is the hmrc still after you, sir? but since then, he's faced questions about his own financial affairs and claims he tried to avoid tax. over the summer, he dismissed claims that hmrc was investigating him as inaccurate smears. this morning, a cabinet colleague defended him. i don't know about nadhim's personal tax affairs — i wouldn't know personally, they're private to him — but he's been very clear that he's paid all his tax due in the uk, that his tax accounts are up—to—date and, of course, he's engaged with hmrc, so that's the position and i think he has been very transparent about this. if he needs to answer any further questions, i'm sure he'll do so. mr zahawi has now confirmed he did pay money to settle a disagreement with hmrc. he said it related to shares in the polling company yougov, which he set up in 2000. he said his dad gave him money to do it and got some shares in return as a founder. in a statement issued this afternoon, mr zahawi said that hmrc had... ..and that he had chosen to... he said

he said hmrc had concluded that this was a careless and not deliberate error. there are some things which are still not clear. how much was paid, for example. a source close to mr zahawi suggested that there hadn't been any sort of negotiation or discussion, that he had simply paid what hmrc told him to. but it also appears that that happened while he was the chancellor of the exchequer, and in charge of the country's finances. labour says there are still things he needs to explain. and, earlier, the shadow chancellor was scathing. when the prime minister came into office he said he would run a government that would have honesty, integrity and professionalism at its heart. none of those three things are happening today. mr zahawi said the matter was resolved and all his tax affairs were up—to—date when prime minister rishi sunak appointed him as the party chairman. he has now given some explanation. the question will be, if it's enough. the opposition labour party has reported former prime minister borisjohnson to the parliamentary standards watchdog follow

you work with hmrc while you're sorting all of it out. did you give them all the information they needed, did you let them see all of your information so that you could arrive at the right amount of tax? the difference here with zahawi is that the shares, if thatis with zahawi is that the shares, if that is what he paid in relation, they were in an offshore structure in gibraltar. when the inaccuracy relates to something that happens offshore, the penalty legislation is a bit more aggressive. and so, the starting point goes up to 45%, gibraltar is called a category two territory in the middle range of penalty and it starts off at 45%. if you come forward without being asked about it you can reduce the penalty in the minimum you'll get is 22 and a half percent and if our analysis is right, it seems to stack up with what is in the public domain, he did come forward voluntarily because the penalty for what they call prompted disclosure, after hmrc, they said wait a minute, what is going on. that is much higher. and it is likely that he came

is the hmrc still after you, sir? but since then, he's faced questions about his own financial affairs and claims he tried to avoid tax. over the summer, he dismissed claims that hmrc was investigating him as inaccurate smears. this morning, a cabinet colleague defended him. i don't know about nadhim's personal tax affairs — i wouldn't know personally, they're private to him — but he's been very clear that he's paid all his tax due in the uk, that his tax accounts are up—to—date and, of course, he's engaged with hmrc, so that's the position and i think he has been very transparent about this. if he needs to answer any further questions, i'm sure he'll do so. mr zahawi has now confirmed he did pay money to settle a disagreement with hmrc. he said it related to shares in the polling company yougov, which he set up in 2000. he said his dad gave him money to do it and got some shares in return as a founder. in a statement issued this afternoon, mr zahawi said that hmrc had. ..and that he had chosen to. he said hmr

is that hmrc still after ou, sir. integrity. is that hmrc still after you, sir. instead, _ integrity. is that hmrc still after you, sir. instead, nadhim - integrity. is that hmrc still after| you, sir. instead, nadhim zahawi integrity. is that hmrc still after- you, sir. instead, nadhim zahawi has tarnished the — you, sir. instead, nadhim zahawi has tarnished the promise _ you, sir. instead, nadhim zahawi has tarnished the promise of— you, sir. instead, nadhim zahawi has tarnished the promise of a _ you, sir. instead, nadhim zahawi has tarnished the promise of a fresh - tarnished the promise of a fresh start while handing opposition parties a gift. let's get some reaction from the scottish national party mp. thank you forjoining us, what is your reaction to what we have seen happening today? it shouldn't have taken this long before rishi sunak to sack nadhim zahawi. i don't understand how he needed to wait to be told by an ethics adviser that nadhim zahawi had done something wrong. i mean, being in charge of hmrc while negotiating with hmrc is a clear conflic

