PRIME minister Boris Johnson has agreed to a request from the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, for a review to determine whether he stuck to the rules on ministerial declarations.
The move caps days of criticism over the financial arrangements of Sunak’s family and the allegation of “political hypocrisy” as questions emerged over offshore tax havens reportedly held by his wife Akshata Murty, an Indian national.
Sunak was also criticised for a lack of transparency after he admitted to holding a "green card" for US permanent residents until last year.
The chancellor said last Sunday (10) he had written to Johnson asking him to refer his ministerial declarations to Christopher Geidt, the independent adviser on ministers' interests.
Murty, daughter of Indian IT major Infosys co-founder NR Narayana Murthy, said last week she would start paying UK tax on "all worldwide income" as she sought to defuse the controversy over her non-domicile tax status that has cast a shadow on Sunak’s political fortunes.
But Labour frontbench MP Louise Haigh told BBC radio Sunak had "come out on a number of occasions to try and muddy the waters" around his family's tax affairs.
She conceded the non-domicile status enjoyed by Murty - shielding her overseas income from Infosys against UK taxes - was legal.
Haigh, however, queried "whether it was right that the chancellor of the exchequer, whilst piling on 15 separate tax rises to the British public, was benefiting from a tax scheme that allowed his household to pay significantly less to the tune of potentially tens of millions of pounds".
The Independent newspaper reported that Sunak was listed as the beneficiary of trusts set up in the British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands to help manage his wife's tax and business affairs.
Sunak was listed in 2020 after he became chancellor and after his previous stint as chief secretary to the treasury, the newspaper said.
"No one in Akshata's family is aware of this alleged trust," a spokeswoman close to the Sunak family said in response.
As chancellor, Sunak oversaw a huge programme of government spending during the coronavirus pandemic, but is now tightening the belt just as Britons face the worst cost-of-living crisis in generations.
Once a leading contender to succeed Johnson as the prime minister, Sunak has seen his popularity plummet in recent weeks, and has accused critics of mounting a "smear" campaign against his wife.
Allies of the chancellor have said Johnson's office is waging a political hit job.
They said the prime minister believed Sunak had not backed him strongly enough during an ongoing scandal into Downing Street lockdown parties.
Johnson last Friday (8) denied knowledge of any briefing operation against Sunak, and told reporters his chancellor was doing an "absolutely outstanding job".
The White House meanwhile declined to comment about Sunak's green card, which he said he only gave up ahead of his first visit to the US as the chancellor in October last year.
Under US law, possession of the card meant that Sunak intended to live in America and pay US taxes, despite serving as Britain's second-most powerful politician.
Sunak and Murty met as students in the US and they married in 2009.
Murty, 42, owns shares worth almost a billion dollars in Infosys, according to the company's disclosure to stock exchanges.
This makes her richer than the Queen, whose personal wealth is estimated at £350 million.
The couple owns at least four properties, including a £7m five-bedroom house in upscale Kensington, London, and a flat in Santa Monica, California.
Murty is also the director of venture capital company Catamaran Ventures which she founded with Sunak in 2013.
She confirmed last week that she "is treated as non-domiciled for UK tax purposes", meaning returns from her Infosys stake are only liable for taxation outside Britain.
Sunak told the Sun newspaper that "to smear my wife to get at me is awful".
He said, "it would not be reasonable or fair to ask her to sever ties with her country because she happens to be married to me".
Murty created her own fashion label, Akshata Designs, in 2010.
According to a 2011 Vogue profile, she works with artists in remote villages to create Indian-meets-Western fusion clothes that are "vehicles to discovering Indian culture".
"I believe we live in a materialistic society," she told the magazine. "People are becoming more conscious about the world they live in. Doing good is fashionable."
(Agencies)
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Keir Starmer speaks with medical staff during a visit to the Elective Orthopaedic Centre at Epsom Hospital in Epsom, England. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)
Starmer scraps NHS England to cut costs and improve care
Mar 14, 2025
HUNDREDS of millions of pounds could be saved and patient waiting lists reduced as prime minister Keir Starmer announced plans to abolish NHS England, the body overseeing the state-funded health system.
In a speech delivered in Hull, Starmer explained his decision to streamline the National Health Service's management structure: "I can't, in all honesty, explain to the British people why they should spend their money on two layers of bureaucracy."
The Labour government, elected in July on promises to grow the economy and rebuild public services, is taking urgent action to address what an independent September report called the "critical condition" of the NHS.
The country's healthcare system has been severely strained by the combined effects of the Covid pandemic, an ageing population, and industrial action, leaving millions waiting months or even years for medical procedures.
This healthcare crisis has broader economic implications, with Office for National Statistics data showing 2.8 million people are economically inactive due to long-term illness.
