Rishi Sunak received informal advice in October that there could be a reputational risk to the government from Nadhim Zahawi's tax affairs, it has been reported. Government officials are said to have given the new prime minister informal advice as he drew up his cabinet in October, regarding the risks from an HMRC investigation settled only months earlier.
Mr Sunak has come under pressure over his decision to appoint Mr Zahawi as Tory party chair, with questions too asked about his political judgement in doing so. He has insisted that "no issues were raised with me" when he appointed Mr Zahawi to his current role.
Downing Street has strongly denied the claim that Mr Sunak was warned of the risk. A No 10 spokesperson said: "These claims are not true. The prime minister was not informed of these details, informally or otherwise."
The Independent revealed in July last year that HMRC was investigating Mr Zahawi and his tax affairs after inquiries were launched by the National Crime Agency and the Serious Fraud Office. The chancellor denied this and threatened to take legal action. According to The Observer, Mr Sunak was warned back in October that the tax issue involved a significant amount of money.
The prime minister ordered an investigation into Mr Zahawi by Sir Laurie Magnus, his independent adviser on ministers' interests, after the Tory chair paid a penalty as part of the dispute. Mr Zahawi is believed to have authorised HMRC to discuss his settlement - estimated to be worth £4.8m including the penalty - with the ethics inquiry.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة January 29, 2023 من The Independent.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة January 29, 2023 من The Independent.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Is Nadal in Paris the most dominant athlete in history?
Few athletes receive the honour of having a statue built for them at the end of their careers.
Klopp leaves an overflowing in-tray for Slot at Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp offered one last example of his skills as a motivator. He has proved time and again he can galvanise 11 people.
Rashford axed as Southgate calls up new faces to squad
Five uncapped players in frame for England's Euros bid
Pochettino leaves Chelsea after one season in charge
Mauricio Pochettino left Chelsea yesterday, just two days after the end of his first season in charge of the southwest London club.
Used car sales app Cazoo calls in the administrators
Online car seller Cazoo has gone into administration, three years after it listed on the New York Stock Exchange with a valuation of £5bn ($6.3bn).
Costner's new epic proves he is Hollywood's outlaw
The first part of a four-film saga by the 'Dances with Wolves' star isn't going down well at Cannes, but his recent TV series shows we can't underestimate his appeal, says Louis Chilton
No plot, all atmosphere...meet the 21st-century novel
Yael van der Wouden's hyped debut 'The Safekeep' has been compared to Patricia Highsmith and Sarah Waters. But the lack of narrative thrust is a problem, says Robert McCrum
Dreams have no deadlines
As a 90-year-old astronaut blasts into space and a man in his sixties becomes a modelling sensation, Helen Coffey finds that living life to its fullest is not just for young people
Are airfares rising or not?
Q I’m extremely confused. My experience as a frequent holidaymaker is that prices are rising inexorably. But now Ryanair is saying it doesn’t expect airfares to go up much, if at all. What’s your take?
'Nature is unfair, but it does offer some great remedies'
Taking over from the rakish Jeffrey Bernard, Jeremy Clarke wrote the Low Life column in 'The Spectator' for 20 years until his death from cancer in 2023. His witty account of his battle with the disease, The Final Years, is extracted here
