10 March 2023 , 22:00
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Rishi Sunak has claimed he was too “busy” to publish his tax return.
No10 has repeatedly insisted the millionaire Prime Minister’s return will be revealed “in due course” and “shortly”.
But, speaking as he travelled to Paris for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, the Conservative leader insisted his packed diary was to blame for the delay.
“We will do them shortly,” he told reporters.
“As you know, the tax year just obviously ended on Jan 31.
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“I’ve been a bit busy the last few weeks, so that’s the only reason why. But they will be published shortly.”
Mr Sunak, along with wife Akshata Murty, is worth an estimated £730million, according to The Sunday Times Rich List.
The multi-millionaire Tory chief first pledged to lift the lid on his vast wealth during his failed leadership campaign against Liz Truss last summer.
Pushed on whether it will come before Christmas, he told reporters in November: "I have to talk to the Cabinet Office to check on the precedent for how those things happen, but I have absolutely no trouble doing it.”
But earlier this week, Labour backbencher Richard Burgon blasted the delay and told the Commons Mr Sunak was “the richest Prime Minister in history”.
He added: "People want transparency in our politics, especially because the Prime Minister is the richest prime minister in history and because of the concerns there have been."
"So, why on earth hasn't the Prime Minister published his tax returns yet? When will he do so? And when he does so, will he include his US tax returns?"