Calls grow to sack Zahawi, UK PM Rishi Sunak parries Labour onslaught in parliament

Tory party chairman Nadhim Zahawiis facing increasing pressure from his party colleagues to resign over the controversy regarding his tax dispute with the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).Robert Antony Hayward became the latest Conservative Party member to seek Zahawi’s resignation until the inquiry concludes. He warned that the whole issue could help “flatline” Tory popularity ahead of the local elections, reports Independent newspaper.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sunak continued to face the heat during the Prime Minister’s Questions in the parliament.

Labour leader Keir Starmercalled Sunak “hopelessly weak” for failing to sackNadhim Zahawi during a fierce clash between the two leaders in the parliament.

Starmer slammed Sunak for “overseeing chaos”, saying it was “fairly obvious” that the former chancellor should step aside. Earlier, the UK leader ordered his ethics adviser to investigate Zahawi’s tax affairs.

UK PM Rishi Sunak to come under fresh pressure over Nadhim Zahawi tax row

The prime minister shot back at Starmer, saying that it occurred before he was PM.

Notably, Zahawi was not present in the House of Commons as the two leaders clashed.

On Saturday, Zahawi said that he has settled the dispute with HMRC, adding that the tax authority accepted the error was "careless and not deliberate".

Zahawi was cleared by Whitehall officials to work in Sunak’s government after he became prime minister.

However, The Timesreported that neither he norhis predecessor Liz Trusswere aware of Zahawi’s dispute withHMRC.

The tax was related to a shareholding in YouGov, the polling company he co-founded in 2000 before he became an MP.

(With inputs from agencies)

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