last friday the guardian broke the story that mr zahawi has paid a penalty imposed by hmrc as part of an estimated the £5 million tax bill, something the prime minister said on wednesday he didn't know at the time when he made nadhim zahawi tory chairman. this story has come out into the open thanks to the work ofjournalists and tax investigators, and two of them are with us today. and isaac, the city editor of the guardian, wrote the story last week about the penalty, and dan neidle is a former city tax lawyer who now has his own consultancy tax policy associates. welcome to both of you. dan, you are not a journalist but you have been blogging and publishing stories about nadhim zahawi since last summer. take us back to where you started following the story. i retired to set up a micro think—tank, tax policy associates, and people were asking me to look at this politician, that politician, they thought they had avoided tax, and i did, and mostly it was rubbish, there was something about sunak on channel 4 saying he had avoided tax, rees—mogg, rubbish, and i said that. and thenju

last friday the guardian broke the story that mr zahawi has paid a penalty imposed by hmrc as part of an estimated £5 million tax bill, something the prime minister said on wednesday he didn't know at the time when he made nadhim zahawi tory chairman. this story has come out into the open thanks to the work ofjournalists and tax investigators, and two of them are with us today. anna isaac, the guardian city editor, broke the story last week about the penalty mr zahawi is believed to have paid, and dan neidle is a former city tax lawyer who now has his own consultancy, tax policy associates. welcome to both of you. dan, you are not a journalist but you have been blogging and publishing stories about nadhim zahawi since last summer. take us back to why you started following the story. i retired to set up a micro think—tank, tax policy associates, and people were asking me to look at this politician, that politician, they thought they had avoided tax, and i did, and mostly it was rubbish. there was something about sunak on channel 4 saying he had avoided tax — rubbish. rees—mogg â

zahawi was actually chancellor, the man in control of hmrc can actually conducting a sediment with hmrc. can ou be conducting a sediment with hmrc. can you be 100% sure this won't happen in the labour party? i you be 100% sure this won't happen in the labour party?— in the labour party? i can be, because we — in the labour party? i can be, because we said _ in the labour party? i can be, because we said we _ in the labour party? i can be, because we said we want - in the labour party? i can be, because we said we want to i in the labour party? i can be, i because we said we want to root out the sleaze that we see under multiple conservative governments and we will make sure that we have safeguards under a labour government that will have an independent, integrity and ethics commission, which will make sure we are not marking our own homework, that we actually have an expert scrutinising what labour is doing in government. it is really important for people's faith in politics.— it is really important for people's faith in politics. thank you ever so much. i faith in politics. thank

is the hmrc still after you, sir? the _ all our taxes. is the hmrc still after you, sir? the dispute - all our taxes. is the hmrc still| after you, sir? the dispute was all our taxes. is the hmrc still - after you, sir? the dispute was over shares in the _ after you, sir? the dispute was over shares in the polling _ after you, sir? the dispute was over shares in the polling company - after you, sir? the dispute was over i shares in the polling company yougov which he set up before he became an mp. his father took founding shares in it. in a statement on saturday he said hmrc had disagreed about the allocation of these shares, that he had agreed to settle the matter and pay what they said was due. and they had said it was a careless and not deliberate error. but labour say the real error now is the prime minister'sjudgment. real error now is the prime minister's 'ud . ment. , minister's 'udgment. prime minister knows minister'sjudgment. prime minister knows that his _ minister'sjudgment. prime minister knows that his position _ minister'sjudgment. prime minister knows that

he said hmrc had concluded that this was a careless and not deliberate error. there are some things which are still not clear. how much was paid, for example. a source close to mr zahawi suggested that there hadn't been any sort of negotiation or discussion, that he had simply paid what hmrc told him to. but it also appears that that happened while he was the chancellor of the exchequer, and in charge of the country's finances. labour says there are still things he needs to explain. and, earlier, the shadow chancellor was scathing. when the prime minister came into office he said he would run a government that would have honesty, integrity and professionalism at its heart. none of those three things are happening today. mr zahawi said the matter was resolved and all his tax affairs were up—to—date when prime minister rishi sunak appointed him as the party chairman. he has now given some explanation. the question will be if it's enough. borisjohnson has been reported to the parliamentary standards watchdog by the labour party. it follows allegations reported

quite often hmrc it wrong . it's not hmrc gets it wrong. it's not that unusual for someone to have a dispute with the hmrc, but the way was handled by zahawi way this was handled by zahawi not not admitting that he was under investigation, claiming it was a smear, threatening the independent newspaper, which first exposed this threatening . first exposed this threatening. but when i say threatening, i mean with legal action, just to be specific, threatening . dan be specific, threatening. dan nato, a tax expert, he's been writing about this. he is not really carried himself with great decorum since this first emerged last july. great decorum since this first emerged last july . and yet, emerged last july. and yet, i suppose when we're looking at the sky jail of the issue, perhaps it's the it's the way that this looks more than the entire of what has gone on. he thought he had acted within the law. hmrc thought something else. they've come to some sort of settlement over the summer , of settlement over the summer, but now it's all bubbling u

