It appears that Zia Yusuf’s announcement that he was stepping down as chair of Reform UK was unexpected and came as a 54-word tweet.
But the departure of the individual who was significantly involved in “professionalising” the party’s workings, leading to last year’s general election outcome and last month’s local election success, is not surprising to those who have been keeping a close eye on Nigel Farage’s party over the past few years.
Yusuf, a “British Muslim patriot,” was the recipient of Islamophobic insults on Reform UK Facebook groups. His business-like style angered some who quit the party or were ousted from it, denouncing him as making the party a cold house for grassroots mavericks and old hands.
Yusuf also introduced the terminology and culture of a successful software start-up, not that of a hard-right British political party, during his 11-month spell as chairman of Reform.
Last June, businessman Yusuf, who amassed a fortune selling his luxury concierge service, Velocity Black, for an estimated $300 million in 2023, burst onto the political stage by donating a six-figure sum to Farage’s party.
Stuart Wheeler, a former treasurer of Ukip, had hosted a party where the two men first met and had known each other for years.
When he moved to his new role at Reform, Yusuf directed a restructuring of the party from ground level upwards, promising to install bespoke technology and institute the toughest vetting of any British political party in an attempt to eliminate radicals and cranks.
He was a regular fixture on the rally speakers’ platform, initially impressing the wider public and earning the unstated respect of even political rivals.
He was the embodiment of Farage’s contention that Reform was not a racist party and was often one of the only non-white people in attendance.
Farage tried to deflect accusations of racism and xenophobia against Reform during a news conference in Scotland on Monday by pointing out that his party chair was Scottish with “parents who originate from the Indian subcontinent.”
According to reports, Yusuf has had more and more differences with other top party figures besides the cyber-attacks.
The final straw now appears to have been this week’s burqa-related row over comments made in parliament by Reform’s newest MP, Sarah Pochin, who called on the prime minister to ban the burqa. Because that was party policy, Yusuf posted on X that the question was “dumb.”
Farage’s response, also delivered on X as is the norm now, was initially applauded, with the leader terming him “a huge factor in our success.” .
There have been many fallouts during Farage’s tenure as leader of several parties, including Ukip and the Brexit Party. Many of his supporters and detractors concur that any Farage-led party can only have one trailblazer at the top.
