The Conservatives are bracing for what James Heale described as “street-by-street warfare” following Nadhim Zahawi’s shock defection to Reform UK.
The former Chancellor, who announced his move at a Westminster press conference alongside Nigel Farage, said Britain was “sick” and had entered a “dark and dangerous chapter”, blaming failures on mass migration, defence and what he called virtue-signalling legislation.
James Heale, Deputy Political Editor at The Spectator, said: “Nadhim Zahawi is someone who hasn’t kept a high profile since leaving the political stage in July 2024, around 18 months ago.
“As he said there, he let his Conservative Party membership lapse last month and didn’t make a big song and dance about it.
“He hasn’t sprung this out of nowhere, and yet he has surprised us all today by making this announcement and giving Nigel Farage a neat rabbit to pull out of the hat.
“I think there are three reasons why he has been brought across. Number one is that talk about donations.
“Nadhim Zahawi moves in deep-pocketed circles and will likely give the party access to some very wealthy and powerful people.
“Number two is his experience. He was Chancellor, but before that he was Vaccines Minister. Reform has had criticisms about vaccines, of course, but I think he brings experience and a degree of credibility with serious people.
James Heale described as “street-by-street warfare” following Nadhim Zahawi’s shock defection to Reform UK
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“Thirdly, there’s Nadhim Zahawi’s own backstory. I remember his Conservative leadership launch in 2022 it was quite inspiring to hear him talk about the British dream.
“Here was someone who came to this country with very little, having fled the Middle East some 40 years ago, and went on to build a successful company and career.
“I think both his character and his personal story are why Reform has decided to give him a prominent role at this major Westminster press conference.”
The Conservative Party responded with a blistering attack on their former colleague and his new political home.
Mr Zahawi was revealed as Reform UK’s newest recruit during a press conference in Westminster | PA
In a statement, the Tories declared: “Reform is fast becoming the party of has-been politicians looking for their next gravy train.
“Their latest recruit once said he’d be frightened to live in a country run by Nigel Farage, which shows the level of loyalty for sale. Reform wants higher welfare spending and higher taxes.
“They’re a one-man band with no plan for our country.
“Under Kemi Badenoch, the Conservatives are demonstrating we have the plan, the competence and the team to get Britain working again.”
Mr Heale said of the comments: “They have to be punchy. This is a battle for survival street-by-street warfare between the Conservatives and Reform. Many believe this could be a defining year in that fight.
“And then there’s the question of sitting frontbenchers. We’ve already had Danny Kruger and Malcolm Offord will anyone else switch this year?
“All of these statements are about projecting strength and trying to hold the line.
“It also reflects just how emotionally charged this moment is. Defections are deeply personal. There are livelihoods and futures at stake.”
Mr Zahawi entered Parliament in 2010 as MP for Stratford-upon-Avon and spent years on the backbenches before securing his first ministerial post under Theresa May in 2018.
His career reached its zenith when Boris Johnson appointed him chancellor in 2022, although his tenure proved brief.
Rishi Sunak dismissed him as Tory chairman in January 2023 following revelations he had paid nearly £5million to HMRC to settle a tax dispute, having breached the ministerial code by concealing the investigation.