Former Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi recently opened up about his past as a football hooligan, admitting that he used to seek out fights as a member of Liverpool Football Club’s firm when he was younger. Speaking at the Henley Literary Festival, Mr. Zahawi shared that he was involved in violent altercations, including one where he was knocked into a shop front by a police horse during a fight with Southampton fans in London.
Despite his tumultuous past, Mr. Zahawi went on to have a successful political career, serving as a Conservative MP for Stratford-upon-Avon, as well as working as a business minister and chancellor under Boris Johnson’s government. He also reflected on his journey from Iraq to England as a child fleeing Saddam Hussein’s regime, highlighting the challenges he faced along the way.
In addition to discussing his days as a football hooligan, Mr. Zahawi addressed his discomfort with certain language used by the government around immigration during his time in power. He emphasized the need for the UK to have difficult conversations about immigration to combat racism and prevent extremists from taking to the streets.
However, Mr. Zahawi faced controversy in 2023 when he was sacked as Tory chair by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak after an investigation by HMRC into his tax affairs was revealed by The Independent. Despite initially denying any wrongdoing, Mr. Zahawi later apologized for his handling of the investigation and settled with the taxman for £5 million.
The investigation into Mr. Zahawi’s tax affairs was triggered by The Independent’s reporting, which exposed his failure to disclose the full details of his financial dealings. Despite threats of legal action to prevent the publication of this information, The Independent stood by its reporting and revealed that Mr. Zahawi had faced inquiries from multiple agencies before reaching a settlement with HMRC.
An inquiry conducted by the prime minister’s adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus, found that Mr. Zahawi had breached ministerial rules on seven occasions by being dishonest and withholding information during the tax investigation. This revelation tarnished Mr. Zahawi’s reputation and raised questions about his integrity and transparency while serving in a position of power.
Overall, Mr. Zahawi’s journey from a football hooligan to a prominent political figure is a complex and multifaceted story that sheds light on the challenges and controversies he has faced throughout his life and career. His willingness to address his past mistakes and acknowledge his shortcomings demonstrates a sense of accountability and self-awareness, but also raises concerns about his trustworthiness and credibility as a public servant.
