Angela Rayner calls for Rishi Sunak to SACK senior Tory in scathing attack

Angela Rayner has urged Rishi Sunak to sack one of his Cabinet ministers in a scathing attack on the Conservative Party.

The Deputy Labour Leader discussed reports that Nadhim Zahawi paid a penalty as part of a multimillion-pound tax settlement.

The former chancellor has come under fire after The Guardian reported that he paid HM Revenue & Customs a seven-figure sum to end a dispute.

Zahawi allegedly avoided tax through an offshore company to hold shares in YouGov, a polling company he co-founded.

Tax lawyer Dan Neidle estimates that Mr Zahawi owed £3.7million, adding that with interest potentially put on top of the reported 30 per cent penalty, the total could be over £4.8million.

Rayner said: “The fact that Nadhim hasn’t been out on the airwaves explaining himself, to me, adds insult to injury, especially given that he called this smears at the time and sent legal letters to those that asked questions legitimately about it,” she told BBC Breakfast.

She added: “If he’s lied and misled the public and HMRC regarding his tax affairs then I think his position is untenable.”

Rachel Reeves also called on the Prime Minister to sack Zahawi.

Speaking this morning she said: “A few months ago, he was chancellor of the Exchequer and responsible for Britain’s tax affairs and tax collection, and we now find that he wasn’t so keen to pay himself.

“So if the Prime Minister wants to stick by his commitment for integrity, honesty and professionalism, he should do the right thing and sack Nadhim Zahawi.”

It comes as support for Sunak continues to dwindle, earlier this week George Eustice announced he would not be running in the next general election - becoming the 15th Conservative MP to do so.

Sunak has also faced criticism this week after receiving a fixed penalty notice for sharing a video in which he was not wearing a seatbelt while sitting in a moving vehicle.