Nadhim Zahawi is a British Conservative Party

Conservative Party (UK)

The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...

 politician who has been the Member of Parliament

Member of Parliament

A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...

 (MP) for Stratford-on-Avon

Stratford-on-Avon (UK Parliament constituency)

-By-elections:-Notes and references:...

 since 2010, after the retirement of previous MP John Maples

John Maples

John Cradock Maples, Baron Maples is British politician. A member of the Conservative Party, he served as a Member of Parliament representing Lewisham West from 1982 to 1992 and Stratford-upon-Avon from 1997 to 2010...

.

He is also the co-founder of the international internet-based market research firm YouGov

YouGov

YouGov, formerly known as PollingPoint in the United States, is an international internet-based market research firm launched in the UK in May 2000 by Stephan Shakespeare, now Chief Executive Officer, and Nadhim Zahawi...

 of which he was Chief Executive until February 2010.

Early life

Born in Baghdad

Baghdad

Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...

, Iraq

Iraq

Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....

, to Kurdish parents, Zahawi's family fled Iraq during Saddam Hussein's

Saddam Hussein

Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...

 rise to power.

Education

Zahawi was educated at King's College School, at the time a boys-only independent school

Independent school

An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...

 in Wimbledon

Wimbledon, London

Wimbledon is a district in the south west area of London, England, located south of Wandsworth, and east of Kingston upon Thames. It is situated within Greater London. It is home to the Wimbledon Tennis Championships and New Wimbledon Theatre, and contains Wimbledon Common, one of the largest areas...

 in West London

West London

West London generally refers to the western portions of London, and may refer specifically to:*West *West End of London*W postcode area...

, followed by University College London

University College London

University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...

, where he studied Chemical Engineering, receiving a BSc.

Co-Founder of YouGov

Following a career as European Marketing Director for Smith & Brooks Ltd, Nadhim Zahawi co-founded YouGov

YouGov

YouGov, formerly known as PollingPoint in the United States, is an international internet-based market research firm launched in the UK in May 2000 by Stephan Shakespeare, now Chief Executive Officer, and Nadhim Zahawi...

 with Stephan Shakespeare

Stephan Shakespeare

Stephan Shakespeare is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the high-profile British Internet-based market research and opinion polls company YouGov...

, a former spokesperson for Jeffrey Archer. Zahawi became YouGov's CEO.

Political career

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. 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.

Zahawi was elected as a Conservative Councillor in the London Borough of Wandsworth

Wandsworth

Wandsworth is a district of south London, England, in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated southwest of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-Toponymy:...

, serving three times from 1994 to 2006, and stood as a candidate at Erith and Thamesmead in 1997, coming second to Labour.

In 2010 Zahawi was selected by the local Conservative party for Stratford-on-Avon

Stratford-on-Avon (UK Parliament constituency)

-By-elections:-Notes and references:...

 as a prospective parliamentary candidate in the 2010 general election.

Parking ticket

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.

Musical Tie

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

External links

• Nadhim Zahawi MP official site
• Interview after winning his seat in 2010 at Catch21
  Catch21
  Catch21 is a charitable production company and internet based broadcaster which organises and stages shows all over the UK with the key aim of engaging young people with politics, the concept was initially devised by a group of current and former students of the University of Hull.The organisation...