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'Zahawi faces sack' and 'killer posed as child'

23 January 2023

BBC NewsStaff

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The Daily Mirror leads with Rishi Sunak's decision to order an investigation into Conservative Party chairman Nadhim Zahawi's tax affairs. The paper says the prime minister was unaware of a payment Mr Zahawi had made to settle a dispute with HMRC last summer while he was chancellor.

The PM would not have publicly backed Mr Zahawi if he had known the full story, the i says. It reports that the Tory chair will be asked to resign if he is found to have broken ethics rules. The paper features an interview with actress Helena Bonham Carter, who says women get "cut off" because they are "deemed too old".

The i front page. — The PM would not have publicly backed Mr Zahawi if he had known the full story, the i says. It reports that the Tory chair will be asked to resign if he is found to have broken ethics rules. The paper features an interview with actress Helena Bonham Carter, who says women get "cut off" because they are "deemed too old".

But the Guardian says Mr Sunak is under growing pressure over whether or not he knew about the HMRC inquiry when he appointed Mr Zahawi to his cabinet. A source told the paper that Downing Street had been aware of a penalty as part of a settlement with HMRC when the PM appointed Mr Zahawi. However, No 10 denied the claim, the paper says.

The Guardian front page. — But the Guardian says Mr Sunak is under growing pressure over whether or not he knew about the HMRC inquiry when he appointed Mr Zahawi to his cabinet. A source told the paper that Downing Street had been aware of a penalty as part of a settlement with HMRC when the PM appointed Mr Zahawi. However, No 10 denied the claim, the paper says.

The Financial Times says Mr Zahawi is fighting for his political life after Sunak ordered an ethics review into his tax affairs. The paper also reports that the government faces another ethics crisis with BBC chairman Richard Sharp under investigation over the process which led to his appointment.

The Financial Times front page — The Financial Times says Mr Zahawi is fighting for his political life after Sunak ordered an ethics review into his tax affairs. The paper also reports that the government faces another ethics crisis with BBC chairman Richard Sharp under investigation over the process which led to his appointment.

The irreverent Daily Star says it considered buying a lettuce to pit against Mr Zahawi but decided it wasn't worthwhile because he "looks set for the chop".

The Daily Star front page — The irreverent Daily Star says it considered buying a lettuce to pit against Mr Zahawi but decided it wasn't worthwhile because he "looks set for the chop".

The Times says Metropolitan Police recruits are still being accepted using mostly online assessments, raising concerns that rogue candidates could be missed. The Met told the paper it was re-introducing in-person interviews later this year.

The Times front page. — The Times says Metropolitan Police recruits are still being accepted using mostly online assessments, raising concerns that rogue candidates could be missed. The Met told the paper it was re-introducing in-person interviews later this year.

The Daily Express reports that Lawangeen Abdulrahimzai, a 21-year-old man found guilty of murdering an aspiring Royal Marine, had previously killed two people in Serbia months before arriving in the UK. The paper says he told Border Force officers he was 14.

The Daily Express front page — The Daily Express reports that Lawangeen Abdulrahimzai, a 21-year-old man found guilty of murdering an aspiring Royal Marine, had previously killed two people in Serbia months before arriving in the UK. The paper says he told Border Force officers he was 14.

The Daily Telegraph reports Abdulrahimzai had an asylum application rejected in Norway before he was granted permission to stay in the UK in 2019. He claimed to be an unaccompanied child fleeing the Taliban, the paper says. Elsewhere, it reports China has the ability to spy on people in Britain through microchips embedded in laptops, cars, fridges and lightbulbs. A report sent to the government warned the technology poses a "wide-ranging" threat to UK national security.

The Daily Telegraph front page. The paper's main image is of model Irina Shayk wearing a large fake lion's head on her black dress during a show at Paris Fashion Week yesterday. — The Daily Telegraph reports Abdulrahimzai had an asylum application rejected in Norway before he was granted permission to stay in the UK in 2019. He claimed to be an unaccompanied child fleeing the Taliban, the paper says. Elsewhere, it reports China has the ability to spy on people in Britain through microchips embedded in laptops, cars, fridges and lightbulbs. A report sent to the government warned the technology poses a "wide-ranging" threat to UK national security.

In a showbiz exclusive, the Sun says Sara MacDonald, the wife of Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher, has filed for divorce. She has enlisted the help of Jenny Afia, a lawyer used by Prince Harry.

The front page of the Sun. — In a showbiz exclusive, the Sun says Sara MacDonald, the wife of Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher, has filed for divorce. She has enlisted the help of Jenny Afia, a lawyer used by Prince Harry.

The Daily Mail carries an editorial by Boris Johnson, who asks why the West is waiting to give Ukraine weapons.

The front page of the Daily Mail. — The Daily Mail carries an editorial by Boris Johnson, who asks why the West is waiting to give Ukraine weapons.

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