The Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has asked the Independent Ethics advisor to investigate the Tory party chairman Nadhin Zahawi’s tax affairs saying that there are questions that will need answering
The announcement comes as the the Tory Chairman desperately clings onto his job amid warnings the row over his tax affairs has made his position “untenable”
Rishi Sunak was not aware that Nadhim Zahawi, had to pay a penalty when he settled his tax bill with HM Revenue and Customs until this weekend, No 10 has admitted this morning.
Sunak also said that he was also assured by officials when he appointed him Tory chair that there were “no outstanding issues”
A new poll out this morning shows that 59 per cent of people want Rishi Sunak to dismiss Zahawi from the Cabinet, and only 14 per cent want him to remain in post
Sunak told reporters
“Integrity and accountability is really important to me and clearly in this case there are questions that need answering …”
“That’s why the independent adviser has been asked to fully investigate this matter and provide advice to me on Nadhim Zahawi’s compliance with the ministerial code, and on the basis of that we’ll decide on the appropriate next steps.”
Asked whether Zahawi should not stand down during the investigation, Sunak said: “As is longstanding practice, he will continue to play the role he does.”
