A CUMBRIA MP says he will publish his tax affairs because he wants to restore trust in the system.

Tim Farron, Lib Dem leader and Westmorland and Lonsdale MP, said the fallout from the 'Panama Papers' were an indictment of how many wealthy people, although legally, conducted their tax affairs.

He said: "These are powerful people, some with tangential links with politicians, who continue in business paying staff who are taught by teachers, paid for by tax; who use health services, paid for by tax; who use roads, paid for by tax.

"Tax is not a punishment. It's the subscription that we have to pay to live in a civilised society.

"This [information revealed by the Panama Papers] creates further breakdown, not just in our trust of the tax system; but also a further breakdown in our trust of politicians."

Although saying he intended to publish his tax affairs, Mr Farron said an individual's tax affairs are private and did not call for all MPs to follow suit.

Mr Farron added: "The big issue is that we have to get the government to do everything it can to tackle this.

"Everything they have done to date has been further action against those guilty of tax evasion.

"But [the Panama Papers] are full of people who are legally doing it: tax avoidance.

"What they could do is have an anti-avoidance rule which would mean any scheme set up for that purpose would be cancelled."