Research from Christian Aid has revealed that 56% of British adults believe that tax avoidance by multinationals companies (MNCs), while a technically legal way of reducing what they owe the taxman, is morally wrong, and half of people think it should be made illegal. Only 4% of those polled thought tax avoidance by MNCs was 'morally justifiable' and only 4% described such practices as 'fair'.

The survey of attitudes to tax avoidance commissioned by the charity shows public support for chancellor of the exchequer George Osborne's view that such practices are 'morally repugnant'. However many of the 2,026 people questioned in the survey by ComRes don't think these strong words are being matched with government action.

Three quarters (74%) felt that David Cameron should be demanding international action to tackle tax evasion and avoidance, yet just two in five respondents to the survey (38%) believe the government is genuine in their desire to combat tax avoidance. There was also a clear view that companies should be more transparent as 81% of those polled believed MNCs accounts should be more transparent and publicly available. Some 79% of people polled said it was too easy for MNCs in the UK to avoid paying tax.

Joseph Stead, senior economic justice advisor at Christian Aid, said: 'This poll shows there is a huge public appetite for international action to tackle tax dodging both domestically and in developing countries. The public are clear that the government is not acting sufficiently, and that companies need to open their books more.'