The level of disquiet with the perceived scale of corporate tax avoidance remains unchanged from last year with 47% citing it as their top ethical concern when questioned in May 2022 as part of the Institute for Business Ethics (IBE) annual survey, supported by the Fair Tax Foundation.

Bribery and corruption is now the second most cited concern for the first time in 20 years of polling by the IBE, flagged by 27% of respondents. This is likely a consequence of the increased general awareness of the UK as a global hub for dirty money and corruption, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the exposure of various connected kleptocrats and their illicit wealth, the Fair Tax Foundation said.

This has also been exacerbated by the substantial levels of fraud from covid support schemes such as bounce back loans.