Alexander signals crackdown on tax evasion at Lib Dem conference.

More than 2,000 tax inspectors will be recruited to crack down on tax evasion among the wealthiest people in the UK , a Liberal Democrat minister has said.

Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, told the Lib Dem conference that this would ensure 350,000 top earners paid their "fair share" of tax.

Efforts to raise an extra £7bn by 2015 from evaders were "on track", he said.

The party should be "proud" of its economic record since taking power, he added, and would "stick to its guns".

The renewed drive against tax evasion is designed to prevent the richest people in Britain from hiding the true extent of their liabilities and ensure they contribute to efforts to reduce the UK 's huge deficit.