Health secretary Wes Streeting acknowledged that the reform would be "difficult" but necessary to redirect resources to frontline care. The change aims to eliminate the administrative layer created in 2012 when a Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition established NHS England as an "arms-length" body to oversee spending priorities and service management in England.
"I'm trying to build a new team, a new organisation, new culture, new way of working. It can't be just about shuffling the deck chairs," Streeting told Times Radio.
The reform is expected to halve the combined workforce of approximately 19,000 currently employed by NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care.
However, Streeting clarified that existing NHS England staff would not automatically lose their positions: "If people are working in NHS England today, it doesn't mean inevitably their jobs are going and they won't be working in the new organisation."
The government directly manages healthcare in England through its health ministry, while Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland maintain separate systems.
Streeting criticised the current arrangement, saying it had resulted in unnecessary duplication and excessive focus on compliance rather than value for money. By removing this layer of bureaucracy, the government hopes to free up substantial resources for direct patient care, including hiring more clinical staff and reducing the lengthy waiting times that have plagued the system.
The announcement comes as part of the government's broader strategy to address economic challenges and improve public services that have deteriorated in recent years.
January's unexpected 0.1 per cent contraction in GDP, following December's 0.4 per cent growth, has added pressure on the government ahead of its upcoming Spring Statement on the economy.
While the NHS as a whole employs more than one million people, this restructuring specifically targets administrative inefficiencies rather than frontline medical services.
(Agencies)
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The lunar eclipse of Friday may not have been as dramatic as the total eclipses seen in other parts of the world
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Early risers in the UK witness stunning Blood Moon eclipse
Mar 14, 2025
In the early hours of Friday morning, stargazers across the UK were treated to a partial lunar eclipse, with many enthusiasts rising before dawn to catch a glimpse. The celestial event, which saw the Earth's shadow partially covering the Moon, began at 05:09 GMT. Although only partial for most UK observers, it still presented a spectacular sight, with western parts of the country and regions further afield, such as the Americas and some Pacific islands, witnessing the eclipse.
For some, like Kathleen Maitland, the experience was magical. Stargazing from Pagham Harbour in West Sussex, she described the beauty of watching the Moon gradually darken and transform into a reddish hue, with the sunrise unfolding behind her. The eclipse gave rise to the so-called "blood Moon," a phenomenon that occurs when the Moon moves into the Earth’s shadow, turning a dusky red as sunlight is refracted through the Earth's atmosphere.
Jake Foster, an astronomer from the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, provided insight into the science behind this stunning transformation. As sunlight passes through the Earth’s atmosphere, shorter blue light wavelengths are scattered by small particles, leaving the longer red wavelengths to reach the Moon, giving it that characteristic red glow. This process, known as "Rayleigh scattering," is the same effect that makes the sky appear blue and gives sunsets their reddish tones.
A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth moves directly between the Sun and the Moon, blocking sunlight and casting a shadow on the lunar surface. For a total lunar eclipse to occur, the Earth, Sun, and Moon must be in perfect alignment. During this time, the Moon is fully submerged in the Earth’s shadow, making it appear blood red. While Friday's event was a partial eclipse for most of the UK, it was a captivating experience for many stargazers and a precursor to the next total lunar eclipse.
This upcoming total lunar eclipse is scheduled for early September and will be most visible over central and eastern Asia. Some parts of the UK may catch glimpses of it, but the full effect will only be seen in certain regions. The last total lunar eclipse occurred in May 2022, when the Moon turned completely red, and this event provided a reminder of nature’s awe-inspiring celestial displays.
The lunar eclipse of Friday may not have been as dramatic as the total eclipses seen in other parts of the world, but it still offered a moment of wonder for those who woke early to catch a view. Observatories, such as LA’s Griffith Observatory, provided livestreams for those unable to see it in person, allowing people worldwide to join in the experience.
For those lucky enough to witness the event in person, the eclipse served as a reminder of the beauty of the natural world, and for astronomers, it was another opportunity to explain the science behind these awe-inspiring events. As the next lunar eclipse approaches, it promises to bring yet another opportunity for people worldwide to marvel at the wonders of the cosmos. Whether observing from the comfort of their homes or gathering at observatories, stargazers will once again have the chance to witness the Moon bathed in the red light of Earth’s shadow.
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From L- Reetu Kabra, Maya Sondhi, Shobu Kapoor and Meera Syal during Sangam Foundation's Women's Day celebrations.
Sangam Foundation celebrates Women's Day
Mar 14, 2025
HUNDREDS of women gathered for the International Women's Day celebrations of Sangam Foundation last week. Prominent actresses Meera Syal, Shobhu Kapoor and Maya Sondhi have attended the event, a statement said.
The British Asian celebrities shared their experiences of breaking into an industry rife with misogyny and prejudice. The industry veterans also talked about challenges they faced in a male-dominated field.
