Letters: How can Cameron lead on anti-corruption?

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The Prime Minister is under pressure to ensure UK overseas territories are more transparent (AP)

How ironic that David Cameron is chairing the Anti-Corruption Summit while campaigning to remain in the EU.

Only two months ago, a study commissioned by the European Parliament stated that the EU has a corruption problem that could cost it up to 990bn euros annually - including 5bn euros related to public procurement. I wonder if he'll mention that at the summit!

Sarah Pegg

Seaford, East Sussex

In 1991 the UK government, by Order in Council, abolished capital punishment for murder in the Caribbean overseas territories. So what prevents David Cameron's government from removing the secrecy which makes tax havens attractive with an Order in Council requiring UK overseas territories to make public the beneficial owners of all deposits which have been transferred into their banks from abroad?

Leading politicians of every stripe bloviate about the evils of tax havens, but do nothing practical to close them down. Our nation is sovereign over a large number of tax havens, yet politicians behave as if these scraps of territory bleeding income from the public purse were actually owned by some mighty foreign power with which we dare not interfere.

Michael McCarthy

London W13

It was bemusing to see Prime Minister David Cameron’s latest gaffe, labelling Nigeria and Afghanistan as being “fantastically corrupt”.

Of course there is corruption in both these countries, but it is clearly rather hypocritical given that this is largely at the connivance of the UK, which through its 17 tax havens in Crown Dependencies has for decades harboured funds exported by wealthy individuals. This has come to the fore most recently through the so-called Panama Papers.

These tax havens are governed by the UK Crown, so what we are witnessing is one huge state-sponsored tax avoidance machine.

Indeed, the anti-corruption organisation, Transparency International, has said that the UK is a “big part of the problem” of corruption in Nigeria where c. 40 per cent of Nigerian GDP is effectively stolen.

Alex Orr

Edinburgh, Scotland

Don't victim-blame Corbyn

The article ‘Jeremy Corbyn has a toxic relationship with the media – but he’s the one to blame’ (Andrew Grice, 11 May), is breathtaking in its ability to blame the victim for bullying, and make no mistake: the "toxic relationship" is of the media's making.

Jeremy Corbyn's hammering by the press and broadcast media began in the form of belittlement, then incredulity and finally fear, well before " Jeremy Corbyn’s operation" came into being. For him to readily cooperate with his bullies would follow a pattern which never works in other situations – such as the school playground.

The persistent and unjustified attacks he has undergone were never likely to be halted by appeasement, nor do I believe that anyone to the left of David Miliband could ever find favour with those in the party who were shocked by his brother Ed's victory over David. Since then for the right wing or 'moderates' of the party, attempting to undermine and oust both Ed and Jeremy has been the only game in town - regardless of the harm to Labour's election prospects.

Jeremy Corbyn's team should clearly improve its issue of information, but should be wary of the 'helpful' advice offered by Grice. Greeks bearing gifts?

Eddie Dougall

Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

Why Salmond's previous silence?

Alex Salmond's contention that the Holyrood voting system should be amended is breath-taking.

He maintains on his London radio show that how our votes are counted must be changed. He's concerned Nicola Sturgeon achieved somewhat fewer seats - in fact, six - than he did in 2011 with a fractionally highly percentage - 47 per cent against 45 per cent - of votes cast, and consequently lost her majority - which doesn't make Salmond a happy chappie.

But did we hear the ex-nationalist leader moan when he won outright in 2011 or whine about the unfairness of the 2015 general election voting system when the SNP achieved just under 50 per cent of the votes and were gifted 95 per cent of the seats, including his own?

If anyone didn't realise from the SNP's refusal to accept the referendum result that they're more than a tad selective when supporting democracy, they should now.

Martin Redfern

Edinburgh, Scotland

Crabb's own benefits

Stephen Crabb MP, who took over from Duncan Smith, has indicated that there will be further disability benefit cuts. He was one of those MPs outed on social media for huge expenses claims in the past. Some of their names are attached. These claims by Crabb included £500+ for rugs, £8,000 to refurbish a home he then sold and £600+ for a chair.

Richard Kimble

Hawksworth, Leeds

Truth about Europe

The EU is not undemocratic and unelected: our elected government has a direct input into the process of legislation, and we elect MEPs who do the same. It may be different from the UK; but it includes the power of our people rather than excluding it.

Steve Hills

No address supplied

Watson's private matters?

The public respond negatively to public figures when they act without integrity in hidden aspects of their lives, but present a different public persona.

Integrity is measured by what we do when people aren't watching . By this standard Emma Watson has failed her public.

Jane Alliston

Edinburgh, Scotland