Nadhim Zahawi was rejected for a Conservative peerage just weeks before defecting to Reform UK, Tory sources have said. The former chancellor asked Kemi Badenoch's team for a seat in the House of Lords but was rebuffed because he had been sacked as Conservative party chair in 2023 over his tax affairs.
Zahawi was announced as Reform's newest recruit on Monday, claiming Britain was on the brink of “civil unrest” and that only a government led by Nigel Farage could prevent it. He stood down as an MP at the last election.
Conservative sources confirmed Zahawi had repeatedly requested a peerage, but said it was “never going to happen” given his dismissal over tax. His defection came just weeks after Badenoch’s latest honours list, on which he did not feature.
At a press conference, Zahawi was questioned about a now-deleted 2015 tweet calling Farage’s comments “offensive and racist”. He said he would not sit beside Farage if he believed he had a “racist bone in his body”.
Zahawi cited concerns over freedom of speech, high taxes and the “big state” as reasons for joining Reform. He is to act as a “foot soldier” with no specific role, but will help bring in donations through treasurer Nick Candy.
