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Nadhim Zahawi sacked by Rishi Sunak for ‘serious breach of the Ministerial Code’

29 Jan 2023 4 minute read
Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi. Photo Liam McBurney PA Images

Nadhim Zahawi has been sacked by Rishi Sunak, with the Prime Minister telling the Tory chairman in a letter that it is “clear that there has been a serious breach of the Ministerial Code”.

In a letter to Nadhim Zahawi, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the findings of his independent adviser on ministers’ interests Sir Laurie Magnus made it “clear that there has been a serious breach of the ministerial code”.

The letter said: “When I became Prime Minister last year, I pledged that the Government I lead would have integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level.

“That is why, following new information which came to light in recent days regarding your personal financial arrangements and declarations, I asked Sir Laurie Magnus, the independent adviser on ministers’ interests, to fully investigate this matter. You agreed and undertook to co-operate fully with the inquiry.

“Following the completion of the independent adviser’s investigation – the findings of which he has shared with us both – it is clear that there has been a serious breach of the ministerial code. As a result, I have informed you of my decision to remove you from your position in His Majesty’s Government.

“As you leave, you should be extremely proud of your wide-ranging achievements in Government over the last five years.

“In particular, your successful oversight of the Covid-19 vaccine procurement and deployment programme which ensured the United Kingdom was at the forefront of the global response to the coronavirus pandemic.”

Letter from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to Nadhim Zahawi.

‘Omissions’

In a letter to the Prime Minister, the independent adviser on ministers’ interests Sir Laurie Magnus told Rishi Sunak that certain “omissions” by Nadhim Zahawi fell short of the standards set out in the ministerial code.

In his report, dated January 29, Sir Laurie wrote: “Given the nature of the investigation by HMRC, which started prior to his appointment as Secretary of State for Education on 15th September, 2021, I consider that by failing to declare HMRC’s ongoing investigation before July 2022 – despite the ministerial declaration of interests form including specific prompts on tax affairs and HMRC investigations and disputes – Mr Zahawi failed to meet the requirement to declare any interests which might be thought to give rise to a conflict.”

Penalty

Sir Laurie also told the PM: “I also conclude that, in the appointments process for the governments formed in September 2022 and October 2022, Mr Zahawi failed to disclose relevant information – in this case the nature of the investigation and its outcome in a penalty – at the time of his appointment, including to Cabinet Office officials who support that process.

“Without knowledge of that information, the Cabinet Office was not in a position to inform the appointing Prime Minister.

“Taken together, I consider that these omissions constitute a serious failure to meet the standards set out in the ministerial code.”

“I consider that Mr Zahawi, in holding the high privilege of being a Minister of the Crown, has shown insufficient regard for 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 through his own behaviour,” he concluded.

‘Moral compass’

Plaid Cymru Westminster leader Liz Saville Roberts tweeted in response to the news: “Rishi Sunak has finally sacked tax dodger Zahawi. His departure was always inevitable. Sunak’s dithering and delaying shows that he has zero grasp on his government – and follows no moral compass.”

The party added: “The public now recognise the Tories as the party of tax evasion, caught red-handed helping their cronies to the public purse for private gain.”


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Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
1 year ago

About time…

Next Raab and the health sec Barclay, the man a coroner claims is presiding over the deaths of hundreds of Brits a week…

Your money and your life in no chance Britain…

Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
1 year ago
Reply to  Mab Meirion

The other person, apart from the Home Sec and Hunt, Sunak should have sacked for being ‘weak’ and useless was himself…

“one rule for everyone else and no rules for us” as his lying mentor Fat Shanks put into unwritten law and now obeyed by all Tory ministers and continued into this 5th hand government by ‘Wishy Washy Rishi’ the rope trick expert…’expert’ in what apart from totally insincere smugness and long tots..,.

with thanks to Mr Rawnsley…

Last edited 1 year ago by Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
1 year ago
Reply to  Mab Meirion

Watch this space, which Tory Friend of India/Modi will Sunak put in his place, Priti Patel would jump at the chance or Alok Sharma perhaps…

We might get to see who Rishi is really working for, it would be handy to know just how many billions his in-laws have made from the war in Ukraine…

Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
1 year ago
Reply to  Mab Meirion

Well, the decades of ‘Tory Friends of Russia’ are over except for top King’s Council lawyers. Not a chance of Tory Friends of Britain any time soon…

Kerry Davies
Kerry Davies
1 year ago

“… a serious breach..”?
Sunak’s ethics adviser counted 7 serious breaches of the ministerial code between April 2021 and October 2022 at which point he gave up looking.

Sir Montague Flange
Sir Montague Flange
1 year ago

Sounds impressive “sacked” what it really means is he’s been asked to stand down as a minister, he remains on the back bench, he’s corrupt, he’s been caught he should nolonger be an mp.

Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
1 year ago

Ministers are expected to ‘maintain high standards of behaviour and to behave in a way that upholds the highest standards of propriety’ while observing the Seven Principals of Public Life. Well that rules Sunak and his cabinet out of a job in future. Do not pick up a pension and go directly to a by-election…A vote of no confidence asap…

Last edited 1 year ago by Mab Meirion
Stevie B
Stevie B
1 year ago

Yet another tory with their snout in the trough!

Steve Woods
Steve Woods
1 year ago

First keeping his horses warm at taxpayers’ expense, then avoiding tax whilst allegedly being in charge of HMRC. The man’s got more front than all the seaside resorts in the country combined.

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