Chancellor Jeremy Hunt: I have not paid an HMRC fine

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt who said he has not paid an HMRC fine and refused to comment on his Cabinet colleague Nadhim Zahawi’s tax affairs (PA Wire)

Jeremy Hunt said on Friday that he had not paid an HMRC fine as his Cabinet colleague Nadhim Zahawi’s tax affairs are being probed.

Tory party chairman Mr Zahawi is believed to have paid a penalty to the taxman, with some claims it was of around £1 million, as part of a reported £4.8 million settlement with HM Revenue and Customs.

He denies any wrongdoing.

But the row has led to other Cabinet ministers being asked if they have paid a similar fine in the past.

Chancellor Mr Hunt, who gave a keynote speech in central London on Friday, initially declined to say whether he had paid such a penalty.

But later he said: “There is an independent process going on looking at Nadhim Zahawi and it would not be right for me comment on that.

“I don’t normally comment about my own tax records but I’m Chancellor so for the record I have not paid an HMRC fine.”

Downing Street also initially batted off questions about Rishi Sunak’s tax affairs before later saying he had not paid a tax fine.

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