Tax dodge scandal claims first scalp in Iceland's prime minister

Icelandic prime minister Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson has been the biggest casualty so far of the Panama Papers scandal, says Matthew Partridge.

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Iceland's prime minister, Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson, steps down

The leak of 11.5 million files from Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonesca, organised by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), will "provoke red faces and furious denials", says the Financial Times. Mossack organised offshore accounts, firms and trusts for "hundreds of politicians, business and sports people, including 72 current or former heads of state". The records also include "at least 33 people and companies blacklisted by the US because of evidence of proscribed activities". Tax authorities globally have said they will "follow up allegations of tax evasion and money laundering".

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Dr Matthew Partridge
Shares editor, MoneyWeek

Matthew graduated from the University of Durham in 2004; he then gained an MSc, followed by a PhD at the London School of Economics.

He has previously written for a wide range of publications, including the Guardian and the Economist, and also helped to run a newsletter on terrorism. He has spent time at Lehman Brothers, Citigroup and the consultancy Lombard Street Research.

Matthew is the author of Superinvestors: Lessons from the greatest investors in history, published by Harriman House, which has been translated into several languages. His second book, Investing Explained: The Accessible Guide to Building an Investment Portfolio, is published by Kogan Page.

As senior writer, he writes the shares and politics & economics pages, as well as weekly Blowing It and Great Frauds in History columns He also writes a fortnightly reviews page and trading tips, as well as regular cover stories and multi-page investment focus features.

Follow Matthew on Twitter: @DrMatthewPartri