A year ago, Nadhim Zahawi was yet to join Boris Johnson’s cabinet. But after a traumatic day for Downing Street, the prime minister turned to a trusted supporter to be his third chancellor.
The rapid rise in Johnson’s last election to head the Treasury began in November 2020 when he was asked to oversee the deployment of the Covid-19 vaccine in the UK. He was widely praised by Conservative MPs for his quiet performances in the media at the height of the coronavirus pandemic.
Zahawi’s rise to chancellor marks the latest step in the rapid rise of a minister whom senior Conservatives believe will one day lead his party.
The 55-year-old was born in Iraqi Kurdistan and arrived in England at the age of 11 after his family fled Saddam Hussein’s Iraq in 1978. His teachers warned Zahawi’s parents that he could suffer. learning difficulties after initially having difficulty speaking English.
Prior to politics, Zahawi pursued a successful business career. In addition to being an advisor to novelist and former Conservative MP Jeffrey Archer, he distributed T-shirts and Teletubbies products to retailers such as Marks and Spencer.
With his also conservative Stephan Shakespeare, in 2000 he founded the YouGov polling company, which specializes in online polls. It went public five years later.
Zahawi entered parliament in 2010 as a Stratford-upon-Avon MP and under the leadership of David Cameron’s party, was appointed to political unit number 10. He supported Brexit in the 2016 referendum.
He joined the government as a junior minister in the Department of Education under Theresa May and later became Minister of Industry. After a cabinet reshuffle in September 2021, he was promoted to Johnson’s secretary of education.
After Sunak’s resignation on Tuesday evening, Johnson turned to Zahawi as a longtime friend to try to consolidate his government and economy.
A senior government official described Zahawi as a “class act” and suggested he would follow a different economic strategy from Sunak’s: “He has a history of aspiration, drive and progression.”
The official added: “For the next stage, we need a growth plan and not just balancing the books. It represents the values and commitment of the government.”
Another Johnson ally said the prime minister and new chancellor were united in the economy. “Nadhim quickly recognized what the Prime Minister has become increasingly frustrated about, which is a credible, easy and compelling plan to boost the economy and make Britain the best place in the northern hemisphere to start a business. “.
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However, Zahawi’s decision to take office was criticized by some Conservative MPs. An influential later banker said, “He has taken the helm of a sinking ship. He is now with Boris until he falls.”
But his decision to strengthen Johnson speaks to his aspiration. In recent months, Zahawi has quietly begun preparing for a leadership offer in case Johnson is forced to leave Downing Street.
A MP backing a possible Zahawi candidacy said his new role could help with his future opportunities. “Stabilizing markets and achieving a higher profile will only help for the future.”
A Conservative party informant close to him said he would probably run for the main job. “Nadhim will not move against Boris, he is totally loyal. But if he leaves, I have no doubt he will stay. “