"Their open speeches generated significant discussion and debate during the event, with many participants stepping forward to share their own experiences," the statement added.
"Happy International Women’s Day! Celebrated with these fabulous trailblazers @maya_sondhi @shobukapoor Chat and chai with the pioneering S Asian Women’s charity the Sangam Foundation. Surrounded by love laughs," Syal wrote on Instagram about the event.
"An honour and a privilege to be at Sangam Foundation’s high tea. Got me out of flu mode in the best way possible. You do incredible work ladies. I’m so impressed and happy to have been part of your international women’s day celebration," Kapoor wrote on social media.
An award-winning charity, Sangam Foundation aims to empower people of all ages and backgrounds. Its journey began six decades ago as a small organization to support Asian women and families in a new country.
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Asian tycoon Sudhir Choudhrie backs Liberal Democrats with £23,000
Mar 14, 2025
BUSINESSMAN Sudhir Choudhrie has emerged as one of the biggest British Asian donors to the Liberal Democrats in the last quarter of 2024, according to the latest data from the Electoral Commission.
Choudhrie, currently an advisor on India to the leader of the Liberal Democrats, contributed on six different occasions to the party between October and December 2024, totalling more than £23,000. He contributed in a similar fashion in the previous quarter as well.
Data from the Electoral Commission revealed last Thursday (6) that Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf contributed £6,000 to his party in November last year.
Analysts indicated that nationally, former Tory donors are shifting towards Reform in the latest quarter.
Latest figures from the Electoral Commission showed that the Conservatives raised nearly £2 million, while Labour garnered £1m; the Liberal Democrats, £685,727 and Reform, £280,000 from donors in last three months of 2024.
Businessman Ramesh Dewan has emerged as another significant Liberal Democrats donor, contributing approximately £15,000 in the last three months of 2024.
The commercial real estate and publishing veteran has developed over 40 million square feet of UK commercial property during his four-decade long career.
Beyond business, he leads The Dewan Foundation, which supports women-led micro-enterprises to combat poverty, and he also serves as a trustee for the DM Thomas Foundation for young people.
Other prominent Lib Dem donors include Ahmed AA Hindawi (who gave £10,000); Dinesh Dhamija (donated £4,000); Tushar S Prabhu (£2,500) and Arjuna G Sittampalam (£1,000).
London-based Tiktok Information Technologies UK Limited, which operates in the IT services industry and lists Harsh Govind Vekaria as a director, gave £8,400 to Lib Dems in the fourth quarter.
Mustafa Tariq Mohammed emerged as a top Tory donor who contributed more than £6,000 to the opposition party.
Tory peer Lord Rami Ranger donated £10,000 through his RR Asset Management Limited to the party.
Glass Express Midlands Ltd, a West Midlands-based manufacturer of energyefficient and sustainable glass solutions, donated a similar amount to the Tories. Arun Photay is the director of the Oldbury firm, which was set up in 2008.
Zia Yusuf
The global paper and board supplier, headquartered in Greenock, Scotland, gave around £4,000 to the opposition party. According to the Electoral Commission, the three parties – Labour, Tories and Liberal Democrats – raised just over £7m in the last quarter of 2024, compared with £22.6m in the same period in 2023.
Jackie Killeen, director of Electoral Administration and Regulation, said, “Almost £100m in donations was accepted by political parties during 2024. It is not unusual to see a spike in donations in the lead up to general elections as political parties began to campaign, and a drop in donations in the quarters after.
“The UK political finance regime has high levels of transparency, and we publish details of these donations so voters can see where the money is coming from.
“However there are parts of the system that need strengthening, and we have been calling for changes to the law in three key areas: limit company donations to the money that they have made in the UK; legally require parties to conduct know-your-donor checks on donations to assess and manage their risks; and ensure those who donate to unincorporated associations are permissible donors. Together, these reforms could help to improve the integrity of the overall regulatory regime.”
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Sunak is ‘content in his MP role and has no desire to move to US’
Mar 14, 2025
RISHI SUNAK “loves being an MP” and has no intention of flying to California to begin a new life in America, as his enemies alleged during the general election campaign last year.
And, unlike Boris Johnson, he is not striving to be prime minister again, even though he is still only 44.
These are some of the revelations the former prime minister made during a two hour chat with Nick Robinson on the BBC journalist’s Political Thinking podcast.
Sunak, billed as the youngest British prime minister in 200 years, said he could now speak with “a sense of perspective” eight months on from leading the Conservative party to its worst election defeat.
He admitted he might have become prime minister too early in his political career, but argued that he did the right thing in stepping forward to provide leadership when Liz Truss stepped down after her disastrous budget.
Sunak was keen to set the record straight on his legacy, especially as the Labour chancellor Rachel Reeves has claimed the Tories left her with an unforeseen £22 billion “black hole”.
