Can Nadhim Zahawi survive his tax troubles?

As a new week begins in Westminster, Nadhim Zahawi is under increasing pressure over his tax affairs. It’s one of two stories – the second being whether the BBC chairman Richard Sharp helped Boris Johnson secure an £800,000 – loan that is leading to talk of Tory sleaze. The Conservative party chairman is facing questions over his suitability to remain in government after reports emerged last week that he had agreed to pay millions of pounds to settle his tax affairs. Last year it was reported that HMRC was investigating whether Zahawi ought to have paid capital gains tax following the sale of a stake in YouGov, held by Balshore Investments.

Over the weekend, Zahawi issued a statement admitting he had agreed to settle unpaid tax relating to shares held in an offshore trust. He said that the errors made were ‘careless and not deliberate’ in the eyes of HMRC.