Nadhim Zahawi defects to Reform: Ex-Tory cabinet minister reveals shock move in huge blow to Kemi Badenoch

Former Tory cabinet minister Nadhim Zahawi has defected to Reform in the latest blow to Kemi Badenoch.

The Iraqi-born British former MP served in various senior ministerial positions under prime ministers Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak.

Britain is “drinking at the last chance saloon” and “really does need Nigel Farage as prime minister”, Mr Zahawi said in a video message announcing his defection on Monday morning.

The former chancellor, who also led the Conservative government's vaccine programme in the early days of the pandemic, 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."

He was sacked from his last senior political role as Tory Party chairman in 2023 when an ethics inquiry found he had failed to disclose he was being investigated over his tax affairs.

The controversy began when it emerged Mr Zahawi had reached a £5million tax settlement with HMRC while he was chancellor in 2022.

He insisted at the time it was a "careless" mistake and he was sorry for not being "more explicit" in his ministerial declaration on the settlement.

However, then Prime Minister Mr Sunak said that the inquiry made clear there had been a "serious breach of the ministerial code".

Mr Farage insisted the ex-Tory big beast's move to his party helped to dispel suggestions Reform UK was a "one-man band".

But questions have been raised about previous comments Mr Zahawi has made about his new party’s leader, including previously saying he would be uncomfortable living in a country led by Mr Farage.

“I wouldn’t be sitting here if I didn’t think Nigel Farage was someone capable of leading the country,” Mr Zahawi told a press conference in Central London.

स्रोत: Uk News Yahoo