Britain's opposition is using the latest scandal involving HSBC to score some political points in the run-up to the election in May.
Opposition leader Ed Miliband has used the latest Q&A session in Parliament to question Prime Minister David Cameron about the appointment of Stephen Green as a senior trade official in 2010.
Green had been the head of HSBC during the time the British banking giant is accused of helping its wealthy customers avoid millions of dollars in taxes.
Cameron has shrugged off any suggestion of impropriety.
"When I appointed Stephen Green every proper process was followed. I consulted the cabinet secretary, I consulted the director for propriety and ethics and of course the House of Lords appointments commission now looks at someone's individual tax affairs before giving them a peerage. I made the appointment, it was welcomed by Labour and three years later they were still holding meetings with him."
Green is no longer part of the British government.
A panel of British lawmakers is opening an inquiry into HSBC.
This follows revelations the bank helped thousands of its customers avoid taxes and shield assets in its Swiss operations.
