There is not a democracy in the world where Zahawi’s failings and Sunak’s response would have merited such a ballyhoo
Prime ministers do not need ethics advisers. They need theatre producers. The outgoing Conservative party chair, Nadhim Zahawi, was an able, popular politician and briefly successful minister. He did not break any law, filch PPE cash from the state, appoint a friend to public office, hug an aide or attend an illegal gathering. Like thousands of taxpayers he admits to making a “careless” error in his tax affairs. Like thousands, he found himself penalised. He failed to mention it when offered a ministerial job. He paid a high price.
Cut to the prime minister. On Rishi Sunak’s arrival last year, Downing Street was compared to a sewer blocked by a fatberg of sleaze, corruption and incompetence. His job was to clean it. Boris Johnson and Liz Truss had emptied the cabinet of virtually all experience and ability. Former ministers littered the drains. An ex-prime minister faced an inquiry into lockdown law-breaking. Question marks hovered over Dominic Raab, Suella Braverman and who else?
Simon Jenkins is a Guardian columnist
