictment of the rottenness of New Labour doing almost nothing about tax havens during its 13 years in power.

How ironic that it is now being done by a Tory-led coalition expecting to gain about £5 billion a year from the deal.

At £5 billion over 13 years, that is another New Labour gift to the rich of £65 billion.

However, the names of account holders will remain secret and the arrangements give time for funds to be transferred to other tax havens.

In this respect, and of the rates to be levied, the deal is a slap in the face for honest taxpayers and a totally inappropriate disregard of the dishonesty of what are essentially lawbreakers.

It is no different from benefit fraud except in its scale. Swiss banking is an amoral and corrupt business.

It is a repository for the loot of despots, corrupt politicians, insider dealers, drug barons, thieves of all kinds and tax dodgers. There should be an end to it.

All tax havens should be discontinued under a UN resolution and all misappropriated funds repatriated and where proper, returned to their rightful owners.

PETER NIELSEN
Worcester