Zahawi to stand down from Parliament at next election

NADHIM ZAHAWI has announced that he will stand down as a Conservative MP at the next election.

The former chancellor said that he had “come to feel that the time is right for a new, energetic Conservative to fight for the honour of representing Stratford-upon-avon and assuming the mantle of MP for Shakespeare.

He has become the 64th Conservative MP to declare they will not stand again at the next election, as Rishi Sunak faces a Tory exodus in the run-up to the contest. In a letter published on X this morning, Mr Zahawi quoted the Bard: “Parting is such sweet sorrow.

“I would like to thank all of my parliamentary staff and colleagues, civil service officials, special advisers, and everyone else who has ever given me advice, praise, or kept me in check with criticism. My mistakes have been mine, and my successes have come from working with, and leading, amazing people.”

The ex-education secretary was sacked as Conservative Party chairman in January last year after an inquiry found he had failed to disclose that HMRC was investigating his tax affairs.

He has represented the seat of Stratford-upon-avon since 2010, and has become the latest in a growing number of Conservative MPS to announce they will step aside at the election, including Sir Sajid Javid, Kwasi Kwarteng, Theresa May and Dominic Raab.

He wrote: “With the exception of convincing my wife to marry me, it has been the greatest honour of my life to represent the people of Stratfordupon-avon and serve as a Minister of the Crown.

“But after 14 years in Parliament, and multiple roles in Cabinet and Government, I have come to the decision not to stand again at the next general election.”

In one of his many Government roles, Mr Zahawi was appointed vaccines minister during the Covid pandemic, responsible for the jab’s roll-out. He was chancellor for two months over the summer of 2022, and education secretary for 10 months before that.