Sadiq Khan publishes tax return as questions are raised about Goldsmith’s past earnings

Sadiq Khan today published his tax return revealing his income beyond his MP’s salary was close to nothing – in contrast to the lucrative outside earnings of Tory rival Zac Goldsmith.

London Mayor candidate Khan earned roughly £63,000 last year, with an annual average of about £65,000. The latter figure is bolstered by his salary as a government minister from 2008 to 2010, and a councillor’s allowance in 2005-2006.

Khan took fees for three BBC appearances, and donated the £1,500 he earned from appearing on Have I Got News For You to charity.

Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell took a similar step last month when he published his full tax return and challenged George Osborne to do the same.

Goldsmith has earned over £10m since entering Parliament in 2010, with the majority of his income coming from a family trust and the rest from selling assets. Goldsmith’s average annual earnings were £1.2m, roughly 20 times Khan’s and 35 times the median UK salary. By comparison, Khan has earned nothing from shareholdings, property or trusts.

This follows Tory rival Zac Goldsmith being grilled about his history as a non-dom; a status which allows overseas earnings potentially not be taxed.

The Labour candidate gave a full ten-year tax history, but his opponent only gave information from 2010 – the year he gave up his non-dom status and became an MP. This means the amount of tax he did not have to pay on account of this status is unknown.

London Labour MP Karen Buck has now encouraged Zac Goldsmith be more transparent about his past tax affairs and “come clean about exactly how much he benefited from being a non-dom.”

“He has refused to answer Londoners’ legitimate questions about his non-dom status and Cayman Islands companies,” Buck said. “Goldsmith will have a cloud hanging over his head until he answers these important questions.”

Recent polling gives Khan a 10 point lead over Goldsmith, with the Conservative candidate trailing by 45% to 55% when voters are asked to choose in a head-to-head.