ANI
30 Jan 2023, 09:55 GMT+10
London [UK], January 30 (ANI): United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak sacked Conservative Party chair Nadhim Zahawi on Sunday over personal tax affairs, CNN reported.
The recent investigation, ordered by Rishi Sunak, revealed that Zahawi has done a 'serious breach' of the Ministerial Code, Rishi Sunak said in a letter given to Zahwiri.
Sunak last week ordered his ethics adviser to investigate Zahawi following claims he had paid a penalty as part of a reported Pound 4.8 million (USD 5.96 million) settlement with tax officials. It was alleged that Zahawi did not declare the dispute with tax authorities.
In a letter, Sunak said, "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."The UK's Ministerial Code sets out the standards of conduct expected of ministers and how they discharge their duties, as per the report in CNN.
Reports of Zahawi's multi-million-pound settlement with tax officials shocked Britons, many of whom are battling to survive amid the cost-of-living crisis.
Interestingly, Sunak himself has also been scrutinised over the tax arrangements of his wife Akshata Murty, the daughter of an Indian billionaire. Last year, Sunak and Murty appeared on the Sunday Times Rich List of the UK's 250 wealthiest people -- the newspaper estimated their joint net worth at Pound 730 million (USD 826 million), according to UK-based media publications.
Indian-born Murty is the daughter of Narayana Murthy, the billionaire co-founder of tech giant Infosys and has a 0.9 per cent stake in the company worth hundreds of millions of pounds according to its latest annual report.
In a letter responding to his dismissal published Sunday, Zahawi said it had been the privilege of his life to serving in successive UK governments but he didn't make any references to the report regarding tax affairs.
"I arrived in this country fleeing persecution and speaking no English. Here, I built a successful business and served in some of the highest offices in government. I believe that in no other country on earth would my story be possible," the statement read.
Zahawi was appointed chancellor of the exchequer -- finance minister -- by former prime minister Boris Johnson in July last year. He remained in the Cabinet under Johnson's successor Liz Truss and her successor, Sunak, who made him party chairman.
According to the UK government site, Zahawi was previously Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Minister for Intergovernmental Relations, and Minister for Equalities from 6 September to 25 October 2022. (ANI)
Get a daily dose of The UK News news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to The UK News.
More InformationMENINDEE, Australia: After recent floods and hot weather, millions of dead fish have washed up in southeastern Australia, which authorities ...
BOISE, Idaho: Under a bill passed by the Idaho Legislature thios with a veto-proof majority, the state will allow firing ...
SACRAMENTO, California: The state of California and generic drug manufacturer Civica have announced a 10-year partnership to produce affordable, state-branded ...
CHEYENNE, Wyoming: A Wyoming bill outlawing the use or prescription of medication abortion pills, which was passed by the state's ...
DENVER, Colorado: The Southern Nevada Water Authority has voted to accept a $2.4 million grant from the US Bureau of ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: The US government has reported that the exceptionally wet winter in California this year will offer relief from ...
Leigh Finke began her role as a US state representative less than three months agoLeigh Finke, a transgender former journalist ...
Austin FC acquired defender Aleksandar Radovanovic on loan from KV Kortrijk of the Belgian Jupiler Pro League. The agreement runs ...
Berlin [Germany], March 22 (ANI): Former Arsenal, Real Madrid and Germany midfielder Mesut Ozil has announced his retirement at the ...
Brussels [Belgium], March 22 (ANI): Manchester City's star mid-fielder Kevin De Bruyne has been named the captain of Belgium after ...
Paris [France], March 22 (ANI): Kylian Mbappe, a player who has become one of the most decorated strikers in football, ...
Manchester [United Kingdom], March 22 (ANI): World Cup winner, the next Argentine sensation in making 23-year-old striker Julian Alvarez has ...