Rishi Sunak asks the PM to refer him to the Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests

The chancellor has written to the prime minister to ask for an investigation into his financial affairs to determine whether all his interests were “properly declared”.

After days of criticism over his wife’s tax status, Rishi Sunak asked the prime minister to refer him to Lord Geidt, the independent adviser on ministers’ interests.

Mr. Sunak said on Twitter that he had “always followed the rules” and that he hoped the review would “provide further clarity.”

In the letter, Mr. Sunak asked Boris Johnson to refer him to Lord Geidt “given the recent speculation around my declarations.”

Labour has also written to Downing Street asking for an investigation into a “series of troubling revelations regarding the tax status and business connections of the chancellor and his household”.

After Mr. Sunak published his letter, Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner joked on Twitter: “Let’s just hope this doesn’t take as long as the publication of Sue Gray’s report.”

In recent days, Mr. Sunak has faced criticism for his wife’s tax status as a “non-dom”, meaning she does not have to pay UK tax on her overseas earnings, and the fact that he held a US green card, allowing him permanent residence in the country, while he was chancellor.

Lord Geidt has previously investigated Mr. Johnson over the funding of renovations to his Downing Street flat.

The prime minister is required to ask him to open an inquiry, which can take weeks or months to complete.

Number Ten has not yet replied to the letters, but sources indicated there would be a response in the coming 24 hours.

Mr. Sunak’s letter states that “my overriding concern is that the public retains confidence in the answers they are given, and I believe the best way of achieving this is to ensure those answers are entirely independent, without bias or favor.”

“To that end, I would recommend that Lord Geidt make all his conclusions public. I am confident that such a review of my declarations will find all the relevant information was appropriately declared.

“I have throughout my ministerial career followed the advice of officials regarding matters of propriety and disclosure and will continue to do so.”