“Following the conclusion of the independent consultant’s investigation, which he shared with both, it became clear that there had been a serious violation of the ministerial code,” Sunak said in a letter to Zahavi. “I inform you of my decision to remove you from your post at the Her Majesty’s government.” The head of government, who has been in power for less than 100 days, had previously ordered an independent investigation into the allegations against Zahavi, who also served in the cabinet as a minister without portfolio.
Zahavi has been under fire for days for his tax violations. According to British media reports, the 55-year-old Tory secretary general paid the national tax office a seven-figure sum to settle a dispute over his tax affairs. Zahavi acknowledged this, but did not name a specific amount. The former minister was accused of using an offshore company in Gibraltar as a shareholder in YouGov, of which he is a co-founder.