British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak sacked Conservative Party chairman Nadhim Zahawi after a tax investigation found him in serious breach of regulations.
Mr Sunak has ordered an independent adviser to investigate the tax issues of Mr Zahawi, who briefly served as finance minister during a period of political turmoil in Britain last year.
Zahawi said the UK tax authorities had ruled that he was “careless” with his returns rather than intentionally breaking the rules to get less tax.
Nadhim Zahawi outside the Conservative Party headquarters in London, England, January 23. Photo: Reuters.
“Following the completion of the independent counsel’s investigation, based on the findings that the advisor shared with both of us, it is clear that there has been a serious breach of the ministerial code,” the Prime Minister said. Sunak today said in a letter to Mr. Zahawi. “Therefore, I inform you of my decision to remove you from your position in the government.”
Independent adviser Laurie Magnus said Mr Zahawi repeatedly lied to Conservative leaders when he was investigated by the tax authorities, leading to the politician being fined for late payments of up to 6,000,000 VND. 2 million USD.
According to Magnus, Zahawi misinformed when he said last July’s reports on his tax affairs were “clearly defamatory”. Zahawi did not revise his statement until last week, when he said he had reached an agreement with the authorities.
“I consider the delay in correcting an untrue public statement to be inconsistent with the requirement of openness,” adviser Magnus said in a letter to Prime Minister Sunak.
Magnus further noted that Zahawi has shown he “doesn’t care enough” about being asked “to be honest, open, and present himself as an exemplary leader through his own behaviour”. “Mr Zahawi’s conduct, as a minister, has fallen short of the standard that he, as prime minister, would expect from those serving in his government,” he stressed.
Prime Minister Sunak’s decision to sack Zahawi, rather than offer him his resignation to save face, underscores the serious political turmoil unfolding at a time when millions of Britons are grappling with a host of problems. issues, especially the consumer price crisis.
When he took office as UK prime minister in October 2022, vowing to bring “integrity, professionalism and accountability at all levels”, Mr Sunak appointed Mr Zahawi chairman of the Conservative Party and ministry. chief of the ministry.
Zahawi previously worked in both the cabinet of prime ministers Liz Truss and Boris Johnson, who appointed him finance minister.
The opposition Labor Party said Prime Minister Sunak should have fired Zahawi immediately when the allegations surfaced over the past month, rather than trying to buy time by asking his adviser Magnus to investigate.
Vu Hoang (Theo Reuters, AFP)