KPMG has put the UK at the bottom half of a league table of the most attractive European countries to do business in.

The UK, criticised by business for complicated and burdensome tax regime, came 12th out of 22 countries, overtaken by Ireland, Cyprus and Switzerland who came tops for their combination of easy to understand rules, low tax rates and stable fiscal laws.

The survey was conducted by the firm among 400 businesses, who found that the UK's volume of tax legislation is too high, with rules which are too difficult to interpret, the Guardian reported.

Nearly 70% of the businesses surveyed felt that unattractive tax regimes disadvantaged their businesses.

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