Nadhim Zahawi, the former Chancellor of the Exchequer, has become the latest high-profile Conservative figure to defect to Reform UK. The move comes amid claims from Conservative circles that Zahawi sought a peerage, which was ultimately denied.
Mr. Zahawi, a former Member of Parliament, articulated his reasons for joining Nigel Farage’s party, citing a belief that the UK is facing a “dark and dangerous” period, necessitating a “glorious revolution.”
However, Conservative Party Chairman Kevin Hollinrake suggested that the defection followed Mr. Zahawi’s unsuccessful attempts to secure a nomination to the House of Lords, having reportedly made “a number of approaches” to party leader Kemi Badenoch.
Mr. Farage officially announced Mr. Zahawi’s decision at a press conference on Monday, noting that he is one of approximately 20 former Conservative MPs to have joined Reform UK.
Having served as Chancellor for two months under Boris Johnson and as a minister from 2018 to 2023, Mr. Zahawi is the most senior former Conservative to date to align with Reform UK.
In a pre-recorded statement played before his appearance at the press conference, Mr. Zahawi stated that Britain is “broken,” criticizing the nation’s current state of affairs.
“Nothing works, there is no growth, there is crime on our streets, and there is an avalanche of illegal migration that anywhere else in the world would be a national emergency,” he asserted.
He further added: “I’ve made my mind up that the team that will deliver for this nation will be the team that Nigel will put together and that’s why I’ve decided that I’m joining Reform.”
Responding to questions from the press, Mr. Zahawi claimed that Ms. Badenoch carries the “baggage of a defunct brand.” Mr. Farage predicted that the upcoming elections in Scotland, Wales, and English councils in May would mark the point at which the Conservative Party “cease[s] to be a national party.”
Mr. Hollinrake, however, implied that Mr. Zahawi’s shift was linked to his unmet “personal ambition,” telling the BBC that Mr. Zahawi had been lobbying for a peerage with “people very close to Kemi.”
The party chairman noted that these conversations had occurred in recent weeks, adding: “It seems strange to change his perspective only a few weeks down the road from those conversations taking place.”
He elaborated: “Our position was very clear, Kemi’s position was very, very clear – we want to make sure the people we elevate to the House of Lords are the right people, who make the right contribution and, indeed, have the right back story.”
“We were very concerned Nadhim’s past problems with his tax affairs, which led to his dismissal in the past from a role in the party.”
“It was quite clear that we didn’t feel Nadhim was the right person to be elevated to the House of Lords.”
A source close to Mr. Zahawi countered, stating: “Nadhim did not beg for a peerage as they claim – Kemi called him for advice on how to save the party and he decided to join the only party he feels can save Britain.”
Earlier, a Conservative spokesman remarked that Reform UK was “fast becoming the party of has-been politicians looking for their next gravy train.”
Mr. Farage has dismissed claims that Reform UK is becoming “Conservatives 2.0.”
He stated that “plenty” of current Conservative MPs have inquired about joining Reform UK, with some being turned down. However, he affirmed that Mr. Zahawi believes “in what we’re doing” and possesses the necessary “conviction.”
In addition to his brief tenure as Chancellor, Mr. Zahawi previously served as Education Secretary, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and Chairman of the Conservative Party.
He was dismissed from his position as party chairman by Rishi Sunak in January 2023, following a report by the prime minister’s independent ethics advisor that found he had violated ministerial code by failing to disclose that his tax affairs were under investigation by HMRC.
When asked by the BBC about his dismissal over his tax affairs, Mr. Zahawi commented: “The mistake I made was not to be specific about my declarations to the Cabinet Office.”
“I absolutely think that politicians should be held to a higher level of accountability but I shouldn’t be precluded from doing the right thing by my country.”
Labour Party Chair Anna Turley MP characterized Mr. Zahawi as “a discredited and disgraced politician” who had previously “repeatedly lambasted his new boss over his divisive and extreme rhetoric.”
“This shameless scurry of yet another failed Tory over to Reform will tell people everything they need to know about both of them,” she stated.
Manuela Perteghella, the Liberal Democrat MP for Mr. Zahawi’s former constituency of Stratford-on-Avon, commented: “Reform is becoming a retirement home for disgraced former Conservative ministers.”
Mr. Zahawi was a candidate in the 2022 Conservative Party leadership election to succeed Boris Johnson, but he secured the support of only 25 colleagues and was eliminated in the first round. Liz Truss ultimately won the contest.
He served as Education Secretary from September 2021 to July 2022, and his short stint as Chancellor of the Exchequer spanned from July to September 2022.
In November 2020, he was appointed Vaccines Minister, overseeing the rollout of the coronavirus vaccine program for nearly a year.
Born in Iraq in 1967, he and his parents fled the country to avoid his potential conscription into the Iran-Iraq War. He subsequently grew up in the UK.
When questioned about concerns regarding allegations of racism made against his new party leader by over 30 school peers, claims denied by Mr. Farage, Mr. Zahawi responded: “If I thought the man sitting next to me had in any way a problem with people of my colour… I wouldn’t be sitting next to him.”
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