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Zia Yusuf

(169 Posts)
growstuff Thu 05-Jun-25 18:01:45

Zia Yusuf has resigned as chairman of Reform UK. I don't know enough about Reform's internal politics to comment, but I suspect some posters do.

Chocolatelovinggran Sun 08-Jun-25 18:07:51

Teasel, Reform is not a political party, it is a business registered with Companies House.
It has shareholders, not all of whom are elected to any role in government, local, or national.

Teazel2 Sun 08-Jun-25 18:03:04

love0c

Teazel All parties are the same?. Swopping and changeing positions within the party. Sacked and then they reappear! Regards the barrage of abuse towards Reform. Well, if you don't join in, you are a 'wrong un'!! Lol

😂👏👏👏

love0c Sun 08-Jun-25 17:19:16

Teazel All parties are the same?. Swopping and changeing positions within the party. Sacked and then they reappear! Regards the barrage of abuse towards Reform. Well, if you don't join in, you are a 'wrong un'!! Lol

Teazel2 Sun 08-Jun-25 17:08:51

I honestly cannot understand the barrage of abuse towards NF and Reform on this forum. No political party is perfect, many big egos bouncing about! However, Reform seem to at least care about the concerns of many of us, like it or not, they are becoming a party that many are turning to. In fact, from what I read in one of the papers today, Europe seems to be leaning towards the right.

butterandjam Sun 08-Jun-25 16:59:20

growstuff

Zia Yusuf has resigned as chairman of Reform UK. I don't know enough about Reform's internal politics to comment, but I suspect some posters do.

"Oh no he hasnt".

Changed his mind. He was just tired and emotional.

Shades of George Brown.

Farage cackling like a pantomime dame. What a farce, you couldn't make it up.

growstuff Sun 08-Jun-25 16:50:10

Casdon

It’s fascinating to watch, thanks Silverbrooks. I can’t help wondering what the next twist will be, it’s like watching House of Cards.

That's why I started the first thread about Zia Yusuf. I find watching the shenanigans intriguing.

Jaxjacky Sun 08-Jun-25 11:51:26

The comment by Rupert Lowe is by no means reassuring.
Thank you for your updates Silverbrooks

Casdon Sun 08-Jun-25 11:40:59

It’s fascinating to watch, thanks Silverbrooks. I can’t help wondering what the next twist will be, it’s like watching House of Cards.

Lovetopaint037 Sun 08-Jun-25 10:22:29

However, now he has made a U-turn all is well! As Farage said on the news last night “I have forgiven him”. I nearly fell off my chair for laughing. Farage’s face and manner said it all.
Silverbrook’s post should be read carefully and noted.

Silverbrooks Sun 08-Jun-25 10:13:36

I haven’t seen any speculation about whether resigning as chairman affects his role as joint director of Reform with Farage as yet.

Yusuf has already resigned his directorship. The papers went to Companies House the same day as the fracas.

The company he set up with Farage, Reform 2025 Limited has now been renamed Reform UK Party Limited with Charlton Edwards who was Deputy Party Treasurer now named Director and Party Treasurer.

To recap. There was The Brexit Party Ltd from 2019 to 2021 which became Reform UK Party Ltd in May 2021. Director Richard Tice. The company was technically insolvent owing a huge sum of money to Tice.

Farage made a big fanfare of handing over control of the party to the members - which, of course, he didn’t. That was at the time of the ticker tape membership drive and the spat with Badenoch over the numbers she claimed were fake.

There’s a piece here about the dubious corporate structure:

bylinetimes.com/2025/03/24/reform-uk-corporate-structure/

Charlton Edwards’ LinkedIn says he has been Deputy Treasurer since September 2024. So does that mean that Tory defector Nick Candy has been replaced as Party Treasurer? Candy is the one who introduced Farage to Musk at Mar-a-Lago and triggered all the speculation about Musk donating to Reform.

Some commentators had suggested that Arron Banks would replace Yusuf as chair. Banks tweeted that champagne corks were popping at Reform HQ after Yusuf’s departure and Lee Anderson remained silent while others were thanking Yusuf for all his hard work. Now Anderson has welcomed him back and Banks says playing to Yusuf’s strengths is an inspirational move. This all stinks of rats in a sack ordered to toe the party line.

Meantime Rupert Lowe says: Zia Yusuf is back in Reform. I have never been more convinced that we need a credible alternative to the utter shambles that is Reform UK. I am working on that, and will have more news to share soon.

growstuff Sun 08-Jun-25 09:50:41

nanna8

He’s baaack! He denies any connection with the burqa comments whatsoever for his stepping down. He was just exhausted, as I had thought. Like them or not, the UK needs an opposition and in the absence of an effective Tory party, Reform are it. Some of their ideas are just commonsense and obviously Stalin listens because he changes his policies because of it.

Having read some of the anti-Islam bile Yusuf experiences on social media, I would be surprised if that question didn't play some part.

Casdon Sun 08-Jun-25 07:59:34

Isn’t the question rather whether she asked a maverick question which was against party policy, or whether the question was approved in advance, knowing it would offend Zia Yusuf? I think that’s where the key is to why he did what he did.

I haven’t seen any speculation about whether resigning as chairman affects his role as joint director of Reform with Farage as yet.

nanna8 Sun 08-Jun-25 07:57:03

Psychological error Stalin = Starmer.

nanna8 Sun 08-Jun-25 07:55:31

He’s baaack! He denies any connection with the burqa comments whatsoever for his stepping down. He was just exhausted, as I had thought. Like them or not, the UK needs an opposition and in the absence of an effective Tory party, Reform are it. Some of their ideas are just commonsense and obviously Stalin listens because he changes his policies because of it.

Oreo Sun 08-Jun-25 07:52:06

growstuff

Oreo

Wyllow3

Cossy

Well, personally, I’m glad and he’s sticking to his principles, he’s not “slating” Farage or Reform, just a quiet and dignified resignation, without assigning blame

Well, yes, he actually didn't agree with a burka ban, but its seems as if a lot of Reform supporters do 😡 more racism.
But this might have been a final trigger. Step up Pockin and even more far to the right?

It’s Pochin.
And it isn’t racist to want the liberation of women here in the UK from walking around in a thick black shroud.
However can women integrate into our society if they can’t even be seen?

Is it Reform policy? Why did she use a question at PMQs to ask about burqas? I doubt very much whether there are many women in her constituency who wear one or people who are directly affected by them. The percentage of non-white residents in Runcorn and Helsby is just over 2% - and that includes Indian Hindus, Chinese and men, who don't wear burqas.

PS. There's a separate thread about banning burqas. Do you know anything about Reform's internal squabbles?

I don’t think Pochin would have asked a question about the burqa if there had been a big percentage of Muslim voters in her constituency. I see nothing wrong with asking a question of the government about it tho.
No, I know nothing about the internal squabbles of Reform other than what’s put out on the news.I see Yusuf will now have a different job within the Party.

lafergar Sat 07-Jun-25 21:36:09

Kandinsky

Looks like he’s not actually leaving the party after all.

Phew!

Kandinsky Sat 07-Jun-25 20:56:14

Looks like he’s not actually leaving the party after all.

growstuff Fri 06-Jun-25 17:58:51

Wyllow3

Cossy

Well, personally, I’m glad and he’s sticking to his principles, he’s not “slating” Farage or Reform, just a quiet and dignified resignation, without assigning blame

Well, yes, he actually didn't agree with a burka ban, but its seems as if a lot of Reform supporters do 😡 more racism.
But this might have been a final trigger. Step up Pockin and even more far to the right?

I find the reaction and responses more interesting than the question itself.

growstuff Fri 06-Jun-25 17:56:40

Oreo

Wyllow3

Cossy

Well, personally, I’m glad and he’s sticking to his principles, he’s not “slating” Farage or Reform, just a quiet and dignified resignation, without assigning blame

Well, yes, he actually didn't agree with a burka ban, but its seems as if a lot of Reform supporters do 😡 more racism.
But this might have been a final trigger. Step up Pockin and even more far to the right?

It’s Pochin.
And it isn’t racist to want the liberation of women here in the UK from walking around in a thick black shroud.
However can women integrate into our society if they can’t even be seen?

Is it Reform policy? Why did she use a question at PMQs to ask about burqas? I doubt very much whether there are many women in her constituency who wear one or people who are directly affected by them. The percentage of non-white residents in Runcorn and Helsby is just over 2% - and that includes Indian Hindus, Chinese and men, who don't wear burqas.

PS. There's a separate thread about banning burqas. Do you know anything about Reform's internal squabbles?

Oreo Fri 06-Jun-25 17:49:54

Wyllow3

Cossy

Well, personally, I’m glad and he’s sticking to his principles, he’s not “slating” Farage or Reform, just a quiet and dignified resignation, without assigning blame

Well, yes, he actually didn't agree with a burka ban, but its seems as if a lot of Reform supporters do 😡 more racism.
But this might have been a final trigger. Step up Pockin and even more far to the right?

It’s Pochin.
And it isn’t racist to want the liberation of women here in the UK from walking around in a thick black shroud.
However can women integrate into our society if they can’t even be seen?

Grantanow Fri 06-Jun-25 17:46:46

If Reform were to form a government after the next GE none of their MPs (bar a very few defectors from the Tories) would have any Ministerial experience to bring to the job. I shudder to think what a mess they might make.

Whitewavemark2 Fri 06-Jun-25 16:28:23

growstuff

Whitewavemark2

I think that Lowe is probably too far right for even the Reform voters to stomach, and Farage knows this.

Lowe won’t be brought back in until Farage judges that he can get away with it.

Lowe has many supporters on X (unless they're all trolls).

Blimey

growstuff Fri 06-Jun-25 15:31:20

nanna8

What a press beat up. The bloke is very rich man who most likely got sick of giving up all his time to Reform. He wants his life back and who could blame him ? Reform has arisen at the wrong time, 4 years out from a possible change of government and why put in all that time when it is all pxxszing in the wind really ? He woke up and smelt the coffee.

It will take Reform at least four years to build the party infrastructure to be a serious contender to form a government. Farage seemed to think Yusuf was the man to do it - and he could have been right.

growstuff Fri 06-Jun-25 15:29:33

Whitewavemark2

I think that Lowe is probably too far right for even the Reform voters to stomach, and Farage knows this.

Lowe won’t be brought back in until Farage judges that he can get away with it.

Lowe has many supporters on X (unless they're all trolls).

growstuff Fri 06-Jun-25 15:28:36

nanna8

What a press beat up. The bloke is very rich man who most likely got sick of giving up all his time to Reform. He wants his life back and who could blame him ? Reform has arisen at the wrong time, 4 years out from a possible change of government and why put in all that time when it is all pxxszing in the wind really ? He woke up and smelt the coffee.

Somehow I think there's more to it than that. I was hoping Reform voters, who presumably follow the party more closely than I do, might be able to enlighten me, but they seem strangely quiet.