Lord Willy Bach, Labour’s Shadow Attorney General, has written to the Attorney General, the Rt Hon Jeremy Wright QC MP, asking what investigations have been undertaken in this country by the relevant prosecuting authorities as to the role of British nationals and British banks in the FIFA corruption scandal.

The full text of the letter is below:

The Rt Hon Jeremy Wright QC MP
Attorney General’s Office
20 Victoria Street
London, SW1H 0NF

3rd June 2015

Dear Jeremy,

In the light of the recent indictments and arrests in Switzerland and the USA, and the ensuing publicity, I am writing to ask what investigations have been undertaken in this country by the relevant prosecuting authorities as to the role of British nationals and British banks in the FIFA corruption scandal.

Do you agree with me that it is disappointing that after the pioneering investigative reporting of the Sunday Times and Panorama, it has been left to the US and Swiss authorities to commence prosecutions? Can you confirm whether the Crown Prosecution Service, the Financial Conduct Authority, Serious Fraud Office and any other relevant authority are investigating whether bribery took place on British soil, used British financial institutions or involved British sponsors or broadcasters? If they are investigating corruption at FIFA, do they have the resources they need to undertake their investigations vigorously and swiftly?

I welcome the fact that Barclays, HSBC and Standard Chartered have launched internal reviews into their potential role in these allegations. Is there also a need in your opinion for a criminal investigation led by British Prosecuting Authorities?  

The US indictment repeats the allegation that three of Britain’s overseas territories – the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands and Turks and Caicos – played a part in “masking kickbacks”. Will the Foreign and Commonwealth Office ensure the full compliance of those territories with any ongoing investigations?

As the issues raised in this letter are a matter of public importance, I am placing this letter in the public domain. I look forward to an early response.

Yours ever,

Lord Willy Bach
Shadow Attorney General