British Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party Riši Sunaks on Sunday released Nadima Zahavi from the positions of party chairman and minister without portfolio, as an independent investigation found that Zahavi violated the ethical norms binding on ministers in matters of tax payment.
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Sunak’s independent adviser on ministerial interests, Laurie Magnus, has submitted a report to the prime minister on Sunday about the independent inquiry Sunak commissioned him to carry out after media reports that Zahavi had paid it just under five million pounds after settling a deal with the tax service to resolve a tax dispute related to share sale transaction. Zahavi, who is the founder of YouGov, a sociological research firm, had sold shares in the company for £27m, but the tax authorities believed he had not paid all the tax on the proceeds.
The deal took place while Zahavi was finance minister, who oversees the tax service.
In the letter to Zahavi, in which he is informed about his dismissal, Sunak emphasized that “it is clear that the minister [ētikas] a serious breach of the code”.
Zahavi, on the other hand, has stated that the tax service has found that he made a mistake due to carelessness, and not on purpose.
The Chairman of the Conservative Party, who is appointed by the party leader, heads the party’s headquarters and oversees the party’s administrative affairs. If the Conservatives are in government, the party leader is also a minister without portfolio to attend government meetings.