saying, sorry, that was— correction from hmrc saying, sorry, that was a _ correction from hmrc saying, sorry, that was a mistake, our bad, actually— that was a mistake, our bad, actually there are no ministers under— actually there are no ministers under inquiry. which made... you hardly— under inquiry. which made... you hardly have — under inquiry. which made... you hardly have to be bernstein and woodward for your antennae to twin at that _ woodward for your antennae to twin at that. then there was that amazing story in_ at that. then there was that amazing story in the _ at that. then there was that amazing story in the independent claiming that nadhim zahawi had been under investigation at one point by hmrc, apparently they had found nothing, he denied — apparently they had found nothing, he denied it, but i am familiar with those _ he denied it, but i am familiar with those investigations, normally the sobject— those investigations, normally the subject does not know they are being investigated. so what i then did is kind of— investigated. so what i then did is kind

, for the investigated by hmrc, for the fact that he paid a penalty . it fact that he paid a penalty. it criticises on multiple criticises him on multiple occasions for not disclosing it when it happened. now you say you have been investigated , your you have been investigated, your business was you came out smelling of roses, but to what extent should nadhim zahawi all? we have just been open and honest throughout this process might he still be the chairman of the conservative party if ? he of the conservative party if? he had yes, absolutely right had been, yes, absolutely right . you know, remember when i . you know, i remember when i first mp, those first became an mp, all those ago, someone said to be a very old grand character and he said, you know, you couldn't murder your mike, or not that i'm your wife, mike, or not that i'm married, murder married, but you could murder your michael , married, but you could murder your michael, as as your wife, michael, as long as you're with the house of you're open with the house of commons and declare it, an

he said the uk's tax authority, hmrc, had concluded it was a "careless and not deliberate" error and that he had paid what was due. labour had earlier called for mr zahawi to resign over the matter. our political correspondent jonathan blake has more on today's statement. yes, for almost a week, nadhim zahawi has been under pressure to give more detail about his tax affairs. there is one central question at the heart of this scrutiny, and that is whether he used an offshore entity to hold shares in the polling company yougov, which he set up before he came into politics back in the year 2000, and also whether subsequently he has paid a settlement to hmrc for tax that he owed as a result of potentially avoiding capital gains tax, having put those shares in the offshore firm, and on top of that paid a penalty because of the mistake that was made. there was a report yesterday in the guardian newspaper that claims the total amount paid was £4.8 million. the sun on sunday made the initial report last weekend that mr zahawi had indeed paid a settlement to hmrc to end this potential disput

he says nadhim zahawi first started having talks with hmrc in april 2021. mr zahawi told laurie magnus that he formed the impression that this was just questions coming from hmrc. lawrie magnus says he should have understood at the outset that he was under investigation. he talks about the fact that therefore this didn't come up in his declaration of interests, even when he became chancellor, the minister responsible for the tax—and—spend system, on the 6th ofjuly 2022 — lawrie magnus critical of that, and he says that failing to declare that ongoing investigation before later injuly 2022 was a breach of the ministerial code. you also talks about the fact that we know now nadhim zahawi paid a penalty as part of his settlement with hmrc. lawrie magnus again saying failing to update his declaration of interests form appropriately once that penalty had been paid was not correct, not disclosing the right information, and he said sort of taken together these omissions constitute in lawrie magnus�*s words a serious failure to meet the standards set out in

a penalty to hmrc. he confirming or denying that he has paid a penalty to hmrc.— confirming or denying that he has paid a penalty to hmrc. he has been clear that all — paid a penalty to hmrc. he has been clear that all of _ paid a penalty to hmrc. he has been clear that all of his _ paid a penalty to hmrc. he has been clear that all of his tax _ paid a penalty to hmrc. he has been clear that all of his tax hmrc- paid a penalty to hmrc. he has been clear that all of his tax hmrc are - clear that all of his tax hmrc are up—to—date and paid for. i can't tell you anymore, they are not my tax affairs, i am responsible for them. �* ., . tax affairs, i am responsible for them. �* , , tax affairs, i am responsible for them. ,, ~ , them. but as deputy prime minister, do ou them. but as deputy prime minister, do you think — them. but as deputy prime minister, do you think ministers _ them. but as deputy prime minister, do you think ministers should - them. but as deputy prime minister, do you think

