UK PM Sunak desires to “restore integrity” after sacking Zahawi

LONDON (Reuters) – British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak mentioned he would do no matter was essential to “restore integrity” when requested in regards to the sacking of Conservative Celebration chair Nadhim Zahawi over his private tax affairs – the most recent scandal to contain one in every of his ministers.

“I’ll take no matter steps are crucial to revive the integrity again into politics,” Sunak advised reporters on Monday, the day after he sacked Zahawi.

Sunak had initially stood by Zahawi earlier than ordering an impartial adviser to analyze questions over his tax affairs after it emerged Zahawi had settled a probe by Britain’s tax authorities final yr.

It’s a setback to Sunak’s try at a authorities reset after a chaotic 2022 that noticed three totally different British prime ministers. An investigation into alleged bullying by Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab is ongoing and will trigger additional complications.

Answering reporters’ questions throughout a go to to the north of England, Sunak mentioned he adopted the proper course of over Zahawi.

“What I’ve performed is observe a course of, which is the proper course of. Integrity is absolutely vital to me,” he mentioned.

(Reporting by Kylie MacLellan, writing by Sarah Younger; enhancing by William James)