He pointed out: “When I took over (as prime minister in October 2022), remember that inflation was running at 11 per cent. Everything that people were buying was just going up and up and up.
“By the time I left, we hadn’t just halved it. It was back to where it was meant to be – on target. I think that was a milestone and that matters because it eases the pressure on people’s finances.”
Also, Britain’s was the fastest growing economy in the G7, he said.
When Robinson suggested Sunak that hadn’t lost the appetite for politics and might quite “fancy” getting the prime minister’s job back, he vigorously disagreed: “That’s not where my head is at. I’m one of those people who looks forward. It’s ‘what’s next?’ I’m still motivated by many of the same things. (It would) be wrong to pretend otherwise. I still care about making a difference, trying to change people’s lives for the better.”
He wanted to “use the experience I’ve had of being a young prime minister to do that in a different way”.
Sunak referred to the Richmond charitable project he had set up with his wife Akshata to help develop maths and numeracy skills among young people. That this is named after his constituency of Richmond and Northallerton in Yorkshire might be a hint that he is not yet ready to give up being an MP.
More than once, he told Robinson: “Look, I am 44. I’ve got years ahead of me, and I don’t want being prime minister to be the only thing that defines me, professionally. I think I’ve got plenty more to contribute, and I’m just going to do that in a different way going forward.”
Sunak with Boris Johnson
He rejected the suggestion that there might have been a moment when he “wanted out” and flee to California.
Sunak said: “The ironic thing is that when I moved back to the UK, it was because I missed home. Years ago, I worked in California for a while. But I came home because I missed it, missed my family.
“This is my home, right? That’s where I went (to Richmond in Yorkshire) after that election (defeat) morning. And I love it. I am here as an MP. I love being an MP.” Sunak was frank in acknowledging that his authority as prime minister was limited, because the Conservative parliamentary party was not united.
“Also, politically, a large part of the Conservative party, indeed, the wider Conservative family, was not best pleased to see me in the job.”
Asked why he had appointed Suella Braverman as home secretary, although she came from the hard right of the party, he explained he decided to adopt the “big tent” approach.
“Remember, your ability to get things done in part is a function of your political position, and that is the reality – that I hadn’t won a leadership election,” he said.
“At the time it was a good thing for the country that the party just got on with it. But it hindered me in being able to do the job. I hadn’t won a national election.”
Asked if he assumed he would lose the general election – which most people in the country did – he said: “I didn’t think that. You can’t do this job if you think that. I thought I could make a difference. (But) I knew it’d be very hard.”
He had become prime minister during Diwali of 2022 and was able to light candles in Downing Street, which he had first done as chancellor.
That had been a source of huge pride for him and his family. Two generations after his grandparents arrived in Britain, their grandson was in Downing Street.
“People kind of noted it, but got on with their lives,” Sunak said. “That said something special about our country.”
His maternal grandfather lived to see him become prime minister. “He wasn’t particularly well, but he did come to Downing Street which was very special. He actually passed away after I stepped down as leader of the opposition.”
Sunak spoke at his grandfather’s funeral. “He grew up in a village in northern India (where) there was no running water, electricity, any of these things. He had a scar across his chest because his dad had kept cattle. And an ox at some point – when he was a kid – had injured him with its horns. I was talking about the circumstances in which he grew up. And he got to come to Downing Street and sit in my office and see my red box. And it meant a lot to him.”
His mother’s family had settled in Leicester, where his grandfather worked for decades as a civil servant for HMRC, played tennis at his local club into his seventies and was a long-time member of the Lions’ Club.
Sunak spoke about how his parents had brought him up, along with his brother and sister, to believe that education was the way to bring about social mobility.
Sunak with Suella Braverman
And he explained how his sense of “duty” had been guided by the notion of dharma in Hinduism, as he has done before (in an interview with Eastern Eye on the eve of the general election last July), but this time in greater depth.
He referred to Lord Krishna’s discourse with Arjuna in the Mahabharata which made up the Bhagvad Gita.
“This is one of our religious scriptures,” Sunak said, recalling he had sworn on the Gita when he became an MP in 2015 and, later, a member of the Privy Council.
“Dharma is a concept of duty which is described in there, which is about doing your duty, detaching yourself from the outcomes. You are entitled to put the effort in. You’re not entitled to the fruits of that effort and you’ve just got to focus on doing your best.”
This was “a very helpful concept” for him when he decided he would take on the challenge of becoming prime minister. “I said, ‘Look, this is my job. This is what I’m here to do. I’m well placed to try and solve the economic challenge that our country is facing.’”
Sunak always kept a statue of Ganesh on his table. When then prime minister Boris Johnson fell seriously ill with Covid, Sunak was chancellor. He cleared his desk to give the prime minister greater freedom to move around.
But Sunak left his statue of Ganesh behind in the hope it would bring the prime minister good luck – “which it did”
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