, pay a penalty to hmrc, and that this overall amounts to millions of pounds. we didn't need an investigation into this situation for the prime minister. the prime minister should have had the backbone to act, and i'm afraid this is part of a broader pattern of behaviour of conservative prime ministers, including rishi sunak. rishi sunak said he would be different, that he would have a government based on integrity and professionalism, and yet we have seen so many weeks of vacillation and action not being taken in relation to his party chair. we also see no action being taken in relation to other senior conservative ministers who have broken security rules, against whom serious allegations of bullying exist, and in all of these cases, the prime minister seems to be focused on the internal matters within the conservative party and placating different wings of his party and not focused on what's in the interest of our country, and that is what is really problematic about this sorry saga. but bringing in that, on behalf of the prime minister, he got this report on

he said hmrc had concluded that this was a careless and not deliberate error. there are some things which are still not clear. how much was paid, for example. a source close to mr zahawi suggested that there hadn't been any sort of negotiation or discussion, that he had simply paid what hmrc told him to. but it also appears that that happened while he was the chancellor of the exchequer, and in charge of the country's finances. labour says there are still things he needs to explain. and, earlier, the shadow chancellor was scathing. when the prime minister came into office he said he would run a government that would have honesty, integrity and professionalism at its heart. none of those three things are happening today. mr zahawi said the matter was resolved and all his tax affairs were up—to—date when prime minister rishi sunak appointed him as the party chairman. he has now given some explanation. the question will be, if it's enough. staying in the uk. the former prime minister, borisjohnson has been reported to the parliamentary standards watchdog by th

, pay a penalty to hmrc, and that this overall amounts to millions of pounds. we did not need an investigation into this situation for the prime minister. the prime minister should have had the backbone to act, and i'm afraid this is part of a broader pattern of behaviour of conservative prime ministers, including rishi sunak. rishi sunak said, he would be different, that he would have a government based on integrity and professionalism, and yet we have seen so many weeks of vacillation and action not being taken in relation to his party chair. we also see no action being taken in relation to other senior conservative ministers who have broken security rules, against whom serious allegations of bullying exist, and in all of these cases, the prime minister seems to be focused on the internal matters within the conservative party and placating different wings of his party and not focused on what is in the interest of our country, and that is what is really problematic about this sorry saga. but bringing in that, on behalf of the prime minister, he got this report

he said hmrc, which is the uk's tax authority, had concluded it was a careless and not deliberate error, and that he had paid what was due. labour had earlier called for mr zahawi to resign over the matter. our political correspondent, jonathan blake, has more on today's statement. for almost a week, nadhim zahawi has been under pressure to give more detail about his tax affairs. there is one central question at the heart of this scrutiny and that is whether he used an offshore entity to hold shares in the polling company yougov which he set up before he came to politics back in the year 2000, and also whether subsequently he has paid a settlement to hmrc for tax that he owed as a result of potentially avoiding capital gains tax, having put those shares in the offshore firm, and on top of that paid a penalty because of the mistake that was made. there was a report yesterday in the guardian newspaper that claims the total amount paid was £4.8 million. the sun on sunday made the initial report last weekend that mr zahawi had indeed paid a settlement to hmrc to end this potential dispute.

he said the uk's tax authority, hmrc, had concluded it was a careless and not deliberate error, and that he had paid what was due. labour had earlier called for mr zahawi to resign over the matter. our political correspondent, jonathan blake, has more on today's statement. for almost a week, nadhim zahawi has been under pressure to give more detail about his tax affairs. there is one central question at the heart of this scrutiny and that is whether he used an offshore entity to hold shares in the polling company yougov which he set up before he came to politics back in the year 2000, and also whether subsequently he has paid a settlement to hmrc for tax that he owed as a result of potentially avoiding capital gains tax, having put those shares in the offshore firm, and on top of that paid a penalty because of the mistake that was made. there was a report yesterday in the guardian newspaper that claims the total amount paid was £4.8 million. the sun on sunday made the initial report last weekend that mr zahawi had indeed paid a settlement to hmrc to end this potential dispute. and we'd

a check to hmrc. they've accepted that it was an oversight or a mistake . does he oversight or a mistake. does he stay in post? i would hope so. chris is a very good man and he's been a very successful man in business and obviously we see that by the amount of the money that's involved. but it's between him and hmrc and there's you , your previous guests and you, your previous guests and when it comes who i worked with 30 odd years ago drove around in my red trim spitfire around the streets of back in the early nineties between employees and that's why i say as it is with everybody else in this country and we all have to do with tax returns and mpesa different we do our tax returns as well and hmrc at those investigate those that they want to and should taxpayers out then obviously the individuals need to pay that whether they be politicians or otherwise. sometimes those individuals didn't have been hmrc them back. some of the tax that they paid paid too much of the. that's obviously not the case of t

