Rishi Sunak has never paid a penalty to HMRC, No 10 says, amid growing pressure over Nadhim Zahawi – as it happened

Rishi Sunak in the Commons on Wednesday. Photograph: UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor/PA

6.00pm GMT

Afternoon summary

• Rishi Sunak has finally said that he has never paid a penalty to HM Revenue and Customs. (See 5.49pm.)

• Keir Starmer has suggested that the job of prime minister is “too big” for Rishi Sunak. (See 1.33pm.) He delivered the jibe during exchanges at PMQs where he also directly linked questions about the Conservative party chair’s finances to the prime minister’s own family tax situation.

• Michael Gove has promised to bring the “spirit” of Thatcherism to the north of England, at a conference where he failed to meet most of the region’s leaders.

• The Treasury is reviewing its procedures after the Russian founder of a mercenary army was given permission to circumvent sanctions to attempt to silence a British journalist.

• The government’s economic forecaster has cut its prediction for UK growth this year, limiting the Treasury’s spending firepower in the forthcoming budget, according to a report.

Rishi Sunak at PMQs. Photograph: Jessica Taylor/UK Parliament/AFP/Getty Images

Updated at 6.57pm GMT

5.59pm GMT

A drummer and a bagpiper outside 10 Downing Street ahead of a Burns Night reception tonight. Photograph: Jordan Pettitt/PA