Nadhim Zahawi fights to stay in job amid row over tax affairs

Rishi Sunak ordered a probe into Nadhim Zahawi today admitting ‘questions need answering’ over his tax affairs.

The PM has asked his standards advisers to examine the situation after it emerged he paid millions of pounds to settle a dispute with HMRC while he was Chancellor last summer.

However, the row is showing little sign of abating, with Labour branding Mr Zahawi’s position ‘untenable’ and senior Conservatives suggesting he will need to answer more questions.

Research by Find Out Now conducted over the weekend found that 59 per cent thought Rishi Sunak should dismiss him. Just 14 per cent said he should stay on, while 28 per cent were not sure.  

Mr Zahawi shouted a cheery ‘morning’ to waiting reporters and photographers as he arrived at Tory HQ in Westminster today. 

Speaking on a visit to a hospital in Northamptonshire, Mr Sunak said his adviser Sir Laurie Magnus – who took on the role shortly before Christmas – would be looking into the case. 

‘Integrity and accountability is really important to me and clearly in this case there are questions that need answering,’ he said.

‘That’s why I’ve asked our independent adviser to get to the bottom of everything, to investigate the matter fully and establish all the facts and provide advice to me on Nadhim Zahawi’s compliance with the ministerial code.

Source of data and images: dailymail