is hmrc still after you, sir, are you up to date? are you avoiding answering questions about your taxes? instead, nadhim zahawi has tarnished the promise of a fresh start while handing opposition parties a gift. ben wright, bbc news, westminster. let's speak to our political correspondent david wallace lockhart we did not know when this was going to come but this morning we heard from the ethics adviser to the prime minister who had been investigating nadhim zahawi and then the letter from the prime minister which she sent to nadhim zahawi detail tell he was sacked. the letter from laurie magnus is quite critical of him and said in april 2021 he told laurie magnus he had the impression this wasjust questions magnus he had the impression this was just questions coming from hmrc and laurie magnus says he should have understood from the outset he was under investigation. this did not come up in his declaration of interest even when he became chancellor, the minister responsible for the tax and spend system and in july 2022 laurie magnus

a penalty to hmrc . then was penalty to hmrc. then was revealed that hmrc had said that it was it wasn't the worst degree of mismanagement because it was careless rather than deliberate . but now the stories deliberate. but now the stories which rumbled on for a few days got more and more awkward for the prime minister. the prime minister was dragged into it himself because it wasn't clear whether rishi sunak knew about these allegations of tax evasion when he appointed . it seems when he appointed. it seems always prime minister. so now rishi sunak has ordered this investigation by laurie magnus, the new ethics adviser into dames, who always talks about, oh, clearly, rishi sunak thinks there is more to come out and soon that wants to sort of move the onus away from him to do anything about it. i'm just looking at some of the people who've been wading into this because obviously it's rich pickings for anybody that wants the conservative party to look bad at the moment. there's a lot in here. isn't that b

a check to hmrc. they've accepted that it was an oversight or a mistake . does he oversight or a mistake. does he stay in post? i would hope so. chris is a very good man and he's been a very successful man in business and obviously we see that by the amount of the money that's involved. but it's between him and hmrc and there's you , your previous guests and you, your previous guests and when it comes who i worked with 30 odd years ago drove around in my red trim spitfire around the streets of back in the early nineties between employees and that's why i say as it is with everybody else in this country and we all have to do with tax returns and mpesa different we do our tax returns as well and hmrc at those investigate those that they want to and should taxpayers out then obviously the individuals need to pay that whether they be politicians or otherwise. sometimes those individuals didn't have been hmrc them back. some of the tax that they paid paid too much of the. that's obviously not the case of t

communications with hmrc. might that ha en? . ~ communications with hmrc. might that hauen? . ~ ,.,,.,_ happen? yeah, i think it probably will have to _ happen? yeah, i think it probably will have to do _ happen? yeah, i think it probably will have to do if _ happen? yeah, i think it probably will have to do if nadhim - happen? yeah, i think it probably will have to do if nadhim zahawi. happen? yeah, i think it probably| will have to do if nadhim zahawi is going to keep hisjob. there has been this drip, drip, drip of information about his tax affairs, about what was paid when over the last few days. what we can say for sure this morning is that mr zahawi paid a tax bill when he was chancellor. that at that tax bill included a penalty that was decided by hmrc. what we don't know at the moment is just how much that penalty was. now, allies of mr zahawi say this morning he is not going to resign, that he wants to stay in his job as tory chairman and make his case. but i think he still does face those questions about the various accounts that he is given, the various statements

but getting advice and not telling hmrc?— not that large. but getting advice and not telling hmrc? his point is that this was _ and not telling hmrc? his point is that this was not _ and not telling hmrc? his point is that this was not done _ and not telling hmrc? his point is. that this was not done deliberately. his statement yesterday, following discussions with hmrc, they agreed my father was entitled to the founder shares in you golf although they disagreed about the exact allocation. they concluded that this was a careless but not deliberate eric —— yougov. this comes down to intent. how is that proved? hf it intent. how is that proved? if it wasn't intent. how is that proved? tuf it wasn't deliberate that would make this criminal tax evasion. careless has a very specific meaning. careless you are notjust wrong. you are allowed to get your tax round, it is complicated. i acted all the time as a lawyer for people and businesses who disagreed with hmrc about some of the tax they paid. some were right and some were wrong. they did not pay a 30% penalty. it works like this. y

