Zahawi's Scepticism Sparks Outrage Within Reform Party
Former Conservative chancellor Nadhim Zahawi's decision to join Reform UK has sent shockwaves through the party, with many members expressing outrage at his views on COVID-19 vaccines. Despite being a key figure in rolling out the vaccine programme as vaccines minister during the pandemic, Zahawi has now joined a party that has been increasingly hostile towards vaccination.
The controversy surrounding Zahawi's recruitment comes after he repeatedly denied that doctors who had spoken out against the Covid vaccine were "saying" that they had been influenced by Reform UK chair David Bull's views on the issue. However, this stance was seen as dismissive of concerns about Islamophobia within the party, with some members taking to social media to express their outrage at Zahawi's defection and what they saw as a "Muslim takeover" of the party.
The appointment of Aseem Malhotra, a vaccine sceptic and doctor who had claimed that Covid vaccines caused cancer in members of the royal family, at Reform UK's annual conference has also been cited as a reason for the backlash. Malhotra was described by Bull as someone who had helped write the party's health policy, which has further raised concerns among some members.
The criticism of Zahawi and Reform UK's stance on vaccines is not new, however. Other senior figures within the party have long expressed doubts about the safety and necessity of vaccination, with Richard Tice being a prominent example. The emergence that nearly one-third of Reform UK council leaders across the country have expressed vaccine-sceptic views has also highlighted the deep-seated divisions within the party on this issue.
Despite these concerns, Zahawi remains committed to the idea that he made the right decision in supporting the Covid vaccine programme during his time as vaccines minister. However, his recruitment into a party with increasingly hostile views towards vaccination has raised questions about whether Reform UK is truly taking an evidence-based approach to health policy.
Former Conservative chancellor Nadhim Zahawi's decision to join Reform UK has sent shockwaves through the party, with many members expressing outrage at his views on COVID-19 vaccines. Despite being a key figure in rolling out the vaccine programme as vaccines minister during the pandemic, Zahawi has now joined a party that has been increasingly hostile towards vaccination.
The controversy surrounding Zahawi's recruitment comes after he repeatedly denied that doctors who had spoken out against the Covid vaccine were "saying" that they had been influenced by Reform UK chair David Bull's views on the issue. However, this stance was seen as dismissive of concerns about Islamophobia within the party, with some members taking to social media to express their outrage at Zahawi's defection and what they saw as a "Muslim takeover" of the party.
The appointment of Aseem Malhotra, a vaccine sceptic and doctor who had claimed that Covid vaccines caused cancer in members of the royal family, at Reform UK's annual conference has also been cited as a reason for the backlash. Malhotra was described by Bull as someone who had helped write the party's health policy, which has further raised concerns among some members.
The criticism of Zahawi and Reform UK's stance on vaccines is not new, however. Other senior figures within the party have long expressed doubts about the safety and necessity of vaccination, with Richard Tice being a prominent example. The emergence that nearly one-third of Reform UK council leaders across the country have expressed vaccine-sceptic views has also highlighted the deep-seated divisions within the party on this issue.
Despite these concerns, Zahawi remains committed to the idea that he made the right decision in supporting the Covid vaccine programme during his time as vaccines minister. However, his recruitment into a party with increasingly hostile views towards vaccination has raised questions about whether Reform UK is truly taking an evidence-based approach to health policy.
. It's one thing for someone to have differing opinions on vaccines, but to be openly critical of a program that saved countless lives during the pandemic? That's just plain irresponsible in my book. And now Zahawi is joining a party that's basically embracing those views and making them official policy? It's like he's throwing good people under the bus 
.
.
. It's time for Reform UK to get back on track and focus on evidence-based policy rather than spreading misinformation and division 
.
meanwhile zahawi was rollin out those vaxx programmes like a pro lol what changed now? reform uk just tryin to sabotage the progress we made during pandemic period 
I gotta say, this whole thing got me thinking... 
... like, what changed his mind? Was it a sudden case of 'I'm with the party now, no matter what'? 
I mean, I get it, we all have our own opinions and stuff... but come on, he was vaccines minister for cryin' out loud! 
and I found this amazing recipe for chicken tikka masala that I'm gonna try out tonight... anyway, back to politics... have you guys ever noticed how some politicians change their stories as often as I change my socks? 
it's like they're trying to confuse us on purpose.
. it's just another example of how the left loves to demonize anyone who doesn't toe the party line 
. The Muslim takeover thing is just a bunch of racist nonsense 
.
. Like, what's next? Zahawi joins Reform UK and suddenly becomes an expert on vaccine safety? Please, he was the one who led the charge on vaccines during COVID-19 and now he's trying to distance himself from it? Give me a break 
I'm really shocked by this news... it feels like some people are being really hurtful and unfair to Nadhim Zahawi 
. He was part of the government that rolled out vaccines during the pandemic, and now he's joining a party that's been critical of vaccines? It's just not fair to him or to all those who were affected by COVID-19 
.
. And what really worries me is that Reform UK's stance on vaccines seems to be driven by ideology rather than evidence-based decision making 
.
. Instead, his decision to join a party that has become increasingly vocal about vaccine scepticism is nothing short of perplexing 
.
. However, until then, I fear that the party's stance on vaccines will remain a subject of controversy 
this is so concerning, you know? like nadhim zahawi used to be all about vaccines and now he's in a party that's basically spreading misinformation 
no thanks! and the fact that nearly 1/3 of their council leaders are vaccine sceptics is just disturbing 
. it's like they're not even taking science seriously anymore 
! I mean, who knew plant-based could be so on point? Anyway, back to Zahawi... I'm not sure what's more concerning, the fact that he joined a party with some pretty radical views or that he thinks he can just waltz in and make everything okay again 
. some ppl are saying it's a muslim takeover or something but honestly idk wut that even means 