Rishi Sunak has finally sacked Nadhim Zahawi as Tory party chair over a "serious breach" of the ministerial code, more than six months after The Independent first revealed details of an HMRC investigation into Mr Zahawi's tax affairs. The former
chancellor - who is now facing calls to resign his seat as an MP did not apologise for his handling of his tax affairs and lashed out at the media in an exit letter to the PM.
More than eight days after it emerged that Mr Zahawi had paid a £1m fine to HMRC, the prime minister told him in a letter that there had been "a serious breach of the ministerial code" and that he would be stripped of his cabinet role. Mr Sunak revealed yesterday that his ethics adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus, had judged Mr Zahawi to have broken ministerial rules seven times by failing to be open and honest during the tax saga - including by making "untrue" public statements.
But former Tory minister Michael Portillo said the length of time it took Mr Sunak to act had made the prime minister "look weak", while Craig Oliver, a former director of communications for No 10, agreed that the delay had made the PM appear "quite weak". Conservative MP Nigel Mills also shared this frustration.
"I don't see why we couldn't have been here a week ago," he told The Independent, adding that it was "odd" for Mr Zahawi to be sacked for a lack of transparency rather than the fact that he had been fined £1m by HMRC while chancellor.
Bu hikaye The Independent dergisinin January 30, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Independent dergisinin January 30, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Marvel's latest promo video treats its viewers like idiots
‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ will ‘make enemies with Disney’ and ‘lower your IQ’... and that’s according to its own star! Louis Chilton finds the film’s ironic sales pitch mirthless
Coldplay haters get a life...or should that be viva la vida
As the British band prepare to headline Glastonbury for a record-breaking fifth time, Mark Beaumont assesses their legacy and questions why some critics are still so disdainful
Future of fashion is at stake
Clothing brand The Vampire’s Wife, co-founded by Susie Cave, helped define idiosyncratic British glamour. Its sudden closing down reflects an industry in peril
The sickening truth of the Nazi camp on British soil
For years, debate has raged about how many died in the occupation of Channel Island Alderney. It was no ‘miniAuschwitz’ but there were atrocities
Boehly has turned Chelsea into England's silliest club
Have they ever thought the problem might be them? Obviously not, of course, because that might take a level of self-awareness or humility and the capacity to acknowledge the failings at Chelsea start at the top.
Lookman sets Dublin alight and makes Atalanta history
Ademola Lookman’s lift-off finally brings Xabi Alonso down to earth.
Two uncapped players in Scotland Euro 2024 squad
Liverpool’s Ben Doak, 18, included as injury rules out three
Inflation is down but devil is in detail for homeowners
Across the economy, price rises slowed significantly in April with the rate of inflation declining to 2.3 per cent from 3.2 per cent.
M&S has the 'wind in its sails' as profits surge 58%
Retail giant says past year’s results the best since 1997
Kashmiris reject Modi's claims over record turnout
PM insists high voter numbers vindicate controversial BJP policies but locals say opposite
