Nadhim Zahawi: Former chancellor and vaccines minister will stand down at general election
The previous minister in charge of COVID-19 vaccines and the chancellor, Nadhim Zahawi, has declared that he won't run for office in the upcoming general election.
The member of parliament from Stratford-on-Avon who is affiliated with the Conservative party and has held the position since 2010, cited the words of his most well-known constituent. He stated: "Reflect on your innermost thoughts, take a moment to introspect and consult the wisdom within your heart."
He expressed that it is a suitable moment for a fresh, dynamic Conservative to contend for the privilege of representing Stratford-on-Avon.
"He mentioned a quote from Romeo And Juliet by Shakespeare, saying that saying goodbye is both sad and pleasant."
It has been reported that Mr. Zahawi, a current member of the Conservative party, has decided not to run in the upcoming general election. He is the 64th Conservative MP to make this decision, and it is anticipated that the election will take place later this year.
Additionally, six Members of Parliament who were previously elected as Conservatives during the 2019 election but currently serve as independent individuals stated that they will be departing from their roles in Parliament.
Zahawi oversaw the distribution of the COVID vaccine and served as chancellor for two months in the summer of 2022. Prior to that, he held the position of education secretary for a duration of 10 months.
The Member of Parliament had the potential to follow Boris Johnson as the next leader of the Conservative party. Unfortunately, they were unable to continue further in the voting process, leaving them out of the running. However, they threw their support behind Liz Truss. As a result, they were appointed as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, intergovernmental relations minister, and equalities minister.
According to Mr Zahawi, his failures belong to him and his accomplishments are a result of collaborating with and guiding exceptional individuals.
In addition, he expressed his gratitude towards his loved ones, including his spouse Lana, for their affection and support.
The Member of Parliament was appointed as the chairman of the Conservative Party by Rishi Sunak. However, he was expelled from the position because he did not reveal that he was under investigation by HMRC and the National Crime Agency. The investigation was related to a tax conflict worth millions of pounds. It was linked to the sale of shares from his polling company called YouGov. This remained unresolved when he held the position of chancellor.
He admitted that he made a mistake that was not intentional, saying that he was not aware of the investigation and had already paid all the necessary taxes.
Back in 2013, Mr Zahawi had to say sorry and agree to reimburse some of the £5,822.27 he claimed for energy expenses. This was because it was revealed that the public were footing the bill for the horse stables at his estate in Warwickshire.
The individual, who is currently 56 years of age, originated from Baghdad situated in Iraq. However, due to the reign of Saddam Hussein, his family migrated from the country and relocated to London when he was 11 years old.
He stated: "Each day when I shave my head and look in the mirror, I must remind myself of the reality."
It's amazing how a young man from Baghdad who immigrated to this country to escape persecution and did not know a single word of English could achieve the same amount as myself.
Despite the difficulties we face, this nation is the most exceptional country worldwide and has enabled me to accomplish my British aspirations. It is the place where I established a remarkable British enterprise, YouGov, and where my remarkable family was raised.
The Member of Parliament expressed that he was very grateful to have had the opportunity to work for his country within the government. He detailed his various positions and responsibilities, which included managing the arrangements for the Queen's funeral.
In 2017, Mr. Zahawi was prevented from visiting his children in the United States while they were at university due to a travel ban imposed by former US President Donald Trump on several countries with Muslim-majority populations. Mr. Zahawi, who was born in Iraq, was among the individuals affected by the ban.
He made an unexpected appearance on an ITV show about the Post Office's IT controversy, acting as himself while asking questions to former Post Office CEO Paula Vennells during a parliamentary committee investigation.
