I genuinely like to give people the benefit of the doubt if I don't know all the facts but really, does anyone believe NZ made a "careless mistake" with his tax arrangements? If he has paid the reported £4.3m (including a 30% fine) that means he underpaid by over £3m. How can this be a careless mistake? He may have a degree in chemical engineering, so he's fairly numerate but surely he'd have had accountants advising him? The whole things reeks of tax avoidance if it isn't then he should make his returns available to an independent committee or resign. I see BJ is back in the news, I'm still waiting to find out why he travelled to Italy in 2018 to meet the KGB agent Lebedev without his minders when he was Foreign Secretary.
Yes I think that is right. But frankly Sunak had received plenty of warning before he gave him the chairmanship, so his judgement is highly questionable
I agree with DH that you can't sack someone on rumour alone but agree with you that it's enough to not appoint someone in the first place.
M0nica
What I cannot understand is why Sunak, or more broadly, any Prime Minister, doesn't sack these errant ministers the moment the rumours start circulating.
Every time, if the PM had nipped the problem in the bud by sacking/accepting the resignation of the minister concerned at the start, and re-appointed the person, if the rumour is without foundation, - and how often does that happen! - The whole thing could have been seen to have been dealt with commendably fast.
Yet every time they stretch it out, accusations, denials, more accusations, qualified denials, accusations, no comment, accusations, accusation confirmed and minister resigns.
Yes I think that is right. But frankly Sunak had received plenty of warning before he gave him the chairmanship, so his judgement is highly questionable.
Red flags had been raised even when Johnson was considering making him chancellor.
All this nonsense about it being right to wait for an enquiry is just that — nonsense.
What I cannot understand is why Sunak, or more broadly, any Prime Minister, doesn't sack these errant ministers the moment the rumours start circulating.
I suggested that to DH this morning but he said that no, they must wait for the result of an enquiry even if all the indications are that it will be proven.
You cannot sack someone on the strength of rumours.
What I cannot understand is why Sunak, or more broadly, any Prime Minister, doesn't sack these errant ministers the moment the rumours start circulating.
Every time, if the PM had nipped the problem in the bud by sacking/accepting the resignation of the minister concerned at the start, and re-appointed the person, if the rumour is without foundation, - and how often does that happen! - The whole thing could have been seen to have been dealt with commendably fast.
Yet every time they stretch it out, accusations, denials, more accusations, qualified denials, accusations, no comment, accusations, accusation confirmed and minister resigns.
MaizieD you are on the right track. Yes BJ did appoint NZ as chancellor in his last gasp weeks.
Interesting don’t you think? Shows a stunning chess type mind on BJ’s part. So who is the villain ?
That didn't take long:
From the Observer, July 2022
A “flag” was raised by officials over the financial affairs of the new chancellor, Nadhim Zahawi, before he was promoted, the Observer can reveal.
Civil servants in the Cabinet Office’s propriety and ethics team are said to have alerted Boris Johnson to a HM Revenue and Customs “flag” over Zahawi before his appointment. The PM appointed him despite the possible concerns over his tax affairs.
“It’s extraordinary that flags were raised ahead of Nadhim’s appointment by the Downing Street proprietary team,” one source said this weekend. “These sorts of concerns would stop someone receiving an MBE or OBE. The idea he could be chancellor or even prime minister is unbelievable”
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jul/09/revealed-officials-raised-flag-over-nadim-zahawis-tax-affairs-before-he-was-appointed-chancellor
Somewhat at odds with this, isn't it?
"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... 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."
If the No 10 team raised concerns in July I'm surprised that they didn't surface again in September & October 2022.
They cannot stop lying, can they?
Just read his letter.
He has a whole paragraph at the end for slagging off the press.
Without the proper journalism that was conducted by the Guardian etc, he would still be sitting in his post laughing at us all.
He tried but failed to put a lid on it by threatening libel.
Brave and excellent journalism
Speaking truth to power. Oh how we need so much more if that in this country.
What a sleazy shower - if he is sacked then there are likely to be so many others who should also get the sack.
I am not a fan of Vorderman but she is so clear here
youtu.be/ARjDXjs3SJQ
insider trading? Like so many of them.
foxie48
Taken from the report.
"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... 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."
That's odd, foxie. I'm sure I've seen reports that Johnson was warned not to appoint Zahawi as chancellor because of the HMRC investigation.
I'm off to google...
So Zahawi gets sacked for breaking the ministerial code.
Braverman still there I see.
From what I've read Zahawi had no ties with his constituency and was parachuted in to that safe seat - I expect they'll have no problem in deciding to deselect him.
Sacked after a quick enquiry, correct decision.
It is now down to his constituency to deselect him.
Excellent news that Zahawi has been sacked but the dismissal letter is a paeon of praise for all his 'achievements'. His behaviour over his tax including the way he used lawyers to try to stifle previous investigations disgusts me when so many people are struggling in poverty. I think Sunak should publish the ethics advisor's report immediately and the Tory whip should be withdrawn. I hope his local Tory Party deselect him before the next General Election.
Next one is Raab.
He can’t survive either.
That’s brilliant news. It’s saved me the cost of a first class stamp. I was about to write to Mrs Sunak🙃
Taken from the report.
"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... 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."
He's been sacked as party chair as well as Minister without portfolio
He was found guilty of breaking the ministerial code and Sunak sacked him. The Ethics Advisor did a super quick job. It would seem that NZ was not honest in what he told the PM. TBH Zahawi should have resigned but I think Sunak did the right thing by waiting for the Ethics Advisor report though I'm sure others will see it as him being either weak or complicit in some way. I'm not sure if he was also sacked as party Chair but I can't see how he can continue.
He’s been sacked as Chairman according to Sky News.
Hmm. Sacked from the Cabinet, but what about his role as tory party Chair?
Why didn't Sunak wait for the result of his ethics adviser's enquiry (or did the ethics adviser report in double quick time?) as he insisted he was going to do?
This is just another display of Sunak's weakness as PM. Dithering...
Serious breach of ministerial rules
varian
Zawahi's been sacked
About time, too.
Zawahi's been sacked
Meanwhile breaking news a second Tory minister was being investigated for tax at the same time as NZ last summer…..
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