British Economy Minister Rishi Sunak on Friday denounced a “smear campaign” launched by the labor opposition after his billionaire wife was criticized for evading some UK taxes amid a purchasing power crisis.
“It’s horrible to attack my wife to get to me,” he said in an interview published in The Sun on Friday, noting that his wife, who is Indian, “paid taxes to the UK for every penny she earned” in that country. .
His wife Akshata Murti, daughter of billionaire co-founder of Indian tech group Infosys, has a “non-resident” status, which is different from “non-resident” status, allowing you to avoid paying UK taxes on income overseas.
This means that her permanent home is considered abroad, despite the fact that she and Sunak occupy an official residence in Downing Street.
According to The Independent, which announced the information, this situation saved him millions of pounds in taxes, including dividends from his stake in Infosys.
Sunak denounced what he called a “smear campaign” coming from the ranks of the opposition Labor Party.
But a source of that myth immediately denied the accusation and pointed to the surroundings of Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has recently been engulfed by scandals and his popularity has declined, while the popularity of the Economy Minister has risen. Sunak was once considered the favorite to take over from Johnson.
Asked later at a press conference, Johnson defended his minister, saying: “Rishi is doing a great job and I believe that, as far as possible, families should not mix.”
“My wife was born in India, and I grew up there,” Sunak said. “It would not be reasonable or fair to ask you to sever ties with your country just because you are married to me.”
The status of non-residents is legally legal, but the news has not been welcomed by Britons, who are seeing their purchasing power dwindle amid historically high inflation, soaring energy bills and, as of Wednesday, rising Social Security contributions imposed by the economy minister.
Sunak came under fire in March for his new budget measures, calling them elitist and far from the real situation for most Britons. Its popularity has declined in opinion polls.
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Charlotte Whitmore is a contributor at Mediarunsearch.co.uk, covering a broad range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment, and lifestyle. She focuses on delivering clear, balanced reporting and practical information that helps readers stay informed about current events and emerging developments. Her work highlights stories that matter to everyday audiences, with an emphasis on accuracy, relevance, and accessible journalism that keeps readers connected to the issues shaping the UK and beyond.