and then we got a correction from hmrc saying, "oh no, sorry, sorry, that was a mistake." our bad." "actually, there are no ministers under inquiry." which made i mean, you hardly have to be bernstein and woodward for your antennae to twing at that. then there was that amazing story in the independent claiming that mr zahawi had been under investigation at one point by the nca, sf0 and hmrc, and apparently they found nothing. zahawi denied it, but i'm familiar with those investigations. normally the subject doesn't know they're being investigated. so, what i then did is kind of what my dayjob was when i was a tax lawyer. people think tax lawyers are their dreaming up tax avoidance schemes. not in the last 20 years, they're not. what they normally do is much less glamourous. you've got a client who's thinking of taking over a company. what are the tax skeletons in that companies closet? because if you buy it and it finds out they did bad tax stuff, that's going to cost you, the buyer, money. so, entirely selfish capitalism incentives drive companies acquiring other companies and the

he said hmrc, which is the uk's tax authority, had concluded it was a careless and not deliberate error, and that he had paid what was due. labour had earlier called for mr zahawi to resign over the matter. let's go through all of this, there is a lot of detail here. reminders to the background of all of this. for almost a week, nadhim zahawi has been under pressure to give more detail about his tax affairs. there is one central question at the heart of the scrutiny and that is whether he used an offshore entity to hold shares in the polling company eugh of which he set up before he came to politics back in the year 2000. and also whether subsequently he has paid a settlement to hmrc the tax that he owed as a result of potentially avoiding capital gains tax, having put those shares in the offshore firm, and on top of that paid the penalty because of the mistake that was made. there was a report yesterday on the guardian newspaper that claims the total amount paid was £4.8 million. the sun on sunday made the initial report last weekend that mist and zaha we had indeed paid a settlement

during the course _ cooperation with the hmrc during the course of— cooperation with the hmrc during the course of an inquiry. if nadhim zahawi — course of an inquiry. if nadhim zahawi cooperated with the inquiry a penalty _ zahawi cooperated with the inquiry a penalty of _ zahawi cooperated with the inquiry a penalty of 13% would actually suggest that he was perhaps notjust caretess _ suggest that he was perhaps notjust careless but there may have been something deliberate going on as wett~ _ something deliberate going on as well. again, it would be good to know _ well. again, it would be good to know what — well. again, it would be good to know what has actually been agreed by nadhim zahawi revenue precisely and not _ by nadhim zahawi revenue precisely and not rely upon his interpretation of those _ and not rely upon his interpretation of those worlds —— words in common english went — of those worlds —— words in common english went in tax they have a different— english went in tax they have a different meaning. what you think he is playing _ different meaning. what

however if you responsible you are the minister responsible , hmrc you are caught , the hmrc and you are caught not paying your taxes, i think is quite right for people to be concerned my concerned about that. on my liddle says nice last name your monologue on our laws and coming from christianity was so very welcome. thank you. oh thank you . very kind of you. thank you for all of for sending in your views today. please do them coming. tweets and emails a new agenda neutral production of a jesus christ superstar put on by the edinburgh university savoy opera group will feature a non—binary actor in the role of jesus and a woman playing judas ? the productions creative director said the casting gender blind to help recreate jesus's final days for modern audience, adding jesus is remembered as being a man . who are we to come being a man. who are we to come on? it has, however, proved with several posters for the show being vandalised, who are we to decide? indeed, we are not decide. it is written policy researcher laurie leyburn and, author and academic jacob phillips are still wit

i was being told that the serious fraud office, that hmrc are looking into me. i'm not aware of this. the opposition say rishi sunak should have acted faster. this is very serious. nadhim zahawi has spent a long time dodging this. and i dojust think it speaks to rishi sunak�*s character and his judgment and his weakness. he isn't prepared to do what is right for the country. michael gove insisted the prime minister behaved appropriately. as a general rule, i think it is important when allegations are raised that they are investigated promptly but also we shouldn't rush tojudgment before there has been that investigation. in his reply to the prime minister's letter, nadhim zahawi said he had been concerned about the conduct of the press towards him. he added that it was the privilege of his life to serve in government. mr zahawi's life story is an incredible one. this will be a devastating chapter to look back on. in pakistan, at least 41 people have died after a bus plunged off a bridge. the accident happened in the south—west of the country. officials said

is the hmrc still after you, sir? are you — is the hmrc still after you, sir? are you up—to—date? _ are you up—to—date? the sun has reportedly paid a seven figure sum to settle a dispute, as well as a penalty, according to the guardian, making a total of £4.8 million. bbc news hasn't verified either claim. 0ne cabinet colleague would not be drawn on the detail, but said mrzaha would not be drawn on the detail, but said mr zaha we had paid what he owed. i but said mr zaha we had paid what he owed. ., �* ~' ., but said mr zaha we had paid what he owed. ., �* ~ ., ., ., �*, owed. i don't know about nadhim's ersonal owed. i don't know about nadhim's personal tax _ owed. i don't know about nadhim's personal tax affairs. _ owed. i don't know about nadhim's personal tax affairs. they - owed. i don't know about nadhim's personal tax affairs. they are - personal tax affairs. they are private to him. but he has been very clear that he has paid all his tax due in the uk, that his tax accounts are up—to—date, and that he is engaged with hmrc. so that is his position and he has

