UK government defends Google tax settlement

UK government ministers are facing criticism over the tax settlement reached with search engine giant Google last week after reports emerged the company could pay almost three times the amount to authorities in France.

John McDonnell, Labour’s finance spokesperson, wrote to George Osborne, chancellor of the exchequer, asking if he personally signed off on the tax settlement as a row over the deal intensified.

McDonnell said questions remain unanswered over Google parent Alphabet’s agreement to pay £130m (€171.9 m) in tax, an amount Labour called “derisory”.