Nadhim Zahawi – latest: Sunak says ‘no issues’ were raised over the conservative president’s tax affairs before his appointment
Rishi Sunak says ‘no issues’ were raised over Nadhim Zahawi’s tax affairs before cabinet appointment
Rishi Sunak has insisted he had “no problem” with Nadhim Zahawi’s tax affairs when he appointed him as Conservative Party chairman.
Speaking at Checkers where he hosted a Cabinet Day, the Prime Minister said: ‘Because new information has come to light over the last week that is why I have decided to ask the independent adviser to thoroughly investigate this matter.
“When I appointed Nadhim Zahawi to his current position, no issue was raised with me regarding this appointment.”
The row surrounding Mr Zahawi centers on a tax bill over the sale of shares in YouGov, the polling company he co-founded.
The head of HM Revenue and Customs has said Mr Zahawi did not make an “innocent mistake” in his tax affairs, raising fresh questions over the £1million fine imposed on the minister.
Mr Zahawi has since authorized HMRC to pass details of his tax affairs to the Prime Minister’s Ethics Adviser, who is investigating whether he breached the rules for ministers.
Rishi Sunak defends Nadhim Zahawi’s cabinet appointment
Speaking at Checkers where he hosted a Cabinet Day, the Prime Minister said: ‘Because new information has come to light over the last week that is why I have decided to ask the independent adviser to thoroughly investigate this matter.
“When I appointed Nadhim Zahawi to his current position, no issue was raised with me regarding this appointment.”
Mr Sunak is said to be ‘livid’ with his minister over the saga, according to The temperature.
The Prime Minister has not spoken to his party chairman since revealing details of his settlement with HM Revenue and Customs over the weekend.
Shweta SharmaJanuary 27, 2023 4:19 a.m.
Keir Starmer did not plead for Nadhim Zahawi’s resignation
Not for the first time, Westminster was in turmoil. Speculation over when a minister would step down dominated reporters’ conversations ahead of the Prime Minister’s Questions. Nadhim Zahawi, the president of the Conservative Party, would he be sacked after the Today program? Mid-morning? Five minutes before PMQ? Or by Rishi Sunak in his first answer?
Not for the first time, the clash between the prime minister and the leader of the opposition was an anti-climax.
Keir Starmer realized that people outside the Commons were less interested in the processology of a minister whose career is hanging by a thread, and so he devoted his first three questions to the failure of the service probation to free the violent criminal who murdered Zara Aleena.
Shweta SharmaJanuary 27, 2023 4:54 a.m.
Nadhim Zahawi authorizes HMRC to pass details to Prime Minister’s Ethics Adviser
Nadhim Zahawi has reportedly given his approval to HM Revenue and Customs to pass details of his tax affairs to the Prime Minister’s Ethics Adviser – who is investigating whether he broke rules for ministers.
The pressure on the Conservative party chairman, who has admitted paying a fine as part of an estimated £4.8million settlement with HMRC, intensified after the organization’s chief said that such penalties were not imposed for “innocent errors”.
A source close to Mr Zahawi said he has now cleared HMRC to speak to Sir Laurie Magnus, who is investigating whether his actions amounted to a breach of the ministerial code of conduct.
Earlier, giving evidence to MPs, HMRC chief Jim Harra said that while he could not comment on individual cases there was ‘no punishment for innocent mistakes in your tax affairs’.
Shweta SharmaJanuary 27, 2023 4:45 a.m.
Nadhim Zahawi dealt a blow to the tax line after an extraordinary intervention by HMRC
The Tory president claimed he had “acted correctly” in his tax affairs and that officials deemed his mistake “reckless and not deliberate”.
Sunak says ‘no issues’ were raised over Zahawi tax before cabinet appointment
Rishi Sunak has insisted he had “no problem” with Nadhim Zahawi’s tax affairs when he appointed him as Conservative Party chairman. The MP for Stratford-upon-Avon has resisted calls for him to be sacked after he admitted paying a fine as part of an estimated £4.8million settlement with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). Mr Zahawi has since authorized HMRC to pass details of his tax affairs to the Prime Minister’s Ethics Adviser, who is investigating whether he breached the rules for ministers. Subscribe to our newsletter.
Shweta SharmaJanuary 27, 2023 04:30
Hello and welcome to The IndependentLive political coverage.
We’ll bring you updates throughout the day as Nadhim Zahawi faces pressure to step down following a row over his tax arrangement.
Shweta SharmaJanuary 27, 2023 4:05 a.m.
The Independent Gt
