Former Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi has officially joined Reform UK, becoming the latest senior figure to leave the Conservative Party. Zahawi, a former MP and minister, said he believes the UK is at a “dark and dangerous” moment and called for a “glorious revolution,” citing the need for a new political direction under Nigel Farage’s party.
Conservative chairman Kevin Hollinrake claimed Zahawi’s defection followed his unsuccessful attempts to secure a peerage in the House of Lords. He reportedly pressed party leader Kemi Badenoch, but was turned down. Farage unveiled Zahawi’s move at a press conference on Monday, making him the most senior former Tory to join Reform so far. Around 20 other former Conservatives have already defected.
Zahawi’s Criticism of the UK
In a pre-recorded video shown before his press appearance, Zahawi described Britain as “broken,” citing stagnant growth, rising crime, and an “avalanche” of illegal migration. He said: “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 to join Reform UK.”
Zahawi also criticized Badenoch, claiming she carries “the baggage of a defunct brand.” Farage framed upcoming elections in Scotland, Wales, and English councils as a turning point where the Conservatives risk losing their status as a national party.
Hollinrake suggested that Zahawi’s thwarted personal ambitions influenced his defection, noting ongoing discussions regarding his potential elevation to the House of Lords. A Conservative source said Zahawi’s tax affairs and past controversies were key reasons for the rejection.
A source close to Zahawi disputed claims he lobbied for a peerage, saying he joined Reform because he believed it was the only party capable of “saving Britain.” The Conservative Party criticized Reform as a destination for “has-been politicians seeking their next gravy train.”
Zahawi’s Political Career
Zahawi served as Chancellor for two months under Boris Johnson and held several other ministerial roles, including Education Secretary, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and Conservative Party chairman. He was dismissed from his last position in January 2023 after an independent ethics review concluded he had failed to declare ongoing HMRC investigations into his tax affairs.
He was also a candidate in the 2022 Conservative leadership contest, eliminated in the first round with limited support. During the pandemic, Zahawi oversaw the coronavirus vaccine rollout as vaccines minister.
Reactions and Controversy
Labour Party chair Anna Turley called Zahawi a “disgraced politician,” criticizing Reform UK as a home for failed Conservatives. Liberal Democrat MP Manuela Perteghella echoed similar sentiments, describing Reform as a “retirement home for disgraced former ministers.”
Zahawi, born in Iraq in 1967, and his family fled during the Iran-Iraq War and he grew up in the UK. When asked about past allegations of racism against Farage, Zahawi stated he had no concerns, saying: “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.”
