ZIA Yusuf has resigned as Reform UK’s chairperson, citing that it is no longer a “good use” of his time to get the party elected.
Yusuf announced he has resigned from his post as the party chairperson following a row with the Runcorn and Helsby MP Sarah Pochin, who called for Muslim women to be banned from wearing full-face coverings.
Pochin’s question was dismissed on Wednesday by Keir Starmer but provoked outrage with Yusuf calling Reform's newest MP “dumb”.
He confirmed his resignation in a post on X/Twitter: “11 months ago I became Chairman of Reform. I’ve worked full time as a volunteer to take the party from 14 to 30%, quadrupled its membership and delivered historic electoral results.
“I no longer believe working to get a Reform government elected is a good use of my time, and hereby resign the office.”
Earlier, Yusuf had criticised Pochin when asked on social media about her calls to ban women from wearing a burka.
He said: “Nothing to do with me. Had no idea about the question nor that it wasn’t policy. Busy with other stuff.
“I do think it’s dumb for a party to ask the PM if they would do something the party itself wouldn’t do.”
Following Yusuf's resignation, Reform leader Nigel Farage said: “I am genuinely sorry that Zia Yusuf has decided to stand down as Reform UK Chairman.
“As I said just last week, he was a huge factor in our success on May 1 and is an enormously talented person.
“Politics can be a highly pressured and difficult game and Zia has clearly had enough. He is a loss to us and public life.”
It is not the first time that Reform UK's high command has found itself at odds with its own MPs.
Rupert Lowe was removed from the party fold after backing mass deportations, with Yusuf and others alleging the Great Yarmouth MP was a bully.
Yusuf donated thousands to Reform over their General Election campaign and was appointed chairman in July.
