Zahawi now appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

[Anthea]

Iraqi-Kurdish chancellor Zahawi

runs for UK premiership

Iraqi-Kurdish Chancellor of the Exchequer Nadhim Zahawi laid out his plans for the future of the UK on Tuesday in his announcement to join the run to be Boris Johnson’s successor as prime minister, days after he called on Johnson to resign

Five days after UK’s Johnson resigned as prime minister, Zahawi said he is running for the premiership alongside 11 other MPs who will take part in the contest for the leadership of the ruling Conservative Party.

“With a plan to deliver, and a track record of success, I am running to be your next leader,” Zahawi wrote on Twitter.

The competition for the leadership was triggered when Johnson was forced to step down following the resignation of more than 50 MPs from his government who opposed his scandal-hit premiership.

From the little boy who spoke no English to a husband, father, self-made businessman, vaccines minister, education secretary, and now Chancellor of the Exchequer.

With a plan to deliver, and a track record of success, I am running to be your next leader. pic.twitter.com/KHqOBt0ZFU
— Nadhim Zahawi (@nadhimzahawi) July 12, 2022

Nominations for the role will open and close on Tuesday and a new PM will be announced on September 5, the Conservative Party said on Monday.

Zahawi, 55, rode a political roller coaster last week where he called on the outgoing PM to “go now” three days after Johnson promoted him from education secretary to chancellor of the exchequer.

“The country deserves a Government that is not only stable but which acts with integrity," Zahawi wrote in a letter directed to Johnson.

Several social media users welcomed Zahawi’s announcement, while others rejected it completely.

“Nadhim is the epitome of the British dream, equipped with the clear vision and rich experience needed to lead our country forward,” wrote one user.

“Oh dear,” said another.

Zahawi 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.

He 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, according to AFP.

The British press has also considerably reported on his private wealth and companies, now mostly owned by his wife.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/world/120720221

[Anthea]

Zahawi receives new appointment
Wladimir van Wilgenburg

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer, Nadhim Zahawi, was appointed the new Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Minister for Intergovernmental Relations and Minister for Equalities by British Prime Minister Liz Truss as part of a reshuffle on Tuesday

Delighted to be appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster @cabinetofficeuk. As PM @trussliz has said, we will deal hands-on with the energy crisis and take action this week; get Britian working, building and growing; and prioritise getting people the NHS services they need. https://t.co/H2Mb7NXycU
— Nadhim Zahawi (@nadhimzahawi) September 7, 2022

“As PM @trussliz has said, we will deal hands-on with the energy crisis and take action this week; get the UK working, building and growing; and prioritise getting people the NHS services they need,” he added.

Truss was elected as the leader of the Conservative Party on Monday after she easily defeated her rival, the former UK finance minister Rishi Sunak, after a long race for the premiership. On Tuesday, she reshuffled the UK cabinet.

Both Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani and Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani congratulated the United Kingdom’s Liz Truss on her election.

Former UK PM Boris Johnson, resigned in July after a scandal, and Nadhim Zahawi telling him to quit. He served as a caretaker PM until he was replaced by Truss in September.

After his resignation, Zahawi launched a campaign to compete for the post of British prime minister, but did not get enough votes from his party.

When he was 11, Zahawi immigrated to the United Kingdom with his Kurdish parents. He has held several positions in the UK government.

He was previously the Chancellor of the Exchequer between 5 July 2022 and 6 September 2022, and the Secretary of State for Education from 15 September 2021 to July 2022.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/29 ... -new-UK-PM