Tory MPs say Sunak risks looking indecisive over Zahawi tax row

Rishi Sunak is facing a backlash from his own MPs over the decision to keep Nadhim Zahawi in the cabinet despite ordering an investigation into his tax affairs.

As pressure on the prime minister mounted, Downing Street also declined to say he was confident the former chancellor had always been honest about his finances.

One former minister warned it was insanity to have a potentially lengthy investigation into Mr Zahawi hanging over the government.

Another said most Tory MPs believed he should not stay as Conservative party chairman and the prime minister risked looking indecisive by keeping him in post.

Former Tory leader Lord Hague also called for the probes findings to be produced very quickly after No 10 said Sir Laurie Magnus, Mr Sunaks new ethics adviser, had been given no deadline.

The inquiry was a distraction for the government, Lord Hague warned.

If I was the prime minister I would say I want to resolve this very quickly because it does become a distraction, of course, he told Times Radio.