Gulf Keystone brings MP on board to improve relations with Kurdish government

Gulf Keystone is believed to have appointed Conservative MP Nadhim Zahawi to a part-time, paid advisory role with the oil producer.

It is understood that the board believes Iraqi Kurd Zahawi could help improve relations between the company and the Kurdish government, the Sunday Times reported.

The Kurds have been unable to pay the struggling oil producer the £165m it owes after the Iraq government said it would not release the funds.

With the Kurdish government now exporting all its own oil to a Turkish port, it now plans to "begin payment to the exporting oil companies", it announced last week.