FIRMS that squirrel money away in tax havens must not receive government bailouts, a cross-party group of 30 MPs demanded today. 

Multi-billion pound companies, including Richard Branson’s Virgin Atlantic, have pleaded for state funds to prop up their ailing prospects during the coronavirus pandemic. 

But the MPs argue that only firms which pay their taxes, suspend dividends to shareholders and curb exorbitant executive payouts should be able to access public funds.