Keir Starmer links Zahawi controversy to Sunak familys taxes at PMQs

Rishi Sunak faced the impact of Nadhim Zahawis political woes first-hand at prime ministers questions, as both Keir Starmer and the Scottish National party directly linked questions about the Conservative party chairs finances to the prime ministers own family tax situation.

Sunak told the Commons he had not known about Zahawis multimillion-pound tax settlement with the HMRC until after the previous weeks PMQs, at which he said his cabinet colleague had addressed the matter in full.

Referring to the formerly non-domiciled tax status of Sunaks hugely wealthy wife, Starmer replied: We all know why the prime minister was reluctant to ask his party chair questions about family finances and tax avoidance.

In his questions to Sunak after Starmer, Stephen Flynn, the SNPs Westminster leader, mocked the PM over his familys taxes, about Zahawis offshore interests and the allegation that Richard Sharp helped secure Boris Johnson a significant personal loan before being appointed BBC chair.

What advice would he have for individuals seeking to protect their personal finances? Flynn asked Sunak. Should they seek out a future chair of the BBC to help secure an 800,000 loan? Should they set up a trust in Gibraltar and hope that HMRC simply dont notice? Or should they do as others have done, and simply apply for non-dom status?