Former chancellor Sajid Javid yesterday dodged questions on whether he used a tax haven before he became an MP.

Launching his Tory leadership campaign, Mr Javid was repeatedly asked where he was domiciled for tax purposes during his career as an international banker.

But he refused to disclose which countries he had paid taxes in – and did not deny that he used tax havens.

Mr Javid stressed that he stayed ‘within all the rules’ while moving around ‘a lot’ and being a tax resident in different countries. 

But when pressed by the Daily Mail to name the countries where he was domiciled for tax, he refused.

‘I’ve moved to different jurisdictions, I’ve lived in different jurisdictions and I’ve been really clear about the reasons for that, in terms of my international travel,’ he said.

‘I’m not getting into any more detail (on) my personal tax affairs that were to do with a time that I was not in public life. 

'I haven’t been non-domiciled in all my time in public life, and that’s where I would leave it.’

The former chancellor had a career in business and finance – including at Deutsche Bank and Chase Manhattan Bank – before he was elected as the MP for Bromsgrove in 2010.

Mr Javid also appeared to take a swipe at leadership rival Nadhim Zahawi – who is reported to be facing an HMRC probe into his financial affairs – by saying he has ‘never had an issue with HMRC’.

‘I’ve never had a tax investigation. I’ve always been transparent, fully transparent, with the tax authorities,’ he said. 

Mr Javid also took aim at Rishi Sunak’s slick campaign, saying: ‘I’m not here to polish a back story – you already know it... And I don’t have a ready-made logo or slick video.

‘What I do have is a passionate desire to get Britain on to the right course and steer us through the gathering storm.’

The ex-minister, whose Cabinet resignation began the cascade that forced Boris Johnson out, warned the Conservatives face ‘electoral oblivion’ if they do not change, as he urged colleagues to ‘pull together’.

‘It didn’t have to be like this,’ he said. ‘Just three years ago, we won the largest majority since Margaret Thatcher.

‘And just over a year ago we got Brexit done. Neither would have happened without Boris Johnson. And his effectiveness and love for country is undeniable. 

But we cannot be complacent about the situation we are now in. This is a “wake up and smell the coffee” moment.’

While Mr Johnson blamed the ‘herd’ for his resignation as Tory leader, Mr Javid insisted he dramatically quit the Cabinet because it was the ‘right thing to do’.

‘This wasn’t because I could hear the hooves of a herd,’ he said. If anything, I expected half the herd to turn around and charge at me.’