. million settlement with hmrc. this time they called nick careless but not deliberate , so careless but not deliberate, so we'll be taking a good look into that. the national grid offered cash in exchange for not using energy between five and 6 pm. today, and it's been suggested could be the new normal as we head towards net zero targets. so turn off your you didn't poll people. we reached out to the national grid but there was no one available to comment because were all outside trying to turn the blades by themselves the wind blades by themselves and also have museum gone to work. tate britain have come under fire for replacing some of the to make way for an indian ship display which focuses on slavery, colonialism and racism. bp professor robert tombs is here . take it and don't forget here. take it and don't forget about me. i to hear from you. about me. ito hear from you. sendin about me. ito hear from you. send in your views to me at gb views . at gbnews.uk. it's all views. at gbnews.uk. it's all coming up of

. million settlement with hmrc. this time they called nick careless but not deliberate , so careless but not deliberate, so we'll be taking a good look into that. the national grid offered cash in exchange for not using energy between five and 6 pm. today, and it's been suggested could be the new normal as we head towards net zero targets. so turn off your you didn't poll people. we reached out to the national grid but there was no one available to comment because were all outside trying to turn the blades by themselves the wind blades by themselves and also have museum gone to work. tate britain have come under fire for replacing some of the to make way for an indian ship display which focuses on slavery, colonialism and racism. bp professor robert tombs is here . take it and don't forget here. take it and don't forget about me. i to hear from you. about me. ito hear from you. sendin about me. ito hear from you. send in your views to me at gb views . at gbnews.uk. it's all views. at gbnews.uk. it's all coming up of

at the moment, hmrc , let me tell you, moment, hmrc, let me tell you, he is right , moment, hmrc, let me tell you, he is right, he is completely right. and hmrc are completely wrong. people are too scared wrong. but people are too scared to say that because you immediately accused being immediately accused of being a tax, also thank god people tax, but also thank god people here to here aren't running to be chancellor what the chancellor and that's what the chief was doing. that's chief zahawi was doing. that's why yeah, but why it really matters. yeah, but exactly point it exactly. but the point is, it doesn't just hmrc rife. doesn't just mean hmrc rife. hmrc knew zahawi was an incredibly vulnerable position because he had just they were right . but don't you think the right. but don't you think the should. no but don't you think the shame of it all is that internal offshore trusts say is it all is that this guy arrived here from iraq. he couldn't speak english, he founded and built up you guilt. he could have been really effective have been a really effective i think minister a litt

hmrc, settling that dispute. hmrc, whilst he was in of the treasury, many , many questions treasury, many, many questions to be asked. there of course, which the government is now delegated to. the ethics tsar , delegated to. the ethics tsar, if you will. so laurie magnus, who is conducting a report and i'm afraid to say we don't have timescale for this report in terms of when it will be concluded. it's operationally independent from the government is not setting terms. they're leading, they're leaving that to the ethics adviser himself self. the ethics adviser can decide really the scope of the investigation . and indeed the investigation. and indeed the times scale of this investigation. so it may well be some weeks perhaps some months where the simple answer will be we have to wait this independent report. but course that the problem being that doing time he is still party chairman in that sense the story will not go away . we've seen previously with all these issues when the individual becomes a story it's ve

at the moment, hmrc , let me tell you, moment, hmrc, let me tell you, he is right , moment, hmrc, let me tell you, he is right, he is completely right. and hmrc are completely wrong. people are too scared wrong. but people are too scared to say that because you immediately accused being immediately accused of being a tax, also thank god people tax, but also thank god people here to here aren't running to be chancellor what the chancellor and that's what the chief was doing. that's chief zahawi was doing. that's why yeah, but why it really matters. yeah, but exactly point it exactly. but the point is, it doesn't just hmrc rife. doesn't just mean hmrc rife. hmrc knew zahawi was an incredibly vulnerable position because he had just they were right . but don't you think the right. but don't you think the should. no but don't you think the shame of it all is that internal offshore trusts say is it all is that this guy arrived here from iraq. he couldn't speak english, he founded and built up you guilt. he could have been really effective have been a really effective i think minister a litt

