Nadhim Zahawi

Read: the new Chancellor’s interview with the BBC

'I'm going to well up in a minute, Nick'

This is an edited transcript of the interview with the new chancellor Nadhim Zahawi on the Today programme this morning.

Nick Robinson: You faced a choice yesterday, and I’d like you to explain it to our listeners. Why was it in the country’s interests as against yours, for you to stay in the cabinet and not to follow Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid?

Nadhim Zahawi: Because we are facing a global battle against inflation. Inflation is raging here in the United Kingdom, in Germany, in Canada and the United States. We have war on our continent that very few people anticipated. And I think many, many people listening to this programme today are struggling with their weekly shop and with their utility bills. Today’s the first and the biggest personal tax cut in a decade, which I think is an important message to the country.

NR: I’m asking you why you didn’t resign. Do you not agree with your predecessor, Rishi Sunak, who said the public rightly expect the government to be conducted properly, competently and seriously? Do you not agree with the former health secretary, Sajid Javid, who says people rightly expect integrity from their government?

NZ: Last night the Prime Minister went on television and apologised and explained that with the benefit of hindsight, he shouldn’t have appointed Chris Pincher to the role of deputy chief whip. We make decisions at warp speed. You know that, Nick, you’ve been around politics for a very long time. We don’t get every decision right.

NR: It is about telling the truth, Chancellor. On Monday, when you were asked about this Conservative MP promoted by the Prime Minister, despite the fact we now know that Boris Johnson knew about Chris Pincher’s past inappropriate behaviour to staff and colleagues: you said, ‘I think on the specific allegations the Prime Minister did not know that was not true’.

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