TAX havens have been top of the political agenda for years.

Countless politicians have stood on stages across the country and taken applause for pledging to tackle the issue.

We have heard the same from Jeremy Corbyn this week in Brighton. However, it will be a few more years at least before we see if he is a man of his word. If at all.

Ninety nine per cent of the population cannot understand it.

Surely if you are benefitting and making money in this country you should be paying back through taxes?

And it is not small firms based in the likes of the Channel Islands and the British Virgin Islands, it is huge multinationals whose annual tax bills could build hospitals and schools by the dozen.

For most people it is simple: if you are going to take from this country, you must give back. You have to contribute.

The news that £300 million of property in the city is owned by off-shore companies is of huge concern.

The country is facing a steep uphill challenge as it is, economically, without losing out on tax revenue to off-shore companies.

While their activities are not illegal, company bosses should be answerable for the way they operate.

We should be told whether the shops we shop in, the pubs we drink in and the restaurants we eat in, have links to tax havens.

We can then make an informed choice about whether we want to part with our money in these establishments.

Our politicians also have a responsibility to act on the issue. They need to act now to bring about a change in the way tax avoidance is dealt with.