The chairman of Reform UK, Zia Yusuf, has resigned.
Mr Yusuf stated in a publish on X that working to get the celebration elected is now not “a good use of my time”.
He stated: “11 months in the past I turned chairman of Reform. I’ve labored full time as a volunteer to take the celebration from 14 to 30%, quadrupled its membership and delivered historic electoral outcomes.
“I no longer believe working to get a Reform government elected is a good use of my time, and hereby resign the office.”
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It comes after a row during which he described a query to Sir Keir Starmer a couple of ban on burkas from his celebration’s latest MP Sarah Pochin as “dumb”.
A senior Reform supply has stated Mr Yusuf “definitely was not pushed” and made the choice to depart himself.
They added that he additionally “wasn’t pushed aside and still had full control” of the celebration earlier than his departure.
As a substitute, they prompt that “even before [the burka comment], he was just sick of it all” and had change into “sick” of receiving abuse on-line, however that his relationship with Nigel Farage stays “absolutely fine”.
Many credited businessman Mr Yusuf with professionalising the celebration’s operations after they secured thousands and thousands of votes finally yr’s common election.
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Reacting to the information, celebration chief Nigel Farage stated: “I’m genuinely sorry that Zia Yusuf has determined to face down as Reform UK chairman.
“As I stated simply final week, he was an enormous consider our success on 1 Could and is an enormously gifted individual.
“Politics can be a highly pressured and difficult game and Zia has clearly had enough. He is a loss to us and public life.”
Deputy chief Richard Tice stated the celebration would “not be where we are today without him”.
Rupert Lowe, a former Reform MP, was much less complimentary.
He stated: “The question is – how did a man with no political experience be given such vast power within Reform?”
Mr Lowe added that he’s nonetheless taking authorized motion towards Mr Yusuf.
In March, Reform referred Mr Lowe to police over allegations together with threats of bodily violence towards Mr Yusuf. Prosecutors later stated they might not convey prices towards Mr Lowe, who was suspended by the celebration.
The most recent row within the celebration stemmed from the newly elected Reform MP asking a query to the prime minister within the Commons on Wednesday.
She requested if the burka can be banned “in the interests of public safety”.
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Sir Keir Starmer declined to “follow her down that line”, earlier than taking the chance to assault Reform’s financial insurance policies.
Mr Yusuf later stated on social media that it was a “dumb” query for Ms Pochin to ask, and stated it was not celebration coverage.
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Responding to Mr Yusuf’s resignation, a Labour spokesperson stated: “If Nigel Farage can’t manage a handful of politicians, how on earth could he run a country? He has fallen out with everyone he has ever worked with.”
Lib Dem deputy chief Daisy Cooper MP stated: “It’s already clear Reform UK cannot deliver for the communities they are elected to stand up for. Instead, they have copied the Conservative playbook of fighting like rats in a sack.”
It’s understood that Reform are “not rushing” to pick out a brand new chairman, although an announcement might be anticipated within the “coming weeks”.
