PMQs: Rishi Sunak to be pressed over Nadhim Zahawi's tax affairs

Rishi Sunak is apt to look much disapproval astatine Prime Minister's Questions arsenic helium resists calls to sack his enactment president Nadhim Zahawi.

Mr Sunak has ordered his morals advisor to analyse however Mr Zahawi resolved a taxation quality erstwhile helium was chancellor.

The PM has assistance determination are "questions that request answering" but it is unclear what helium knew astir Mr Zahawi's dealings with HMRC erstwhile helium appointed him.

Mr Zahawi maintains helium behaved appropriately.

Last summer, Mr Zahawi dismissed reports of a HMRC probe arsenic "smears" and threatened immoderate who intended to rise questions astir his taxation affairs with ineligible action.

This has drawn disapproval not conscionable from the opposition, but from Lord Evans, Chairman of the Committee connected Standards successful Public Life.

He told BBC Radio 4's PM programme that the "apparent ineligible attempts to suppress this story" does not "live up to the benignant of standards" the nationalist would expect.

Senior Conservative MP Caroline Nokes has called for Mr Zahawi to "stand speech until this substance is each cleared up" but the premier curate has truthful acold stood by him saying it is "longstanding practice" for ministers to stay successful their roles portion nether investigation.

Mr Sunak ordered the investigation into Mr Zahawi's taxation affairs aft it was revealed helium had paid a punishment to settee his taxation contented with HMRC.

The premier minister's spokesperson suggested Mr Sunak was not alert past week that Mr Zahawi had paid a penalty.

That leaves questions for erstwhile Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who appointed Mr Zahawi chancellor past summertime erstwhile the substance had not been resolved.

In a statement, Mr Zahawi said helium welcomed the probe and looked guardant to "explaining the facts of this issue" to the No 10 morals advisor Sir Laurie Magnus.

Labour has argued the premier curate should sack Mr Zahawi earlier the probe concludes, calling it a "pathetic effort to walk the buck".

Downing Street sources person said they privation to spot the enquiry concluded swiftly.