Key to the rise of the 55-year-old Stratford-upon-Avon MP is his 2020 to 2021 stint as under-secretary of state at the ministry of health – or ‘vaccines minister’, shorthand for that position. Zahawi took huge credit for the very rapid initial rollout of Covid vaccines in the UK, something regularly cited by Boris Johnson as one of the defining achievements of his time in office. When the role ended, a cabinet reshuffle was inevitable, and on education Zahawi was once again a solid minister and a good media performer, albeit one whose reputation was inevitably helped by succeeding the ill-fated Gavin Williamson. Zahawi has been regularly discussed in recent months as one of the contenders to succeed Johnson and has a personal history that matches his apparent ambitions. Born in Baghdad to Iraqi Kurdish parents, Zahawi arrived in the UK at the age of nine, speaking no English and has spoken eloquently about the prejudice he faced. Zahawi, co-founder of the YouGov poll, has also earned significant sums from the oil industry and is one of the UK’s richest MPs. His self-establishment is seen by some as an advantage in a potential battle to take over from Johnson – but he will also face scrutiny of his professional career and many outside financial interests.
