BRITAIN has been the “absolute leader” in tackling tax avoidance, a beleaguered David Cameron claimed yesterday as he came under yet more pressure over his family’s shadowy tax dealings.

And the Prime Minister was battered by senior figures in his own party for spending more than £9 million of taxpayers’ money on pro-EU leaflets.

It wasn’t just the decision to spend public money on the partisan publication — many also suggested the announcement had been timed to shift the media glare away from Mr Cameron’s late father Ian’s offshore cash.

Downing Street said the move was a response to polling which showed 85 per cent of the public wanted more information from the government to help them make an informed choice prior to the June 23 referendum.

Mr Cameron yesterday refused to apologise for the leaflet, saying: “We are not neutral so we have made a clear stance in this leaflet which everyone will get a copy of.”

But Labour MP Graham Stringer told the Today programme he believed the massive postal drop, to start next week, was designed to “divert the attention from the Prime Minister’s immediate problem about his income.”

The PM also came under fire yesterday after it was revealed that he had successfully attempted to dilute the effect of EU transparency rules despite warnings it could create a loophole for tax dodgers.

The Financial Times revealed that Mr Cameron successfully argued in 2013 for trusts to be treated differently to companies in anti-money laundering rules.

Shadow Treasury minister Richard Burgon said the disclosure “completely undermines” claims the government was determined to act on the issue.

“Another day and another story emerges which exposes what the Conservative Party really thinks in its heart of hearts about tackling tax avoidance,” he said.

“The Prime Minister can’t raise a finger to save our steel industry but at the drop of a hat he can personally intervene to undermine EU efforts to clamp down on tax avoidance.”