Rishi Sunak’s chances of succeeding Boris Johnson as Prime Minister are “dead in the water,” former Tory advisor Amanda Platell says.
The slam comes after the claim that the Chancellor’s wife avoids tax due to her non-domicile status, saving her millions by not paying UK tax on foreign income.
Speaking to GB News’ Dan Wootton Ms Platell said: “If those stories are true on the front page, Rishi Sunak’s ambitions are dead in the water.”
The Chancellor was initially dubbed a frontrunner in the race for Prime Minister, but has faced fury, not only over his response to the cost-of-living crisis, but to his wife's tax status.
His popularity has plunged with his net favourability down 24 points since just before the Spring statement on March 23, to reach minus 29, the survey by YouGov found.
The poll found 57 percent of Brits have an unfavourable opinion of the Chancellor, compared with 28 percent who view him in a positive light.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak
UK PARLIAMENT/JESSICA TAYLOR
The Independent reported that Mr Sunak's wife, Akshata Murty, who is believed to be worth hundreds of billions of pounds, held non-dom status.
This means her permanent home is considered outside of the UK and, although she is still liable for UK tax on income made in this country, she does not have to pay UK tax on foreign income unless it is brought into the UK.
Former Tory advisor Amanda Platell
GB News
The newspaper claims the status could have saved the Chancellor’s wife millions of pounds in tax on foreign earnings, but a spokeswoman for Ms Murty said she has always paid UK taxes on her UK income.
The non-dom status is lawful and it is understood Ms Murty pays foreign taxes on her overseas income.
But Labour said: “The Chancellor has imposed tax hike after tax hike on the British people.
“It is staggering that, at the same time, his family may have been benefitting from tax reduction schemes.
“This is yet another example of the Tories thinking it is one rule for them, another for everyone else.
“Rishi Sunak must now urgently explain how much he and his family have saved on their own tax bill at the same time he was putting taxes up for millions of working families and choosing to leave them £2,620 a year worse off.”
A spokeswoman for Ms Murty confirmed she held non-dom status and said: “Akshata Murty is a citizen of India, the country of her birth and parent’s home.
“India does not allow its citizens to hold the citizenship of another country simultaneously.
“So, according to British law, Ms Murty is treated as non-domiciled for UK tax purposes.
“She has always and will continue to pay UK taxes on all her UK income.”
It is understood Mr Sunak declared his wife’s tax status when he became a minister in 2018, and the Treasury was also aware so that any potential conflicts could be managed.
Ms Murty is listed on LinkedIn as being director of capital and private equity firm Catamaran Ventures, gym chain Digme Fitness, and gentlemen’s outfitters New and Lingwood.
She is also reported to hold a 0.91% stake in Infosys, which was founded by her now billionaire father.