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Nadhim Zahawi 'begged' to be made a Lord before he defected
Posted
January 12, 2026
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January 12, 2026
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8:15Now PlayingFormer Chancellor and Conservative MP Nadhim Zahawi has defected to Reform UK.
In a speech live-streamed on Monday by Mr Farage's party, the Tory MP praised the Reform UK leader, adding that he has 'gravitas' and 'respect'.
A short video, shown moments before his speech, saw the Conservative say: “I’ve made my mind up that the team that will deliver for this nation will be the team that Nigel will put together.
Mr Zahawi made the announcement from behind a lectern surrounded by party branding, as he became the most high-profile defector to Reform to-date.
Noting that Britain is “drinking at the last chance saloon,” he added that the nation “really does need Nigel Farage as prime minister".
He continued: “And that’s why I’ve decided that I’m joining Reform.”
It's a defection that has left many questioning whether Reform UK is becoming a new Conservative Party, with Mr Farage highlighting that Reform UK opposed the EU long before the Tories.
Mr Zahawi stood down as an MP at the 2024 General Election after being sacked as Tory Party chairman for failing to disclose that HMRC was investigating his tax affairs.
The former Conservative was joined on stage by Mr Farage following his address, after highlighting that high taxes and censorship were the main motivations behind his defection.
Speaking from behind the lectern, Mr Zahawi said: “I’m here today to tell you and of course the British people that Britain needs Reform. Britain needs Nigel Farage as prime minister. I know this may come as a surprise to my old party and to many Westminster watches.
“But it really shouldn’t and it certainly won’t come as a shock to the tens of millions of hard-working, patriotic, decent people up and down our wonderful United Kingdom from the highlands of Scotland to the bottom of Cornwall, from rural Wales to the beating heart of London.
“We can all see that our beautiful, ancient, kind, magical island story has reached a dark and dangerous chapter. Things may feel like they’re ticking along just fine within a few square miles of where we stand today. But in so much of the rest of the country, the sickness is no surprise to anyone."
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