British PM fires Conservative party chairman over tax bill allegations

The British government said Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Sunday fired Conservative party chairman Nadhim Zahawi after an inquiry into Zahawi’s tax affairs found a “serious breach” of ministerial rules.

“As a result, I have informed you of my decision to remove you from your position in His Majesty’s Government,” the British Prime Minister wrote in a publicly released letter to Zahawi.

The government also released the inquiry report by Rishi Sunak’s newly appointed independent ethics advisor, Laurie Magnus.

The Magnus report found there should have been an understanding from the outset the matter was serious.

The probe began in April 2021, but Zahawi did not declare it when he was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer more than a year later.

Magnus pulled no punches in finding that Zahawi effectively lied to successive Conservative leaders when he came under investigation by the UK’s tax authority, which led to the politician handing over a fine for late payment reportedly worth £5 million ($6.2 million).

Rishi Sunak appointed Zahawi as Conservative party chairman, and cabinet minister without portfolio when he entered 10 Downing Street in October when he vowed to deliver “integrity, professionalism, and accountability at every level”.

Zahawi was previously in the cabinet under both Liz Truss and Boris Johnson, who appointed him as chancellor of the exchequer, in ultimate charge of the UK tax agency.

Zahawi previously worked as vaccines minister in the first year of the coronavirus pandemic, followed by a nine-month stint as education minister.

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