the british prime minister has sacked the chairman of his party, nadhim zahawi, following an investigation into his tax affairs. mr zahawi says he ll continue to support the prime minister from the backbenches, and criticised journalists for the way they reported his tax affairs. here s our political correspondent david wallace lockhart he arrived in the uk as a young refugee before becoming a successful businessman. he served as the vaccines minister, rising to become chancellor, this morning he was chairman of the conservative party but his ministerial career now lies in tatters. he had faced questions for some time about his previous tax affairs and the fact he paid a penalty to hmrc while he was in charge of the treasury. he insisted he acted appropriately throughout. the prime minister had asked his ethics adviser to investigate. sir laurie magnus reported back this morning. his findings were highly critical. in a letter to rishi sunak he said from april 2021 nadhim zaha
the prime minister had asked his ethics adviser to investigate. sir laurie magnus reported back this morning. his findings were highly critical. in a letter to rishi sunak he said from april 2021 nadhim zahawi should have understood that he was under investigation by hmrc. he went on to say that nadhim zahawi failed to disclose relevant information, in this case the nature of the investigation and it outcome of a penalty. he concluded that his admissions amounted to a serious failure to meet the high standards set out in the ministerial code. in a one page letter, the prime minister sealed nadhim zahawi s fate. he said it was clear there had been a serious breach of the ministerial code and that he was sacked from the government. the ethics adviser was also critical of what he labelled an untrue statement from nadhim zahawi, that he echoed in an interview last july. i was clearly being smeared. i was being told that the serious fraud office, that hmrc are looking into me. i m
an attack on the southern ukrainian city of kherson by russian troops. three people are killed. scotland s prison service announces an urgent review of all transgender cases in its prisons. the british prime minister has sacked the chairman of his party, nadhim zahawi, following an investigation into his tax affairs. mr zahawi had to pay a penalty to settle a multi million pound tax dispute. an investigation ordered by rushi sunakfound he had broken the ministerial code. mr zahawi says he ll continue to support the prime minister from the backbenches, and criticised journalists for the way they reported his tax affairs. our political editor, chris mason, reports. nadhim zahawi arrived in the uk as a child, unable to speak english. he became a multimillionaire and rose to be chancellor of the exchequer. but tonight, his political career and reputation is in tatters. in a 2,000 word letter to the prime minister, the government s ethics adviser is devastating in his criticism
to impose mandatory covid tests on chinese tourists. the eu is to consider similar control measures, but the uk has so far said it will not introduce new restrictions. roman catholic leaders join pope francis in calling for prayers for his predecessor, benedict the xvi, whose health has taken a sudden turn for the worse. erling haaland became the quickest player to reach 20 premier league goals with two against leeds as manchester city win 3 1 to move to second in the table. hello and welcome to bbc news. ukraine has been struck by a fresh barrage of russian missiles targeting several major cities. ukrainian authorities say more than 120 missiles had been launched at the population and civilian infrastructure. several cities from kyiv in the north, odesa in the south, kharkiv in the east and lviv in the west have seen explosions hit their cities. the mayor of kyiv says 16 missiles had all been shot down by the capital s air defences but at least three people were taken to
the eu is considering similar control measures but the uk has so far said it will not introduce new restrictions in sport erling haaland has became the quickest player to reach 20 premier league goals in a season, with two against leeds as manchester city won 3 1 to move to second in the table. ukraine has been struck by a fresh barrage of russian missiles targeting several major cities. dozens of missiles had been launched from land and sea at the population and civilian infrastructure. several cities from kyiv in the north, odesa in the south, kharkiv in the east and lviv in the west have seen explosions hit their cities. the mayor of kyiv, said 16 missiles had all been shot down by the capitals air defences but at least three people were taken to hospital. in lviv, officials say the city has lost about 90% of its electricity. earlier, ukraine s military intelligence chief told the bbc the conflict was now at a stalemate. our correspondent hugo bachega has the latest from