Nadhim Zahawi, the former Conservative chancellor, defected to Reform UK after being denied a peerage by the Tories, according to party sources. The ex-MP had asked Kemi Badenoch's team for a seat in the House of Lords but was rebuffed due to his sacking as Tory chair in 2023 over tax affairs.
Zahawi was announced as Reform's newest recruit on Monday, becoming the most senior former Tory to join the party. He claimed Britain was on the brink of 'civil unrest' and that only a government led by Nigel Farage could prevent it. However, he faced questions about past comments calling Farage 'offensive and racist'.
Tory sources said Zahawi had contacted senior party figures as recently as the end of last year seeking a peerage. 'Given he was sacked for his dodgy tax affairs, this was never going to happen,' a source said, adding that his defection 'tells you everything you need to know about Reform being a repository for disgraced politicians'.
Zahawi, who stood down as MP for Stratford-on-Avon at the last election, said he let his Tory membership lapse in December before joining Reform as a 'foot soldier'. He cited concerns over freedom of speech, high taxes and the 'big state'. Nick Candy, Reform's treasurer and a personal friend, acted as a bridge for the move.
At a press conference, Zahawi defended Farage against allegations of racism and antisemitism, saying he would not sit beside him if he believed he had a 'racist bone in his body'. This came after a now-deleted 2015 tweet resurfaced in which Zahawi called Farage's comments 'offensive and racist'.
