MP tells Nadhim Zahawi to ‘stand aside’ while his tax affairs are investigated
Tory party chairman Nadhim Zahawi is ‘toast’, an MP has claimed after Rishi Sunak ordered an investigation into the minister’s tax affairs.
The prediction, made by an anonymous senior Conservative to Sky, came as ex-home office minister Caroline Nokes told the BBC: ‘Nadhim should stand aside while this investigation is carrying on.’
PM Mr Sunak told his ethics adviser Sir Laurie Magnus to carry out the probe after it emerged Mr Zahawi paid a fine while chancellor, as part of a £5million settlement for failing to pay taxes.
Mr Zahawi said HMRC investigators found he was ‘careless’ rather than trying to avoid paying.
He denied all wrongdoing and said he acted properly throughout.
Public borrowing soars to record £27.4billion
Rising inflation and the cost of subsidising energy bills added £27.4billion to government borrowing last month – a record for December.
The figure, up £16.7billion on December 2021, added to the UK’s £2.5trillion national debt.
A total of £87.8billion in interest was paid between April and December, forecast to rise to £115.7billion by the end of the financial year. It dampens hopes of tax cuts in the March Budget.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said ministers were making ‘tough decisions to get debt falling’.
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