Nadhim Zahawi’s murky tax matters are toxic for the Tories

Zahawi's tax mess toxic for the Tories

AT FIRST glance, Tory party chairman Nadhim Zahawi’s tax row could be dismissed as a technicality.

But for Rishi Sunak and the Tories this is an ongoing mess.

Yesterday — a week after this newspaper revealed Mr Zahawi had agreed to pay millions to settle the taxman’s demands — he finally issued a statement admitting this was the case.

In it, he admitted a “careless error” over tax due from a complex financial trust based in the offshore tax haven of Gibraltar.

This from a man who was, until a few months ago, the Chancellor of the Exchequer — responsible for this nation’s tax collection system.

It comes as hard-working Sun on Sunday readers battle the brutal effects of the highest tax burden since World War Two.

And as self-employed grafters race to complete their own tax returns before the end of the month.

Mr Zahawi deserves praise for overseeing our successful Covid vaccine roll-out.

He will have hoped that his statement drew a line under the matter.

But that is not the case.

Our revelation today that he was refused a knighthood after Whitehall officials contacted HMRC will fuel further concerns over his opaque financial affairs.

As Tory Party chairman Mr Zahawi will oversee the party’s coffers in the run-up to the General Election.

He and the PM must recognise quickly that politics and murky tax matters can be a highly-toxic mix.

NHS money wasted

THE beleaguered NHS needs every penny in the current crisis.

So it is shocking to learn it has spent £50 million employing full time trade union activists over the past three years.

Doctors and nurses are on their knees with work and waiting times have spiralled.

But millions that should be spent easing pressures on the front line have gone to the very activists that are stoking them.

Of course nurses deserve a fair deal and unions have a role.

But with budgets so tight this is like a monster eating its own tail.

Taxpayers want their money spent on improving care, not on union militants.

Be kind, Prince Harry

AMID the woes of strikes and cost of living gloom, what better treat to look forward to than King Charles III’s Coronation.

The three-day party will include the Big Help Out, where friends and families are encouraged to carry out acts of kindness.

Let’s hope Prince Harry takes note of that.