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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Politics
Lizzy Buchan & Dave Burke

All the scandals and sackings from Rishi Sunak's first 100 days in Downing Street

Rishi Sunak today marks 100 days in office after a bit of a bumpy start to life in No10.

He arrived into Downing Street in October after Liz Truss's government descended into chaos - and promised to end to the scandals that have plagued the Tories for year.

But the drama isn't going anywhere. Mr Sunak has already been forced to dispense with two cabinet members, while he is under intense pressure to show Dominic Raab the door.

The Prime Minister came under fierce criticism for bringing Home Secretary Suella Braverman back into the fold less than a week after she was sacked for a breach of the ministerial code.

On top of these headaches, he's dealing with dire poll ratings, rolling strike action, gloomy economic forecasts and the spectre of his predecessor plus-one, Boris Johnson.

Here we look at some of the big moments of Mr Sunak's first 100 days.

Rishi Sunak is battling on all fronts as he desperately tries to restore the Tory poll lead (PA)

Reappointing scandal-hit Suella Braverman

Mr Sunak triggered anger only days into being Prime Minister when he reappointed Suella Braverman as Home Secretary in October.

The scandal-hit Tory was forced to resign in the last days of Liz Truss's administration after it emerged that she'd sent highly sensitive official documents from her personal email.

Mr Sunak reappointed her to the post when he took over only days later - despite concerns that she had broken the ministerial code.

Rishi Sunak and Suella Braverman (Alastair Grant/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

Gavin Williamson quits over bullying allegations

Top Tory Sir Gavin Williamson was forced to resign as a minister in November - only two weeks into Mr Sunak's time in No10 -after ex-Chief Whip Wendy Morton complained about his sweary texts.

Ms Morton made a complaint to Tory bosses about an expletive-filled exchange, where Sir Gavin moaned about not being given a seat at the Queen's funeral in September.

He was also reported to the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS), which probes MPs conduct.

Sir Gavin Williamson was forced to quit as a minister over bullying allegations (AFP via Getty Images)

Mr Williamson was accused of telling a senior civil servant to "slit your throat" in front of colleagues during a meeting when he was Defence Secretary.

In his resignation letter, Sir Gavin rejected the "characterisation" of the complaints but admitted "these are becoming a distraction".

The South Staffordshire MP vowed to "clear my name of any wrongdoing".

Probe into Dominic Raab's conduct

Mr Sunak is under pressure to suspend Deputy PM Dominic Raab during an independent probe into allegations of bullying during his stints at three Government departments.

Mr Raab, who is also the Justice Secretary, is facing eight formal complaints about his conduct, which are said to involve at least 24 staff.

The Mirror previously revealed that civil servants claim they suffered breakdowns and felt suicidal over the Deputy PM's alleged conduct- with staff saying working the Tory felt like being in a “controlling and abusive relationship”.

Deputy PM Dominic Raab (Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

He denies accusations of bullying. He has ­previously said he “looks forward to answering the ­allegations made of him directly”.

Mr Raab insisted last week: “I’m ­confident I behaved professionally, and of course the ­Government takes a ­zero-tolerance approach to bullying.”

Sacking tax-row Tory Nadhim Zahawi

Tory Chairman Nadhim Zahawi was dramatically sacked at the weekend over a "serious breach" of the ministerial code involving his tax affairs.

A massive row erupted when it emerged that Mr Zahawi had settled a multi-million tax dispute with HMRC - including a penalty - while he was Chancellor last summer.

Tory chairman Nadhim Zahawi was sacked in a row over his tax affairs (PA)

Mr Sunak tasked his ethics advisor Sir Laurie Magnus to look into Mr Zahawi's tax affairs after coming under intense pressure to sack him.

Sir Laurie ruled that Mr Zahawi should have come clean about his dealings with HMRC at multiple points, particularly when Liz Truss and then Rishi Sunak both gave him Government jobs.

Mr Zahawi made no apology or mention of the breaches of the ministerial code in his letter to the Prime Minister but instead raised concerns about the conduct of the media.

Rishi Sunak marks his 100 days in office on February 2 (Frank Augstein/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

Police fine over 'seatbelt-gate'

The Prime Minister garnered his SECOND police fine while in Government through a bungled attempt to promote his levelling up agenda.

On a visit to the North West, the hapless PM posted an Instagram video to tout new levelling up funds - but social media users spotted that he wasn't wearing a seatbelt.

Wearing a seatbelt in a moving car is required by law, and failure to buckle up can carry a fine of up to £500.

Rishi Sunak was spotted without his seatbelt in an Instagram story (PA)

Lancashire Police quickly ordered him to pay a fixed penalty notice, making him the second PM to get a fine while in office - after Boris Johnson, of course.

No10 said he “fully accepts this was a mistake and has apologised”. Mr Sunak will pay the fine.

He was previously handed a Partygate fine for attending a surprise birthday gathering for Boris Johnson in June 2020.

Boris Johnson's Partygate 'lies' and loan row

The shamed ex-Prime Minister is due to give evidence to the Commons Privileges Committee, which is probing whether he deliberately misled Parliament over Partygate.

Mr Johnson repeatedly insisted no parties had taken place and no rules had been broken after the Mirror broke the story about lockdown gatherings in No10 and Whitehall.

The Committee has not yet announced the timetable for its explosive hearings but it is understood to be planning to grill witnesses the run up to Easter.

In a headache for Mr Sunak, the Government's spending watchdog is examining the controversial decision to provide £220,000 of taxpayers’ money to fund Boris Johnson’s legal defence.

Mr Johnson is also at the centre of a chaotic row over his finances which could also be a problem for the Government.

BBC Chairman Richard Sharp has ordered ordered an internal inquiry into potential conflicts of interests amid claims he helped Boris Johnson to secure a loan of up to £800,000.

Millionaire Sam Blyth, a relative of Mr Johnson, allegedly stepped in to act as a guarantor for up to £800,000 of credit to fund the ex-PM’s lavish lifestyle in 2020.

He has admitted to introducing the ex-PM's distant Canadian cousin to Simon Case, who heads up the civil service.

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