Angela Rayner responds to the Independent Adviser on Ministers' Interests being asked to investigate Nadhim Zahawi

Angela Rayner MP, Labour's Deputy Leader and Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, responding to Rishi Sunak asking the Independent Adviser on Ministers' Interests to investigate Nadhim Zahawi and the Prime Minister's official spokesperson telling reporters that the Conservative Party Chair "retains the Prime Minister’s confidence", said:

"This pathetic attempt to pass the buck is simply not good enough. Nadhim Zahawi was Chancellor of the Exchequer while he hadn't paid his tax and was negotiating a settlement with HMRC at the time. You don't need an ethics adviser to tell you that's unacceptable.

"The Prime Minister made the decision to appoint Nadhim Zahawi as a government minister and Conservative Party Chair. Rishi Sunak's vote of confidence in Nadhim Zahawi is yet another example of his weak leadership and appalling judgement. He can no longer dodge questions about what he knew and when, or why warnings were ignored.

"It's his responsibility as Prime Minister to ensure his Cabinet's tax affairs are up-to-date and in order, but he's too compromised to do his job and failing to deliver the integrity, professionalism and accountability he promised. Rishi Sunak must get a grip and dismiss Nadhim Zahawi from his Cabinet immediately."