London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 24, 2025

Rishi Sunak under pressure at PMQs over sleaze and bullying claims

Rishi Sunak under pressure at PMQs over sleaze and bullying claims

Starmer said Sunak ‘raised more questions than answers’ when he announced Zahawi had been sacked as Tory party chairman
Rishi Sunak was grilled over his knowledge of his Nadhim Zahawi's tax affairs and the bullying allegations against his Deputy Prime Minister at PMQs on Wednesday.

Sir Keir Starmer said Mr Sunak “raised more questions than answers” when he announced Mr Zahawi had been sacked as Tory party chairman at the weekend for breaking the ministerial code.

The former Chancellor failed to disclose that HMRC was investigating his tax affairs, resulting in him paying some £5million including a penalty.

Opening Prime Minister’s Questions, Labour leader Sir Keir said: “When the Prime Minister briefly emerged form his hibernation at the weekend he raised more questions than answers.

“So in the interest of integrity and accountability, can he set the record straight?

“Did his now former chair tell Government officials that he was under investigation by the taxman before or after the Prime Minister appointed him?”

Mr Sunak appointed an independent adviser to investigate Mr Zahawi and said when he set out his findings he "took action".

But Sir Keir responded: "Oh come on. Anyone picking up a newspaper in July last year would have known that HMRC and the National Crime Agency were investigating months before he appointed him [chairman of the Tory party]."

Mr Sunak replied: "As I have said before at the despatch box, the usual appointments process was followed with respect to the minister.

"No issues were raised with me at the time of his appointment, but as the independent adviser's report makes clear, there was a serious breach of the ministerial code and that is why I took decisive action on receipt of that report."

He added: "I take action when these things happen".

The Labour leader also pressed the Prime Minister on bullying allegations against Dominic Raab.

Mr Raab, who is also the Justice Secretary, is facing multiple complaints from civil servants who have worked with him across a range of government departments.

Several civil servants are believed to have given evidence to the inquiry into his behaviour.

Sir Keir Starmer told the Commons: "So in relation to [Mr Zahawi], his defence is: nobody told me, I didn't know, I didn't ask any questions.

“Is the Prime Minister now also going to claim that he's the only person completely unaware of serious allegations of bullying against the Deputy Prime Minister before he appointed him?"

Mr Sunak replied: "The honourable gentleman ask these questions about what was known and I followed due process, I appointed an independent adviser as soon as I was made aware of new information."

Raising the case of Labour MP for Canterbury Rosie Duffield, who has accused her party of sexism after he spoke out on trans issues, the PM added: "But if he is so concerned about what people are saying and so concerned about behaviour in public life, then recently one of his own MPs was forced to speak out because being in his party had reminded her of being in an abusive relationship.

"And then his own office was caught undermining her.

"He ought to be supporting her and her colleagues, but if he can't be trusted to stand up for the women in his party, he can't be trusted to stand up for Britain."
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Politic is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
Microsoft, US Lab to Use AI for Faster Nuclear Plant Licensing
Trump Walks Back Talk of Firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell
Zelensky Reshuffles Cabinet to Win Support at Home and in Washington
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Irish Tech Worker Detained 100 days by US Authorities for Overstaying Visa
Dimon Warns on Fed Independence as Trump Administration Eyes Powell’s Succession
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Hungary's Viktor Orban Rejects Agreements on Illegal Migration
Jeff Bezos Considers Purchasing Condé Nast as a Wedding Gift
Ghislaine Maxwell Says She’s Ready to Testify Before Congress on Epstein’s Criminal Empire
Bal des Pompiers: A Celebration of Community and Firefighter Culture in France
FBI Chief Kash Patel Denies Resignation Speculations Amid Epstein List Controversy
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Google Secures Windsurf AI Coding Team in $2.4 Billion Licence Deal
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
×