Rishi Sunak’s government has been rocked by the Nadim Zahawi scandal with more ministers facing questions

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Ishi Sunak’s attempts to focus on his government’s priorities threatened to raise questions about Nadim Zahawi’s tax storm and the position of other ministers.

Critics have accused the prime minister of failing to act quickly enough to remove Mr Zahawi as Conservative Party chairman, and he also faces mounting pressure to deal swiftly with a series of bullying allegations against Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab.

Al-Zahawi was sacked as chairman of the Conservative Party on Sunday over a row over his tax affairs after an ethics investigation found him to be “seriously in breach of ministerial law”.

Nadhim Zahawi

/ PA wire

The prime minister used a cabinet meeting at Checkers last week to push his top team to deliver on his five key pledges to halve inflation, cut debt, grow the economy, reduce NHS waiting lists and tackle cross-channel migration.

But controversies haunt him, with new questions raised as to why Soella Braverman is home secretary, given that she previously admitted to breaking ministerial law when she used private email to send a document about immigration.

The Prime Minister has asked Sir Laurie Magnus, his independent adviser on the interests of ministers, to investigate whether Mr Al Zahawi acted properly after it was revealed that he had paid a fine as part of a £4.8m settlement dispute with HMRC.

Sir Lowry said in his report that Mr. Al-Zahawi showed “insufficient regard for the principles of the general principles of the Ministerial Code and the requirements in particular under the Seven Principles of Public Life, to be honest, open, and an exemplary leader by his own conduct.”

The Prime Minister’s message regarding the dismissal of Mr. Al-Zahawi

/ PA

In a letter to Zahawi, Mr Sunak said following the investigation “it is clear that there has been a serious breach of ministerial law”.

“In consequence, I have informed you of my decision to remove you from your position in His Majesty’s Government.”

In the letter, Mr Sunak told the Conservative MP: “When I became Prime Minister last year I made a commitment that the government I lead would be of integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level.”

In his letter to the prime minister after his dismissal, Mr. Zahawi did not explicitly mention the findings of the investigation.

But he told Mr Sunak he was concerned “about the behavior of some fourth caste people in recent weeks”, referring to the media.

“It has been, after being blessed by my loving family, the privilege of my life to serve in successive governments and to make what I believe has been a measurable difference to the country I love,” he said.

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In comments that seemed to indicate that the former chancellor had little prospect of returning to the position in the coming years, he said, “You can be assured of my back-seat support in the years to come. Your five priorities are the right ones, and I will do everything I can to help you achieve them.”

The dispute over Al-Zahawi centered over a tax bill over the sale of shares in YouGov – the survey company he founded – worth an estimated £27m which was owned by Balshore Investments, a Gibraltar-registered offshore company linked to Mr Al-Zahawi’s family.

Former head of the civil service Lord Kerslake said the prime minister “should have acted sooner” but said he should be able to “rely on his ministers to be transparent and adhere to ministerial law”.

Conservative MP Robin Walker, who chairs the Education Select Committee, said it was about “how long it took for full details of Zahavi’s tax affairs to emerge – particularly” given some of the roles he held at the time, including Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Both the Labor Party and the Liberal Democrats said the public should get answers about what and when Sunak learned of the controversy.

Shadow Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the prime minister should have sacked Mr Zahawi “a long time ago”.

“It is imperative that we now get answers to what Rishi Sunak knew and when he knew it. We need to see all the cards, not just shed light on the prime minister’s role in this matter.”

The Liberal Democrats also called on Mr. Zahawi to go ahead and withdraw from Parliament.

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