Today, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak sacked his Conservative Party Chairman Nadhim Zahawi after he warned of breaches of ministerial regulations as a result of fiscal problems.
In a public letter to Zahawi, Sunak indicated that “there was a serious violation of the ministerial code”, adding: “Therefore, I inform you of my decision to remove you from your duties in Her Majesty’s government.”
Last week, Downing Street launched an investigation that finally found that Zahawi had paid several million pounds to settle a dispute with the British tax authorities.
Ethics counselor Laurie Magnus determined that the official should have declared the tax investigation to which he was subjected, at the same time that he should have updated his declaration of interests after having settled his dispute with the tax authorities.
By not asking Zahawi to be the one to resign, the local press interpreted this decision by the president as a way of reaffirming his authority, after the leader promised “integrity, professionalism and responsibility” upon reaching the head of government.
Zahawi became Chairman of the Conservative Party and Minister without Portfolio in October 2022, when the new Prime Minister took office. Previously, for a brief period, he had served as finance minister in the Boris Johnson government.
