Nadhim Zahawi, the former Chancellor and Conservative MP for Stratford-on-Avon, announced his decision not to seek re-election in the upcoming general election. Zahawi, who has been an MP for 14 years, played pivotal roles in the government as the vaccines minister during the pandemic and later as the Education Secretary. His political career was marked by significant contributions, including overseeing the Covid vaccine rollout and a stint as the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Zahawi’s decision was influenced by his dismissal last year by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak due to a breach of the ministerial code related to his tax affairs. This announcement makes Zahawi the 64th Conservative MP to announce they will not run in the forthcoming election, highlighting a broader trend of high-profile departures from the party, including other key figures such as Theresa May and Matt Hancock.

His political journey began after immigrating to the UK from Iraq in his childhood, fleeing persecution. Zahawi co-founded the polling company YouGov before entering politics. Despite facing controversies, including issues around his tax affairs and past expense claims, he expressed gratitude to his constituents and pride in his work, crediting his wife for her support throughout his career.

This wave of resignations among Conservative MPs comes as the party prepares for a challenging general election, with polls indicating a significant lead for the Labour Party. This situation poses potential difficulties for the Conservative Party in maintaining its current Parliamentary strength.