In a significant blow to the Conservative Party, former Chancellor of the Exchequer Nadhim Zahawi has announced his defection to Reform UK. The high-profile move, confirmed on January 12, 2026, sees one of the most senior Tories yet cross the floor to Nigel Farage's right-wing challengers.
A Major Political Realignment
Zahawi, who served as Chancellor for two months following Rishi Sunak's resignation in July 2022, declared his new allegiance at a press conference. He stated his belief that the team to deliver for the nation would be assembled by Nigel Farage, explicitly saying 'the UK really does need Nigel Farage as Prime Minister'.
This defection is part of a worrying trend for Prime Minister Kemi Badenoch, following a string of Conservative MPs switching to Reform. The news comes as Reform has spent nearly 10 months leading the opinion polls, capitalising on a sharp decline in Labour support, though the Conservatives have regained some ground since December.
Who is Nadhim Zahawi?
Before entering politics, Zahawi was best known as the co-founder of the influential polling firm YouGov. Born in Baghdad, he fled Iraq with his family at age 11 as Saddam Hussein rose to power. Elected as MP for Stratford-on-Avon in 2010, he first entered government in 2018 as an education minister.
His political rise was marked by his role as vaccines minister during the Covid-19 pandemic from November 2020 to September 2021. After a brief stint as Education Secretary, he was appointed Chancellor by Boris Johnson in July 2022, but was replaced by Kwasi Kwarteng just two months later when Liz Truss became Prime Minister.
His tenure was later overshadowed by revelations of an HMRC investigation into his tax affairs, which led to his sacking as Conservative Party chairman by Rishi Sunak. In May 2024, he announced he would step down as an MP at the next election.
Implications for the Political Landscape
Farage suggested that Zahawi's defection proved Reform was not a 'one-man band' and demonstrated its growing appeal to established political figures. The move underscores the ongoing fragmentation on the right of UK politics and presents a direct challenge to the Conservative Party's claim to be the natural home for right-leaning voters.
With Zahawi's significant public profile and government experience, his switch provides Reform with increased credibility as it seeks to position itself as a genuine force in British politics, potentially reshaping the battle for votes ahead of the next general election.
