Nadhim Zahawi has been accused of attempting to secure a seat in the House of Lords shortly before quitting the Conservatives and joining Reform UK, a move that has intensified criticism of his political judgement and loyalty.
Conservative sources allege the former chancellor made repeated approaches to then-party leadership about entering the Lords, only to be turned down. The claims surfaced just days after Zahawi publicly defected to Reform UK, appearing alongside Nigel Farage at a press conference on Monday morning.
The allegations have reopened scrutiny of Zahawi’s exit from frontline Conservative politics, following his dismissal as party chairman in 2023 for breaching the ministerial code over undeclared HMRC investigations into his tax affairs.
Claims of Peerage Requests and Conservative Backlash
Speaking to reporters, a Conservative source said Zahawi had asked to join the Lords “several times” but was rebuffed. “Given he was sacked for his dodgy tax affairs, this was never going to happen,” the source said.
“His defection tells you everything you need to know about Reform being a repository for disgraced politicians.”
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A Conservative spokesperson later added: “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 UK Response and Nadhim Zahawi ’s Public Endorsement of Farage
Reform UK rejected the allegations, with a party spokesperson insisting: “Nadhim did not beg for a peerage as they claim – Kemi called him for advice on how to save the party and he decided to join the only party he feels can save Britain.”
Zahawi was introduced as Reform’s 22nd former Conservative MP and used the occasion to offer a strong endorsement of the party’s leader, declaring: “Britain needs Nigel Farage as prime minister.”
Past Criticism of Nigel Farage Resurfaces
However, Zahawi’s remarks were quickly contrasted with his previous public criticisms of Farage.
In a social media post from 2015, directed at Farage, Zahawi wrote: “I’m not British Born Mr Nigel Farage, I am as British as u r. “Yr comments r offensive&racist. I wld b frightened 2live in country run by U.”
Farage himself had also questioned Zahawi’s principles in the past. After Zahawi became chancellor in July 2022, Farage said: “I thought Zahawi had principles. Tonight we learn, he’s just about climbing that greasy pole.”
Labour Condemnation and Wider Political Fallout
Labour also seized on the defection, with party chair Anna Turley saying: “This confirms what we already knew: Reform UK has no shame. Nadhim Zahawi is a discredited and disgraced politician who will be forever tied to the Tories’ shameful record of failure in government.
“Zahawi himself has previously repeatedly lambasted his new boss over his divisive and extreme rhetoric – and Farage has said that Zahawi has no principles and is only interested in climbing the greasy pole.
“This shameless scurry of yet another failed Tory over to Reform will tell people everything they need to know about both of them.”
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