| Nadhim Zahawi MP | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament for Stratford-on-Avon |
|
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 6 May 2010 |
|
| Preceded by | John Maples |
| Majority | 11,346 (22.4%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 June 1967 Baghdad, Iraq |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse(s) | Lana Zahawi |
| Children | 2 Sons |
| Alma mater | University College London |
| Occupation | Member of Parliament |
| Website | zahawi.com |
Nadhim Zahawi (Arabic: ناظم الزهاوي, Nāḍim az-Zahāwī; born 2 June 1967) is a British Conservative Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Stratford-on-Avon since 2010, after the retirement of previous MP John Maples.
He is also the co-founder of the international internet-based market research firm YouGov of which he was Chief Executive until February 2010.
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Born in Baghdad, Iraq, to Kurdish parents, Zahawi's family fled Iraq during Saddam Hussein's rise to power.[1]
Zahawi was educated at King's College School, at the time a boys-only independent school in Wimbledon in West London, followed by University College London, where he studied Chemical Engineering, receiving a BSc.[2]
Following a career as European Marketing Director for Smith & Brooks Ltd, Nadhim Zahawi co-founded YouGov with Stephan Shakespeare, a former spokesperson for Jeffrey Archer. Zahawi became YouGov's CEO.[3]
Zahawi and fellow Kurd Broosk Saibwas were aides to Jeffrey Archer during Archer's "Simple Truth" campaign to help Kurdish victims of the Gulf War. Zahawi and Saibwas were nicknamed "Lemon kurd" and "Bean kurd" by Archer.[4] In 1994 Archer helped campaign for Zahawi for a seat on Wandsworth council. Zahawi also ran Archer's unsuccessful campaign for Mayor of London in 1998.[5]
Zahawi was elected as a Conservative Councillor in the London Borough of Wandsworth, serving three times from 1994 to 2006, and stood as a candidate at Erith and Thamesmead in 1997, coming second to Labour.[6]
In 2010 Zahawi was selected by the local Conservative party for Stratford-on-Avon as a prospective parliamentary candidate in the 2010 general election.
Zahawi won 'craziest parking ticket of the year', a couple of years prior to being elected in 2010 for having got a ticket while he was in an ambulance.[7]
Zahawi appeared in ITN news coverage of the debate discussing the end of the Education Maintenance Allowance scheme. He was wearing a musical tie which proceeded to play during his contribution. The Deputy Speaker advised him to be more select when choosing ties to avoid a musical accompaniment to debate in the chamber[8]
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John Maples |
Member of Parliament for Stratford-on-Avon 2010–present |
Incumbent |