FORMER Conservative Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi has hinted that he may be prepared to return to frontline politics.
Reflecting on the tax story that led to his resignation, in a discussion with Nigel Farage on GB News, he said: “I look back – you’ve got to own your own mistake.
“My mistake was, as HMRC agreed, there’s a category in tax which is careless, ie it’s not a deliberate tax avoidance, but is careless, which carries with it, of course, a fine as well.
“When I was appointed Chancellor, I had to make sure that my ministerial declaration said that there was this inquiry by HMRC, which then I settled. Then I was made Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, I had a new set of declarations.
“Again, I put settled. What I didn’t do is I put the amount of the settlement and the details and the fine, and then when Rishi made me chairman of the party, I went through the same process again, because every minister has to go through the same process.
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“And this is everything settled. Yes, everything’s settled. But of course, as you know, once a story engulfs a prime minister, these things have a way of taking on their own life.”
Asked by Farage if he might return to politics, Zahawi said: “My wife always teases me and says that you’ve still got the bug.”
Farage replied: “I think our viewers can see he’s still got the bug.”
Earlier, Farage revealed that he had placed a bet on Zahawi becoming leader of the Conservative Party: “At the time all this broke, you were one of the favourites to become the leader of the party.
“I actually put money on you with a bookmaker!”