it's zahawi had to pay a tax penalty to hmrc. it's that he was obfuscating whether or not he was under investigation , that he was under investigation, that he didn't declare that he paid that penalty to. successive governments in many ways the cover up was more of an issue than the act itself . tom thank than the act itself. tom thank you very much indeed and i hope to be talking you again until later on in the program, perhaps a little about . what what labour a little about. what what labour are saying down there at the and i'm delighted to be joined now live in studio in fact he's been sitting here quietly a couple of minutes listening to that intro what tom to say former special adviser to michael gove, charlie rowley , am i overdoing it in, rowley, am i overdoing it in, suggesting that across the piece at the moment our political class seems to have . the grip . class seems to have. the grip. and i. i don't know is the answer that i still i think look there are always people in pubuc there are always people in public life t

not i least because hmrc doesn't comment on the _ least because hmrc doesn't comment on the individual— least because hmrc doesn't comment on the individual tax _ least because hmrc doesn't comment on the individual tax affairs _ least because hmrc doesn't comment on the individual tax affairs of - on the individual tax affairs of people. — on the individual tax affairs of people. and _ on the individual tax affairs of people, and therefore - on the individual tax affairs of people, and therefore it - on the individual tax affairs of people, and therefore it is - people, and therefore it is absolutely— people, and therefore it is absolutely right _ people, and therefore it is absolutely right that - people, and therefore it is absolutely right that the i absolutely right that the independent _ absolutely right that the independent adviser- absolutely right that the i independent adviser should absolutely right that the - independent adviser should be allowed — independent adviser should be allowed to— independent adviser should be allowed to collect _ independent adviser shou

he says nadhim zahawi first started having talks with hmrc in april 2021. mr zahawi told laurie magnus that he formed the impression that this was just questions coming from hmrc. lawrie magnus says he should have understood at the outset that he was under investigation. he talks about the fact that therefore this didn't come up in his declaration of interests, even when he became chancellor, the minister responsible for the tax—and—spend system, on the 5th ofjuly 2022 — lawrie magnus critical of that, and he says that failing to declare that ongoing investigation before later injuly 2022 was a breach of the ministerial code. he also talks about the fact that we know now nadhim zahawi paid a penalty as part of his settlement with hmrc. lawrie magnus again saying failing to update his declaration of interest form appropriately once that penalty had been paid was not correct, not disclosing the right information, and he said sort of taken together these omissions constitute in lawrie magnus's words a serious failure to meet the standards set out in the

hmrc has special status. that is not quite right. hmrc has specialstatus. it that is not quite right. hmrc has special status. it doesn't have ministerial status. that is precisely so politicians can't interfere. 50 precisely so politicians can't interfere-— precisely so politicians can't interfere. ., ., ., interfere. so he would have no oversight _ interfere. so he would have no oversight of— interfere. so he would have no oversight of the _ interfere. so he would have no oversight of the process - interfere. so he would have no oversight of the process while | interfere. so he would have no i oversight of the process while he was chancellor? he oversight of the process while he was chancellor?— was chancellor? he should not. however. _ was chancellor? he should not. however. out — was chancellor? he should not. however, put yourself - was chancellor? he should not. however, put yourself in - was chancellor? he should not. however, put yourself in the i was chancellor? he should not. . however, put yourself in the shoes of hmrc officials signing o

that's between zahawi and hmrc. if the moment but it stretches credulity to really think that this was something that you just forgot some several million pounds that was sort of back down the sofa and i think why this is so important beyond the politics at the moment this month people are millions of people around the country are doing their own tax returns and they don't have access to the same type of lawyers or , advisers and people lawyers or, advisers and people pay ' lawyers or, advisers and people pay , the tax. so they have to pay, the tax. so they have to well together. but actually you point one can point to numerous situations numerous high profile situations numerous high profile situations where people have employed an accountant to do exactly what you've just said, which frankly is their job, which frankly is their job, which is to do your accounts . which is to do your accounts. the accountant decided that the accountant has decided that they've done something little they've done something a little b

rishi sunak to sack nadhim zahawi as conservative party chairman after reports he paid a penalty to hmrc as part of a multi—million pound tax settlement. the former chancellor has been under pressure over claims he tried to avoid paying tax and has now had to pay it back. the bbc has approached mr zahawi for comment on the allegation and is yet to receive a response. he has previously said that his taxes are properly declared and paid in the uk. david wallace—lockhart reports. nadhim zahawi is the chairman of the conservative party and sits around the cabinet table. he was the chancellor for a few months in the final days of boris johnson's government. he's now facing questions about his tax affairs. before politics he co—founded the polling company yougov. questions have been asked about whether he tried to avoid paying tax by using an offshore company to hold shares in the firm. but the conservative party chairman has denied benefiting from or having any involvement with the offshore company. it's previously been reported that he agreed to make a payment to the taxman to settle a