Press play to listen to this article
Voiced by artificial intelligence.
LONDON – Rishi Sunak has asked his ethics adviser to look into the financial affairs of a senior minister who has allegedly been forced to pay a six-figure tax sum.
Conservative Party chairman Nadim Zahawi is facing calls to resign after the Guardian reports paid the fine about unpaid tax to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) when he was serving as Britain’s top finance minister.
In a statement at the weekend, Zahavi said he had made an error with his taxes which HMRC accepted as “negligent and not intentional” – but did not comment on the nature of any penalties paid.
On a visit to a hospital on Monday, the prime minister told reporters: “Integrity and accountability is really important to me and clearly there are questions in this case that need to be answered.,
Sunak confirmed that he has tasked Laurie Magnus, a recently appointed independent consultant on ministerial interests, to “thoroughly investigate the matter and establish all the facts and provide me with advice on compliance with Nadim Zahavi’s ministerial code”. “
He said the party president, who also serves as a minister without portfolio, had agreed to “fully cooperate” with the investigation.
Number 10 has so far insisted that Sunak was reassured by the Cabinet Office – which oversees government appointments – that there was no reason not to offer Zahawi the job.
Questions have been raised over Zahavi’s financial arrangements since last summer, when he was first reported to be under investigation by HMRC.
He has since confirmed that he resolved the multi-million pound dispute while he briefly served as Chancellor of the Exchequer – the most senior financial job in the British government, responsible for overseeing taxation – under Boris Johnson. Under
Labor Party chair Anneliese Dodds called Zahawi’s actions “deeply damaging to public trust” and called for her sacking.