Married Tory Lord Ed Vaizey’s name appears on birth certificate of Saudi Arabian political analyst’s baby
- Mr Vaizey has been married to Alexandra Mary-Jane Holland for 19 years
- But his name is listed on the birth certificate of Najah Al-Otaibi’s daughter
It’s the curious case of a married Tory peer, the ex-wife of a BBC newsreader… and a mysteriously altered birth certificate.
The Mail on Sunday has learned that the names of former minister Ed Vaizey appear on the official document recording the birth of the daughter of Saudi political analyst Najah Al-Otaibi.
In a move guaranteed to set tongues wagging at Westminster, Najah, 41, who split from newsreader Tim Willcox after two years of marriage, named her Victoria Vaizey Edward Al-Otaibi – featuring a reverse version of Edward Vaizey.
It should be noted that the former MP for Wantage, Oxfordshire, is not specifically named as a father.
To add to the mystery, that box was left blank by Najah, who often appears on BBC news programmes.
The Mail on Sunday has learned that the names of former minister Ed Vaizey appear on the official document recording the birth of the daughter of Saudi political analyst Najah Al-Otaibi (pictured)
Mr Vaizey has been married to lawyer Alexandra Mary-Jane Holland for 19 years. Pictured together in 2017
In a move guaranteed to set tongues wagging at Westminster, Najah, 41, named her Victoria Vaizey Edward Al-Otaibi – featuring a reverse version of Edward Vaizey
The box with father was left blank by Ms Najah, who often appears on BBC news programmes
Lord Vaizey did nothing to quell the speculation when approached by a reporter last week. When asked if he was the father, given his names are on the certificate even though it is reversed, he replied: “I’m not going to comment.”
As Arts Minister he was associated with the so-called ‘Notting Hill set’ of west London-based Tory modernizers who served under then Prime Minister David Cameron. Others included George Osborne and Michael Gove, who was later his best man.
Vaizey has been married to lawyer Alexandra Mary-Jane Holland for 19 years. He previously dated Esther McVey, now a Tory MP.
Vaizey and Najah are involved with the Saudi British Society and appear to have attended the same networking reception in July 2022.
Najah joined as a trustee in 2020 and manages the association’s social media accounts, focusing on “various aspects of Saudi culture.”
Vaizey’s name did not appear on the original December 2022 birth certificate, but was added a year later, just two days before the official cutoff point for changing first names. To be officially listed on a birth certificate, the father’s permission is required.
As Arts Minister, Lord Vaizey was associated with the so-called ‘Notting Hill set’ of west London-based Tory modernizers who served under then Prime Minister David Cameron.
Najah, 41, married newsreader Tim Willcox (pictured), 18 years her senior, in 2019 but left him two years later in what was described by friends as a ‘bitter’ split
Vaizey and Najah are involved with the Saudi British Society and appear to have attended the same networking reception in July 2022. Pictured: Najah outside Downing Street in 2016
Najah did not respond to calls last week, although she was seen strolling with her baby in a pram near her Notting Hill flat.
She married Willcox, 18 years her senior, in 2019 but left him two years later in what was described by friends as an ‘acrimonious’ split.
Willcox hit the headlines in 2012 when he had an affair with fellow married BBC presenter Sophie Long.
Oxford-educated Lord Vaizey worked for Tory MPs Kenneth Clarke and Michael Howard as an adviser on employment and education.
Before becoming an MP, he was a lawyer in family law and childcare.