Nadhim Zahawi Defects to Reform UK, Endorses Farage as Britain’s Next Prime Minister

Former British finance minister Nadhim Zahawi has defected from the Conservative Party to the right-wing Reform UK, delivering a fresh blow to the Tories and boosting the momentum of Nigel Farage ahead of the next general election. Zahawi said the country was “broken” and argued that only Farage had the political will to confront Britain’s deepening crises.

The defection was announced on Monday and marks one of the highest-profile switches to Reform UK so far. Zahawi, who briefly served as chancellor of the exchequer in 2022 under Boris Johnson, said he could no longer support a Conservative Party he believes has lost touch with voters and failed to deliver on core promises.

In a statement, Zahawi said Britain faced systemic problems ranging from weak economic growth and high taxes to uncontrolled immigration and declining public trust in politics. He accused successive Conservative governments of offering only “managed decline” and said Reform UK represented a clean break from what he described as a failed political consensus.

Zahawi becomes the latest in a growing list of former Conservatives to join Reform UK, a party that has steadily expanded its profile by capitalising on voter frustration with both major parties. Once dismissed as a fringe movement, Reform UK has gained traction by focusing on immigration, tax cuts, national sovereignty, and criticism of political elites.

Farage welcomed Zahawi’s move, calling it evidence that senior figures were recognising the need for radical change. He said Zahawi’s experience in government and business would strengthen Reform UK’s credibility as a serious contender for power. Farage has repeatedly framed his party as the only authentic opposition to what he calls a broken Westminster system.

Zahawi’s political career has spanned several senior roles, including education secretary and vaccines minister during the Covid-19 pandemic, before his short tenure as finance minister. While he has been a prominent figure within Conservative governments, his relationship with the party has been strained in recent years, particularly as internal divisions deepened after multiple leadership changes.

The defection adds pressure on Conservative leader and party strategists, who are already grappling with poor polling, internal dissent, and the growing threat posed by Reform UK to their voter base. Analysts say Reform UK’s appeal lies not just in protest votes, but in its ability to attract experienced politicians who lend it greater legitimacy.

Critics of Zahawi’s move argue that Reform UK lacks a fully costed policy platform and risks further fragmenting the right-wing vote, potentially benefiting Labour. Supporters counter that the traditional two-party model is no longer delivering effective governance and that political realignment is overdue.

Labour figures reacted cautiously, suggesting the defection was further proof of Conservative collapse rather than an endorsement of Reform UK’s programme. Some warned that Farage’s rise could harden political divisions and push debate further toward populist rhetoric.

For Reform UK, Zahawi’s arrival represents a symbolic and strategic gain. For the Conservatives, it underlines the scale of their challenge as senior figures publicly abandon the party. As the election approaches, the defection highlights how Britain’s political landscape is shifting, with traditional loyalties weakening and insurgent movements gaining ground.