Nadhim Zahawi defects to Reform UK in major win for Nigel Farage

Former Tory chancellor Nadhim Zahawi has defected to Reform UK, in what Independent.co described as the biggest coup for Nigel Farage yet. The 58-year-old, who served in ministerial roles under Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, announced his move in a video message saying Britain is "drinking at the last chance saloon" and that it "really does need Nigel Farage as prime minister".

He added: "I’ve made 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." Mr Zahawi is the latest of several former Conservative figures to join Reform, following Nadine Dorries, Sir Jake Berry, Dame Andrea Jenkyns and David Jones, and his defection drew an immediate response from Kemi Badenoch’s office, which branded him "another has-been politician looking for their next gravy train".

A Conservative spokesperson said: "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.

Key Topics

Politics, Nadhim Zahawi, Nigel Farage, Reform Uk, Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch