(Updates with Labour leader comments)
By William Schomberg
LONDON, Feb 14 (Reuters) - A former boss of HSBC,Stephen Green, has stepped down from his position with afinancial services lobby group after allegations that the bankhelped people dodge taxes.
Green, who is under increasing pressure over the HSBCrevelations, quit as chairman of TheCityUK's advisory council,an unpaid position, the organisation said on Saturday.
"This is entirely his own decision," Gerry Grimstone,chairman of the TheCityUK's board, said, describing Green as aman of great personal integrity.
"He doesn't want to damage the effectiveness of TheCityUK inpromoting good governance and doing the right thing so hasdecided to step aside from chairing our Advisory Council."
Lawmakers in Britain's parliament are considering whether toquiz Green over the allegations and the Bank of England has saidit might look into the case too.
Green was HSBC chairman from 2006 until 2010. He has so fardeclined to comment on the allegations.
Europe's largest bank has admitted failings in complianceand controls in its Swiss private bank after media allegationsthat it may have enabled clients to avoid paying tax.
The bank's chief executive Stuart Gulliver said on Fridaythat HSBC had sometimes failed to live up to the standardsexpected of it.
The leader of Britain's Labour Party, Ed Miliband, accusedthe Conservative-led government of Prime Minister David Cameronon Saturday of not being tough enough on tax avoiders.
"We will shine a light on parts of our tax system that havebeen shrouded in secrecy by this government," he told agathering of Labour supporters in Wales.
If Labour wins national elections on May 7, it will launchan independent, root and branch review of the culture andpractice of Britain's tax office, Miliband said.
Labour has criticised Cameron for appointing Green as atrade minister in 2011, a position he held until 2013, sayingthe government knew about HSBC's work in Switzerland.
The government has hit back, saying Labour was in power atthe time of the alleged tax avoidance. (Reporting by William Schomberg; Editing by Hugh Lawson andJane Merriman)
HSBC Holdings (HSBA)