Controversial former chancellor Nadhim Zahawi defects to Reform ‘after having Tory peerage turned down’ | EUROtoday

Controversial former Tory chancellor Nadhim Zahawi has defected to Reform UK after apparently unsuccessfully “begging” to be nominated for a peerage.

The former ally of Boris Johnson has turn out to be the highest-profile politician but to ditch the Conservatives for Nigel Farage’s occasion – however query marks are being raised concerning the motivations of a person who was sacked as a minister for breaching the ministerial code in relation to his tax affairs.

In a video message asserting his defection, the previous MP, who served in varied ministerial positions beneath Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, claimed that Britain is “drinking at the last chance saloon” and “really does need Nigel Farage as prime minister”.

He added: “I’ve made up my mind 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 UK.”

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Tory sources claimed that the previous cupboard minister solely jumped ship after his request for a peerage was rejected by Kemi Badenoch. A senior supply advised The Independent that Mr Zahawi “was begging Kemi for a peerage and she said no before he ratted”.

The declare has echoes of Nadine Dorries’ defection after her nomination for a peerage by Boris Johnson was blocked throughout Rishi Sunak’s time as prime minister.

But the transfer will nonetheless be an enormous blow to the present Tory chief, who had hoped that she was enhancing her occasion’s fortunes after a dismal 12 months within the polls. In a More in Common ballot revealed final week, Reform have been on 31 per cent – eight factors forward of the Tories, who have been on 23 per cent.

Ms Badenoch’s workplace hit again in response to Mr Zahawi’s defection, with a Conservative spokesperson saying: “Reform is fast becoming the party of has-been politicians looking for their next gravy train. Their latest recruit used to say he’d be ‘frightened to live in a country’ run by Nigel Farage, which shows the level of loyalty for sale.

“Reform want higher welfare spending and higher taxes. They are a one-man band with no plan for our country. Under Kemi Badenoch, the Conservatives are demonstrating we have the plan, the competence and the team to get Britain working again.”

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Mr Farage insisted the ex-Tory massive beast’s transfer to his occasion would assist to dispel recommendations that Reform UK is a “one-man band”. A number one Brexiteer, Mr Zahawi is the newest in a protracted line of former allies of Mr Johnson to defect to Reform. Former tradition secretary Ms Dorries, former chair Sir Jake Berry, former schooling minister Dame Andrea Jenkyns and former Brexit minister David Jones have all made the transfer.

Mr Zahawi was sacked as Conservative Party chair in 2023 after he was discovered to have breached the ministerial code in relation to his tax affairs. It adopted an investigation that was first revealed in July 2022 by The Independentwhich reported that HMRC officers have been analyzing Mr Zahawi’s monetary affairs following an inquiry that had been launched by the National Crime Agency (NCA) in 2020.

Mr Zahawi later confirmed he had paid a penalty of virtually £5m to HMRC as a way to settle the matter.

Speaking on Monday, Mr Zahawi mentioned that his previous tax points “should not preclude [him] from doing the right thing” and rejoining the political fray. Mr Farage, in the meantime, famous that Mr Zahawi “could have gone abroad and not paid any tax”.

Mr Zahawi, 58, who was born in Iraq, as soon as attacked Mr Farage over his anti-foreigner rhetoric, however he insisted at Monday’s press convention that the tweet was 11 years previous, saying: “If I thought this man in any way had an issue with people of my colour and background, I wouldn’t be sitting next to him.” He added: “I wouldn’t be sitting here if I didn’t think Nigel Farage [could] be prime minister.”

Mr Zahawi mentioned he had been impressed with the Reform UK chief’s interactions with worldwide leaders, describing his model as “pushing back when it is necessary, none of the sycophancy we have seen with the current prime minister”.

At the press convention on Monday, Mr Zahawi and Mr Farage additionally declined to reply a query from a journalist a few speech by Dr Aseem Malhotra on the Reform convention during which Dr Malhotra promoted the conspiracy idea that Covid-19 vaccines have been a “significant factor” in King Charles’s most cancers analysis. Previously, Reform chair Dr David Bull had mentioned Dr Malhotra had helped him write Reform’s well being coverage.

Mr Farage insisted he believes in “free speech” and that the views of Dr Malhotra are usually not occasion coverage, whereas a prickly Mr Zahawi described the journalist’s query as “stupid”.

Mr Zahawi was a number one contender to take over as Tory chief after Mr Johnson stop in 2022, however his marketing campaign fell aside in a race that was finally received by Liz Truss. He additionally led the Conservative authorities’s vaccine programme within the early days of the pandemic, one thing Mr Farage was extremely important of on the time.

In 2023, Mr Farage posted a video with reference to Mr Zahawi’s resignation, during which he mentioned: “It has been obvious for a week that Zahawi would have to go. Sunak is a follower, not a leader.”

But the Reform UK chief insisted at Monday’s press convention: “I have always been a fan of [Mr Zahawi].” He mentioned that Mr Zahawi’s time as vaccines minister “proves this bloke gets things done”.

The Independent has approached Reform UK for a response to claims that Mr Zahawi was rejected for a peerage by Ms Badenoch.