No need for Nadhim Zahawi to step down as MP, insists minister

The Guardian says There is no need for Nadhim Zahawi to step down as an MP despite multiple breaches of the ministerial code, a former colleague in the health department has argued, while saying his dismissal as Conservative party chair and from the cabinet was fair.

The comment by the social care minister, Helen Whately, who was a minister at the health and social care department when Zahawi was in charge of the Covid vaccines programme, comes amid signs of a pushback from Zahawi after he was summarily sacked by Rishi Sunak.

The prime minister acted on Sunday morning after receiving the findings of an investigation by his ethics adviser, Laurie Magnus, which concluded that Zahawi had broken the rules by repeatedly failing to declare an HMRC investigation into his tax affairs, and that he had paid a tax penalty.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/jan/30/nadhim-zahawi-pushback-helen-whately