UK PM Sunak asks ethics adviser to investigate tax case involving Conservative chair

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has requested his ethics adviser to launch an investigation on a tax case involving a chairman of the governing Conservative Party. The probe was due to “questions that need answering” following the finding by authorities that the chair was “careless” in tax declarations.

On Monday, Sunak said he asked his independent ethics adviser to launch a probe into a tax case involving Conservative chair Nadhim Zahawi following the announcement by the authorities that Zahawi was “careless” in his tax declarations. Allies said Zahawi would not stand down, and Zahawi said that he did not purposely pay fewer taxes.

Sunak said he wanted the adviser to make sure Zahawi adhered to the rules that ministers are expected to follow.

“Integrity and accountability is really important to me… There are questions that need answering and that is why I have asked our independent adviser to get to the bottom of everything,” Sunak told reporters, adding that he was pleased that Zahawi agreed to cooperate with the probe, noting that the charges against Zahawi were made before Sunak became prime minister.

A spokesperson for Sunak said the prime minister wanted the probe to be done as soon as possible and that the adviser would look into wider issues if needed.

Zahawi welcomed the move, saying that he looked forward to explaining the “facts of the issue” and that he would not make further public comments about the matter as the investigation goes on.

In response to the probe, the opposition Labour Party said Sunak was too weak to dismiss Zahawi. Labour leader Keir Starmer told reporters that Sunak needs to “show some leadership”, and the probe is another test on Sunak’s leadership since taking over back in October.

Sunak has also come under increasing pressure in light of the ongoing industrial strikes in the country. The Director-General of the Confederation of British Industry, Tony Danker, praised Sunak for tackling the budget crisis created by his predecessor Liz Truss during her time as prime minister. However, Danker said Sunak must now respond to the green environment subsidies in the United States and the European Union.

Danker said the United Kingdom was falling behind in the race to fuel economic growth through green investment and that the UK needed to take a targeted approach.