Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf has stepped down, saying working to get the party elected was no longer “a good use of my time,” according to The Guardian.
Yusuf’s resignation follows tension within Reform UK after its newest MP, Sarah Pochin, called for a ban on burkas during Prime Minister’s Questions. Pochin asked PM Keir Starmer to ban the burqa “in the interests of public safety,” but the request was rejected. The party quickly stated banning burkas is “not party policy.” Yusuf criticized the question as “dumb” on social media, saying, “I do think it’s dumb for a party to ask the PM if they would do something the party itself wouldn’t do.”
The former banker and tech entrepreneur, who joined Reform UK 11 months ago, said he volunteered full time to grow the party’s membership from 14% to 30% and helped deliver notable electoral results. However, he announced on social media he no longer believed working to elect a Reform government was worthwhile and resigned immediately.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage expressed regret over Yusuf’s departure, describing him as “enormously talented” and a key factor in their recent successes. Farage added, “Politics can be a highly pressured and difficult game and Zia has clearly had enough.”
Meanwhile, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch dismissed Reform UK as “not a political party” but “a fan club,” criticizing Farage’s leadership.
Yusuf also led the party’s DOGE initiative, aimed at cutting wasteful public spending, modeled after a US government efficiency program. His departure comes amid ongoing debates about party direction and policy consistency.
Article updated 2 days ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
