Rishi Sunak, who has always been accused by his enemies of being a rich man who cannot sympathise with the day-to-day struggles of ordinary people facing a cost of living crisis, published his income tax returns on Monday.

They confirm that, yes, the Prime Minister is a wealthy man, and that he does not have to worry about his heating bills which have trebled since the start of the Ukraine war.

The returns, certified by his accountants, Evelyn Partners, show that in the last three years, 1999-2022, he has earned almost £4.8 million on which he paid £1,053,060 in tax.

Part of his income comes from being an MP, and then there is a ministerial salary on top. But he gets much more from his investments in America.

Rishi published his tax returns to show that he is being “transparent” but 10 Downing Street chose to release the figures precisely when the nation’s attention was focused on political theatre.

This was Boris Johnson being grilled by the Commons “privileges committee” for over three hours on whether the former Prime Minister had lied to Parliament during Partygate.

His political career could be ended by the committee.

During the financial year, April 2021-April 2022, Rishi earned £81,908 as an MP plus £74,225 in ministerial salary.

He made £293 on bank interest in his savings account. His investment income was £690 in interest and £172,415 in dividends. His total income came to £329,561 on which he paid a tax of £120,604.

His foreign earnings are a lot more interesting.

There was a foreign tax of £13,937 in a territory not specified.

His capital gains in America came to £1,641,431 which on which he paid a UK tax of £325,826.

Therefore in the year, 2021-22, he earned £1,970,992 on which paid £432,493 in tax.

The corresponding figures were £1,777,581 in earnings and £393,217 in tax in 2020-2021, and £1,018,389 in earnings and £227,350 in tax in 2019-2020.

The Financial Times commented: “The summary — only just over two pages long — confirms Sunak, a former Goldman Sachs banker, is a member of the UK’s super-rich elite, a potentially awkward issue for Downing Street during a cost of living crisis.

“The 2022 Sunday Times rich list estimated Sunak and wife Akshata Murty had a joint net worth of £730 million.

“Although Sunak’s allies say the Prime Minister has nothing to hide, revelations about his high income and big investments are politically awkward given the UK is facing a cost of living crisis.”

The paper quoted Angela Rayner, deputy leader of the Opposition Labour party, who said it was right the Prime Minister had published the figures “after much delay”.

She added: “They reveal a tax system designed by successive Tory governments in which the prime minister pays a far lower tax rate than working people who face the highest tax burden in 70 years.”

Rishi’s tax returns do not include the assets held by his wife, whose stake in Infosys, founded by her father, is estimated to be worth “more than £500m”, according to the FT.

Christine Jardine, the Liberal Democrat Cabinet Office spokesperson, told the Labour-supporting Guardian: “After months of promising to release his tax returns, I don’t understand why Rishi Sunak has snuck them out whilst the world is distracted with Boris Johnson’s Partygate grilling.”

The Mirror, which also supports Labour, did not press Opposition leader Keir Starmer to publish his tax returns.

Instead, it attacked Rishi: “Multi-millionaire Rishi Sunak has finally lifted the lid on his vast wealth as he published details of his tax affairs — months after first vowing to do so.

“Mr Sunak’s family’s tax finances previously came under the spotlight as Chancellor in Mr Johnson’s Government when the ‘non-dom’ status of his wife was revealed. The arrangement reportedly saved her millions as Brits faced a cost-of-living crisis.”

One piece of good news for Rishi was that his “Windsor framework”, which replaces Boris’s Northern Ireland Protocol, was approved by the Commons by 515 votes to 29.

Boris, who is doing his best to pull Rishi down in the hopes of making a comeback to 10 Downing Street, voted against the bill, as did former home secretary Priti Patel, who has not been given a cabinet job by Rishi. The former prime minister, Liz Truss, also voted with Boris and Priti.