Stratford MP Nadhim Zahawi continues the 'keep quiet and carry on' approach
STRATFORD MP Nadhim Zahawi continued to remain silent this week following his sacking from the government for breaches of the ministerial code.
Mr Zahawi, who has repeatedly been asked by the Herald to explain his position to his constituents, was fired as chairman of the Conservative Party and minister without portfolio over his failure to disclose investigations by HMRC into his tax affairs.
Eventually it emerged that Mr Zahawi had settled a tax bill of around £5 million, including a substantial fine, when he was chancellor of the exchequer, the minister in charge of the UK’s taxation system.
This week prime minister Rishi Sunak appointed Greg Hands, the minister of state for trade policy, to the two jobs vacated by Mr Zahawi.
Meanwhile Mr Zahawi has so far refused to respond to telephone calls, emails and tweets from the Herald – including a front page story last week asking him if he believed he should remain as Stratford’s MP.
But while Mr Zahawi has maintained a steadfast public silence on the subject, that can’t be said of his constituents, many of whom are furious that he has not resigned as Stratford’s MP following his ignominious sacking from the government.
Responding to Herald stories online, the most popular view is that Mr Zahawi should go – and go now.
This was epitomised by one correspondent, Ali Noakes, who said: “He definitely needs to go. Why should he be sacked from one part of his job but not the other? That doesn’t happen in real life!”
Another, Peter Harrison, wrote: “What sort of a person goes into hiding, rather than face his constituents to provide answers to some very important questions – questions which I believe a very high percentage of voters wish to put to him?”
Mr Harrison added: “When will we get the opportunity to ask these questions of our MP? Hopefully, the local Conservative Party officials will also come out of hiding and provide some explanation as to why we have not heard from him and what they propose to do about it. However, I doubt they have the courage to do this. No wonder so many of us no longer have faith in our politicians.”
Digger Holden concentrated on allegations made by the tax lawyer Dan Neidle last summer that prompted Mr Zahawi to claim he was being smeared and instruct lawyers to send letters threatening libel action.
“How brave of the tax expert to stick to the issue even though he was threatened by Zahawi’s lawyers,” said Mr Holden. “I find this whole episode utterly disgraceful; just another example of our politicians serving for their own ends to the detriment of the public good.
“There are no penalties for innocent errors in your tax affairs. He needs to go, no ifs no buts.”
Helen Rutter wrote: “My ten-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son are clearer thinking on this than he seems to be himself. He lied, many times, and has not at any point apologised for a supposed mistake.
“He does not have any integrity, he is not a good representative of, or role model, for anyone in his constituency. Historically I haven’t seen him deliver anything positive for this constituency; he seems entirely self-serving. He must go.”
However, Ms Rutter believed Mr Zahawi would stay on and stand again.
Immediately after his sacking “allies” of Mr Zahawi were saying he believed he’d been unfairly treated and had not been given enough time to explain his case to the ethics adviser.
The “allies” indicated Mr Zahawi would be issuing a statement explaining his arguments, but no statement ever came.
