Iraqi-Kurdish Nadhim Zahawi named UK’s new chancellor

Aveen Karim

ERBIL, Kurdistan - UK Prime Minister named his education secretary Nadhim Zahawi, born in Iraq to Kurdish parents, as finance minister late on Tuesday following sudden resignations. Zahawi’s promotion to chancellor highlights his rapid ascension as fellow Conservatives believe he will soon lead the party. 

His rise in popularity was due to his overseeing of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout as undersecretary of state in the health department. Zahawi was praised for the rapid administration of vaccines, an achievement UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson regularly boasted about.

Following a cabinet reshuffle in September last year, Zahawi was appointed as education secretary. 

Downing Street said Queen Elizabeth II approved the appointment of Zahawi who co-founded polling company YouGov.  

 

The 55-year-old arrived in the UK as a child from Iraq with his Kurdish family without speaking any English at the time. He started his political career in 2010 when he was elected as Conservative MP for Stratford-on-Avon. 

Zahawi is one of the UK’s richest MPs having made a considerable amount of money from the oil industry. His wealth has drawn attention and criticism, particularly when he claimed parliamentary expenses in 2013 for heating his horse stables, AFP reported. The British press has also considerably reported on his private wealth and companies, now mostly owned by his wife. 

Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid unexpectedly resigned within minutes of each other on Tuesday, pushing Johnson to turn to his longtime friend, Zahawi, as one of the replacements in an attempt to stabilize his government and the economy.

Johnson was dealt a huge blow with the resignation of two of his top ministers, with all eyes now on the prime minister who has been mired in scandal after scandal. There is speculation that if Johnson steps down, Zahawi may be eyeing his position. 

Speaking to Sky News on Wednesday, in his first interview as chancellor, Zahawi was asked if he would step in to fill a vacancy left by Johnson, to which he responded “there’s no vacancy.” He has also refused to answer similar questions posed by reporters. 

During the interview, he emphasized that his main priority is to “rebuild and grow the economy.” Zahawi inherits an economy which experts have warned is heading towards a recession. Sunak claimed he had stepped down after clashing with Johnson on spending at a time of economic uncertainty. 

It is unclear whether Zahawi will continue Sunak’s calls for fiscal discipline and less spending but he will likely face pressure to lower taxes.