UK PM Sunak dismisses Conservative party chairman over tax case

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak dismissed Conservative Party chair Nadhim Zahawi following the findings in the tax case probe against Zahawi. The probe found that Zahawi committed a breach of the ministerial code.

On Sunday, Sunak said in a letter that he was dismissing Zahawi after an ethics probe found the Conservative chair breached the ministerial code by failing to disclose ongoing investigations into his tax affairs. Sunak maintained his support for Zahawi when he asked an independent adviser to investigate questions regarding his tax affairs when it emerged that Zahawi settled an investigation by the United Kingdom’s tax authority HMRC in 2022.

“Following the completion of the Independent Adviser’s investigation…it is clear that there has been a serious breach of the Ministerial Code,” said Sunak in his letter to Zahawi. “As a result, I have informed you of my decision to remove you from your position in His Majesty’s Government.”

The adviser Laurie Magnus said Zahawi did not declare that his tax affairs were under investigation when he was briefly appointed as finance minister last year. Magnus added that Zahawi did not disclose details of such an investigation when Sunak appointed him to his current post.

Zahawi said that the tax authority ruled that he was “careless” with his declarations but did not purposely make an error in paying less tax, which confirmed that the Conservative chair paid a penalty fee to the HMRC.

Zahawi responded to the letter without mentioning Sunak, the independent adviser’s probe, and the HMRC. Zahawi expressed concern about the media’s coverage of the issue but said he would continue to support Sunak’s agenda as a lawmaker.

The issue surrounding Zahawi has prompted calls from Conservative lawmakers for him to resign, citing that there is a need for the government to avoid being further dogged by allegations of sleaze. Sunak told parliament on Wednesday last week that the issues concerning Zahawi were raised before Sunak took office as prime minister.

With deputy prime minister Dominic Raab also under investigations of misconduct, Sunak has since come under scrutiny after pledging to lead the country with “integrity, professionalism, and accountability.”