UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has rejected calls for Conservative Party chairman Nadhim Zahawi to be removed from his post as the ethics investigation into his tax affairs continues.
Sunak ordered the investigation on Jan. 23 following calls from opposition parties for Zahawi to quit after he paid a penalty to HM Revenue and Customs to resolve a multimillion-pound tax dispute.
Speaking during a Cabinet away day at Chequers, the prime minister’s country residence, on Thursday, Sunak maintained his position that he will “await the findings” of the investigation into whether the former chancellor broke the ministerial code.
Former chancellor Nadhim Zahawi leaving the Conservative Party head office in Westminster, central London, on Jan. 23, 2023. (James Manning/PA Media)
He told broadcasters: “I’m not going to pre-judge the outcome of the investigation. It’s important that the independent adviser is able to do his work. That’s what he’s currently doing, that’s what I’ve asked him to do, and I’ll await the findings of that investigation.”…