Nadhim Zahawi was fired as Tory Party chairman after an ethics investigation into his tax affairs discovered a “serious breach” of the ministerial code.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had previously resisted calls from opposition parties to fire Mr Zahawi after it was revealed that he had paid a penalty as part of a £4.8 million settlement dispute with HMRC.
Instead, he had asked his new ethics adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus, to determine whether the settlement violated the ministerial code.
Zahawi has been sacked as Tory Party Chairman; follow the reaction live.
In a letter written to the PM following the conclusion of his investigation, Sir Laurie said Mr Zahawi had “shown insufficient regard for the general principles of the ministerial code” and had not fulfilled the requirements of being a “honest, open and an exemplary leader”.
Following Sir Laurie’s findings, the Prime Minister wrote to Mr Zahawi, declaring that it was “clear that there has been a serious breach of the ministerial code” and dismissing him as Tory chairman.
The Liberal Democrats have now called for Mr Zahawi to step down from his role as an MP after saying he is “unfit to serve the people of Stratford-on-Avon”.
However, in a letter to Mr Sunak following his dismissal, Mr Zahawi assured the PM that he can be “assured of my support from the backbenches in the coming years.”
He also expressed concern about “conduct from some of the fourth estate in recent weeks,” referring to the media.
“It has been the privilege of my life, after being blessed with my loving family, to serve in successive governments and make what I believe to have been a tangible difference to the country I love,” Mr Zahawi said.
“I am sorry for the toll this has taken on my family,” he added.