The Rolling Stones rock group has cancelled four British concerts in its current world tour after advisers raised concerns that new British income tax rules could dramatically increase its tax liabilities.

The change, which the Labour government said was in the interests of fairness, eliminates a concession allowing people living abroad for most of the year to pay no tax on foreign earnings.

The band believes the change could result in a tax bill of eighteen-million dollars on its earnings from the European leg of the tour if the British concerts were to go ahead.