News

Former Tory chancellor Zahawi defects to Reform UK

Published

1 month ago

January 12, 2026

NADHIM ZAHAWI has defected from the Conservative Party to Reform UK, becoming Nigel Farage’s highest-profile political recruit to date and delivering a fresh blow to the Tories’ attempts to rebuild after last year’s general election defeat.

The former chancellor, who served briefly in the role under Rishi Sunak, was unveiled at a Reform UK press conference in London on Monday morning alongside party leader Nigel Farage.

Zahawi, who was sacked from the cabinet in 2023 following a dispute with HM Revenue and Customs over his tax affairs, said he had reflected deeply on his time in government and concluded that Britain “needs Reform”.

Speaking to reporters, Zahawi said he could have stepped away from politics altogether, noting that he now chairs one of the UK’s largest retailers. However, he said he felt a duty to act as the country entered what he described as a “dark and dangerous chapter”.

“We can all see that our beautiful, ancient, kind, magical island story has reached a dark and dangerous chapter,” he said. “You know in your heart of hearts that our wonderful country is sick.”

He argued that Westminster had become detached from the lived experience of people struggling to access GP appointments, facing rising taxes, or concerned about freedom of expression and education policy.

Tax row played down

Zahawi was challenged on whether his tax settlement undermined Reform UK’s anti-establishment credentials.

Responding, he said his mistake had been failing to be sufficiently specific with the Cabinet Office about the settlement he reached with HMRC. He did not dispute the findings that led to his dismissal from government.

Farage moved quickly to downplay the issue, saying tax disputes were commonplace among senior business figures.

“There’s nobody with a complex business empire that does not have to have negotiations at some point with HMRC,” he said.

Farage also compared Zahawi’s treatment to criticism faced by Reform’s London mayoral candidate, Laila Cunningham, who was attacked last week over past business failures. In the United States, he said, such failures were often seen as part of the route to success.

Attack on ‘administrative state’

In a wide-ranging speech, Zahawi accepted that the Conservatives bore responsibility for many of the country’s problems, saying he now regretted what he described as the party’s “timidity” in government.

He blamed what he called “over-mighty bureaucratic inertia” for restricting individual liberty and stifling economic growth, arguing that power had drained from parliament to unelected bodies.

While stressing his respect for civil servants as individuals, he said collectively they had turned the UK into “an administrative state”.

Zahawi also criticised Conservative failures on mass migration, defence spending and legislation he described as “virtue signalling”, saying these had provided “painful lessons” that brought him to Reform UK.

Concluding the event, Farage said: “Britain needs Reform.”

Local Government

Independent Group reshuffle as council tax budget battle looms

Published

42 minutes ago

February 19, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Leadership change confirmed weeks before key vote amid warning over school cuts

PEMBROKESHIRE County Council’s Independent Group has confirmed a change in its leadership arrangements following a meeting held on Tuesday (Feb 18), with the changes taking effect from March 23, 2026.

Cllr Anji Tinley will become Group Leader, while Cllr Elwyn Morse will serve as Deputy Group Leader and take on the role of Chair of the Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Cllr Michael John will remain Chair of the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee, and Cllr Huw Murphy will become Chair of the Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The changes reflect the forthcoming appointment of Cllr Delme Harries as Chair of Council at the Annual Meeting on May 15. Under council rules, the Chair of Council cannot simultaneously hold a scrutiny chair role.

The Independent Group also confirmed it will not support the Cabinet’s proposed budget, which includes a 4.6% council tax rise for 2026/27 and a 2% reduction — approximately £2 million — in individual school budgets.

Group members said they hoped councillors across the chamber could work together to agree a budget that avoids cuts to education, particularly in light of recent Estyn inspections that have placed three schools into special measures with safeguarding concerns identified.

However, the Group warned that if a budget is approved that imposes what it described as substantial school funding reductions, it will consider invoking constitutional powers to bring forward a motion to rescind the decision.

Crime

Man who threw corrosive liquid at guest and fled abroad jailed

Published

15 hours ago

February 18, 2026

Court Reporter

A BUSINESSMAN who threw a corrosive liquid into a guest’s face during a row at a spiritual retreat before fleeing the country has been jailed for 18 months.

Dean Mayze, aged 38, from Abercrave in Powys, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm following the attack at his Hafan-y-Coed retreat in December 2022.

Swansea Crown Court heard the assault happened after an argument with guest Keifer Price, who had complained about the condition of his accommodation, including a lack of heating and washing facilities.

During the confrontation, Mayze produced a blue container and threw its contents upwards into the victim’s face.

The liquid — described as smelling like ammonia — entered Mr Price’s eyes, nose and mouth, leaving him in severe pain and struggling to breathe.

Medical evidence confirmed injuries consistent with a chemical burn to both eyes. He suffered abrasions, a corneal defect and the loss of the outer corneal layer in one eye, requiring significant treatment to prevent permanent sight loss. He has since recovered without lasting injury.

Fled across Europe

Following the attack, Mayze fled the UK, triggering an international search.

The court heard he travelled across several European countries, including Ireland, France, Italy, Croatia and Greece, before eventually being arrested in Romania in 2025.

Despite being on the run, he remained in regular contact with police by text and email, at one point telling officers he would not be returning to Wales.

His partner initially claimed responsibility for the assault and later received a suspended prison sentence after admitting perverting the course of justice.

Previous conviction

The court was told Mayze has a previous conviction for wounding involving a corrosive substance in Kent in 2013.

Defence barrister Andrew Taylor said his client had experienced harsh conditions while detained in Romania, including contracting scabies without treatment, and described him as remorseful.

However, Judge Geraint Walters said it was “pure luck” the victim had not suffered permanent injuries, describing the attack as a “particularly wicked way of inflicting violence”.