Nadhim Zahawi latest Tory MP standing down at next election

Former Cabinet minister Nadhim Zahawi has announced he will stand down as an MP at the next general election, becoming the 64th Conservative MP to announce they are quitting.

In a letter posted on X, he said that serving his constituency of Stratford-on-Avon, which he has held since 2010, was “the greatest honour of my life” and the he felt “immensely privileged to have been called upon to serve my country across Government”.

He reflected on his various Cabinet roles, which have included Education Secretary, Chancellor and Conservative Party Chairman, a role he was sacked from last year following controversy over his tax arrangements. He is currently a backbench MP.

Mr Zahawi was also Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster under Liz Truss, and during his brief tenure wrote he was “given the unique responsibility of coordinating the funeral commemorations for our beloved Queen Elizabeth II”.

Prior to entering politics, he was a businessman and helped found the polling firm YouGov, which he was chairman of from 2005 to 2010.

He said: “Every morning as I shave my head in the mirror, I have to pinch myself. How is it that a boy from Baghdad who came to these shores, fleeing persecution and unable to speak a word of English, was able to do as much as I have?

“For all our challenges, this is the best country on Earth, and it helped me make my British dream come true.”

Mr Zahwi also referenced William Shakespeare in his letter, adding: “But as my most famous constituent once wrote: ‘Go to your bosom; knock there and ask your heart what it doth know’.

“I have come to feel that the time is right for a new, energetic Conservative to fight for the honour of representing Stratford-on-Avon and assuming the mantle of MP for Shakespeare.

“I will, of course, serve my constituents with dedication and determination until then, and the Prime Minister, and the Conservative Party, will continue to have my unswerving support into and beyond the next general election.”

Mr Zahawi has joined a growing cohort of Tory MPs announcing they will not seek reelection as the party trails behind Labour in the polls.

Other notable figures among the 64 Tory MPs who have announced they are standing down include former prime minister Theresa May, influential 1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady and former Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng.