Zia Yusuf

Now the "tech entrepreneur" Reform brought in to find waste in councils has resigned.

Tech entrepreneur Nathaniel Fried, who was brought in to lead the Doge unit, said he was stepping down with Yusuf.

"I have a huge amount of respect for the work that the councils are doing to save taxpayer money, and reduce wastage," he wrote on X.

But he added that Yusuf "got me in and I believe it is appropriate for me to leave with him".

Sam Bright on SubStack:

Whole piece here:

writesbright.substack.com/p/without-zia-yusuf-farage-is-in-trouble?r=7emt6&utm_medium=ios&triedRedirect=true

Some extracts:

Yusuf was a rare example of professionalism in a party otherwise cobbled together by ideologues, contrarians, and career discontents. Granted, he holds many of the noxious views shared by his former leader. Yusuf is not an angel – after all, he decided to run Farage’s outfit in the first place – and shouldn’t be allowed to morph into one just because he has finally come to his senses.

Ultimately, Yusuf’s presence in the party threatened the thing Farage holds most dear: the monopoly of his personal brand. In that sense, Yusuf didn’t just leave – he was pushed to the periphery by the gravitational force of Farage’s ego.If this pattern feels familiar, it’s because it is. Farage has a long and well-documented history of burning through allies. Key figures who helped to build Farage’s parties have all found themselves out of favour, discarded, or marginalised once they ceased to serve the singular purpose of amplifying his profile.

Consequently, Yusuf’s exit will not simply be a footnote in Reform’s history – it will surely be seen as the moment that Farage’s self-destructive instincts caught up with him.

Yes, there’s a chance Farage will find an adept replacement for Yusuf who can carry on his work and propel the party to victory in 2029. Alternatively, voters may be so angry with the status quo that they will vote for Farage – a political wrecking-ball in human form – regardless of the competence (or incompetence) of his operation.

But I struggle to believe that a serious party can operate as a Farage fan club. Eventually, the electorate asks tougher questions: about policy, about delivery, about credibility, that Farage simply cannot answer alone.

By losing Yusuf, Farage has once again shown that he is not interested in differing opinions. He prefers to speak over the dissenters – making him ever louder, angrier, and alone.

Populism without infrastructure is just noise. That has been Farage’s modus operandi for decades. He has been a disruptor, a tabloid showman, an extremist clothed as a man of the people – but never a statesman. Where others build coalitions, he burns bridges. Where others compromise, he doubles down. And where others try to assemble a serious political machine, Farage consistently turns his into a one-man circus.

Envy? Lack of bothering to understand? But I do think its race related without a doubt. He's worked so hard for Reform, clean record, deserved more respect tho disagree. Elephant in the room? Immigration and he is "one of them" however hard he tries?

As far as Yusuf is concerned, as I've written I don't know much about him except he's a banker and very rich. I've never read that he's been involved in fraud or other dodgy dealings. I'm not very knowledgeable about Reform internal dealings either.

My impression of Yusuf is that he's intelligent and has some integrity (but I could be wrong). As such, he seemed like the more grounded face of Reform, but I could be wrong. Why is there so much opposition to him on X?

growstuff

Should I start a thread about burqas?

What are people's thoughts on Yusuf's resignation? Does anybody know the real reason? Will it affect Reform?

I think its best to have a new thread on it if people pick up on it?
As its definitely a whole other area although it was a "Trigger point"

Thank you for bringing the thread back to the topic Silverbrooks.

Should I start a thread about burqas?

What are people's thoughts on Yusuf's resignation? Does anybody know the real reason? Will it affect Reform?

MayBee70

“His personal reason for engagement with Reform seemed to one of someone with drawbridge mentality. His parents came from a country in civil war, benefited from what the UK offered them and gave him the many privileges that he has had, but he didn’t want other people to have access to the same”
This seems to be the mindset of many second generation immigrants, both voters ( a friend of mine is like that) and politicians. It totally baffles me, but the media never seem to question them about it.

I think Yusuf’s concerns are about the scale of migration now compared to what is was when his parents came the UK. Most people accept that we must control numbers.

But because he comes from a world of privilege and elitism: fee-paying school, director of Goldman Sachs, then a business pandering to the every whim of the very wealthiest people in the world, it really doesn’t fit the party of the people image that Farage seeks to hoodwink people with.

At the end of the day, both men are all about personal wealth creation and hedonism.

Maybe Yusuf did think he could buy his way into a party and do something about migration numbers but we know that the real problem isn’t about small boats. The real problem is a society which has come to rely on migrant labour and overseas students to fund our universities - and that is a much bigger issue that Reform has no answer to.

We know too that many of the problems with migration now are a direct result of Brexit. Farage’s tedious blame-shifting might fool some of the people but he doesn’t fool most of us about his culpability in all of this.

I suspect Yusuf has realised that he has hitched his wagon to the wrong horse. The kind of wannabe politicans that Reform atttacts don’t see professionalism as a priority or even a necessity. The cracks are already there for all to see with what is going on in local councils. This week’s DOGE exercise in performance politics epitomises that. Maybe Yusuf was tired of having to do the media rounds promoting the charade. Who knows?

After the noise fades, perhaps he will return to what he knows and does best which is raising capital and business start ups.

Casdon

Teazel2

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?

No one wants to see burkas worn on .english streets, nothing to do with racism!

I dint know you spoke for the nation Teazel2.

I am sure I do on this one! Find it hard to believe that anyone can want to see this oppressive sight!

Teazel2

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?

No one wants to see burkas worn on .english streets, nothing to do with racism!

I dint know you spoke for the nation Teazel2.

Galaxy

To be fair this disagreement in the reform ranks is small beer compared to the Musk/Trump row that is raging at the moment. It is spectacular to watch.

As far as the world stage is concerned that’s true. However for the parties themselves both are very significant, and hint at the turmoil within which is not often evident to the electorate.

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?

No one wants to see burkas worn on .english streets, nothing to do with racism!

“His personal reason for engagement with Reform seemed to one of someone with drawbridge mentality. His parents came from a country in civil war, benefited from what the UK offered them and gave him the many privileges that he has had, but he didn’t want other people to have access to the same”
This seems to be the mindset of many second generation immigrants, both voters ( a friend of mine is like that) and politicians. It totally baffles me, but the media never seem to question them about it.

I’m not going to get into the issue of burqa wearing here. It’s a complex topic on its own.

But if Sarah Pochin’s behaviour was the last straw for Yusuf (and I agree that his departure is about a lot more) the fact is that being selected to ask a question at PMQ has a structure that should be followed.

PMQs is the only opportunity most MPs have to question the prime minister directly about government business.

This was neither the time not place to raise the issue. It isn’t even Reform policy.

I am sure the people of Runcorn and Helsby have a lot if issues which worry them about government policy. We all do. I doubt burqa wearing is high on their priority list.

Pochin should have taken the opportunity to ask a question that reflected a major concern of her constituents but instead she used it for a personal view - following in Farage’s footsteps of caring nary a toss about the people who voted to be represented by her.

To be fair this disagreement in the reform ranks is small beer compared to the Musk/Trump row that is raging at the moment. It is spectacular to watch.

Galaxy

It is perfectly reasonable to have a discussion about burka, and the issues in relation to feminism. I am not sure what I feel about a ban to be honest but I am afraid cries of racism don't have any impact on my view that it is a reasonable subject to discuss.

Being a westerner, I'm not comfortable with burka wearing personally but I accept that some women choose it not because they are "forced to" but as an expression of piety or simply used to it until they feel otherwise.

Locally I've noticed it with some Somalian refugees who are new comers but (just by driving regularly over time in the same area) it gets less as time goes on and the women meet other women just in headscarves and get more comfortable. as I said, carrot not stick.

Silverbrooks

^I no longer believe working to get a Reform government elected is a good use of my time and hereby resign my office. ^

I always found Yusuf’s involvement with Reform, a party entrenched in racism and xenophobia, baffling.

He isn’t a politician. He’s a polished public speaker when prepared but he performs badly when challenged in political debate.

His personal reason for engagement with Reform seemed to one of someone with drawbridge mentality. His parents came from a country in civil war, benefited from what the UK offered them and gave him the many privileges that he has had, but he didn’t want other people to have access to the same.

His behaviour towards Farage sometimes seemed little short of hero worship, treating him as some kind of Messiah but I suspect he soon had his eyes opened to what he is.

Ultimately Yusuf is a banker and entrepreneur. His MO is to grow a small business and then sell it - exactly what he did with Alexander Macdonald and the concierge app Velocity Black that made their fortunes. I think he saw Reform in the same way but soon found that politics is a dirty business. And there’s no grubbier party than Reform.

I suspect he has opened a lot of doors for Farage. I always suspect that Farage was having to swallow his own barely-concealed racism in exchange for Yusuf’s address book.

After Yusuf’s recent fight with uber-racist Rupert Lowe and now over Sarah Pochin’s behaviour in Parliament this week, I suspect he’s finally having to accept what Reform really is. Racism and xenophobia is the only thing they have.

As a banker, he knows that Reform’s fag packet fiscal policy would be a disaster for the UK, which I do think Yusuf feels a genuine patriotism for.

Why would a nationalist party want to destroy the UK economy overnight? It was Yusuf who quickly withdrew the party’s 2024 election contract as unworkable. It’s obvious where Farage is heading with his passion for crypto and his involvement with Christopher Harborne. Accepting donations in crypto would set up a huge conflict as regards Parliamentary disclosure.

Yusuf was charged with professionalising the party but it’s akin to trying to put lipstick on a pig or polish a turd. I am not at all surprised that he has gone.

The question now is what happens to the corporate structure?

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

The end of not one but two bromances today, both sides of the pond.

Excellent post Silverbrooks👏👏👏

It is perfectly reasonable to have a discussion about burka, and the issues in relation to feminism. I am not sure what I feel about a ban to be honest but I am afraid cries of racism don't have any impact on my view that it is a reasonable subject to discuss.

Top post Silverbrook very informed.

Didn't Rupert Lowe allegedly threaten Yusuf? Has tha got anything to do with it?

Freya5

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?

So the French and every other country that have banned it, they are all racist. Or perhaps more concerned re security and actually living in a Western country,not a middle eastern one.

Its a bit more complicated than that.

France has banned all face coverings of an act of parliament passed in 2010 banning the wearing of face-covering headgear, including masks, helmets, balaclavas, burkas in public for security reasons.

In the UK you can't wear burkas in many jobs, even in Egypt you cant wear them in schools ie teachers. But on demonstrations we allow face covering....

Wearing the burka is on the decline in the UK as citizens become more integrated just as other customs such as first cousin marriage are declining.

Yes, I believe an outright ban is racist - and I believe carrot not stick as regards its wearing as with other matters.

So again, I see it as divisive and just fosters hostility not understanding.

But I'm not of course saying everyone who votes Reform is racist or any poster are is unless they express it!

Thanks for your post Silverbrooks. I don't follow Reform, so don't know much about the characters or internal squabbling, so it's good to find something out.

I’m very sceptical that his resignation was really about Sarah Pochin’s mistake in going against party policy and asking about a ban on the burka. He was the chairman, he knew what party policy is - under normal circumstances she would have been severely ticked off behind the scenes for talking out of turn. From what I read, this has been brewing for some time, and he’s become disillusioned with the party more generally. I think his resignation statement actually said a lot if you read between the lines.

Oakshot sounds off here with a series of put downs and excuses but basically they are losing contact with communities and dividing us not uniting us.

Reading the comments are even more educational including 'the cancer has gone" and veer mainly towards open racism with a few regretting or mocking it

"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_cR-Tl9qTk

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?

So the French and every other country that have banned it, they are all racist. Or perhaps more concerned re security and actually living in a Western country,not a middle eastern one.