Zia Yusuf

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.

Tice and Oakshot are worth watching imo.

Wyllow

I agree, I wouldn’t vote for Farage and his mob if my life depended on it.

I don’t know, but I would imagine, the burka conversation was the last straw for him. How long are we into this parliament? Approx 11 months? Farage has rid Reform of two senior leaders, Tice and now Yusuf.

It’s utterly beyond me how anyone can support Farage and the likes of Lettuce Truss and the homophobic Widdecombe.

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?

Kandinsky

This is a real shame.
But I’ll still vote reform.

Kandinsky what is it you like about Reform, and how do you think they would make the country better?

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

This is a real shame.
But I’ll still vote reform.

Maremia

From previous posts, the pro Reform GNs seemed to like him.

That's what I thought, but I had a quick look at X and most of the comments seem to be celebrating that he's gone. I really don't know that much about him.

Wyllow3

I can hardly believe what I'm seeing.

And people are going to go on voting Reform after this clear indication of Farage's deep inability to work with others? Some elections are just coming up, hope it makes a dent.

Indeed!

Oh yes - Sarah Pochin calling upon Starmer to ban the burka

all in www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq54p9epdg6o

He was the chief organiser/recruiter in the last elections as well....

It is maremia exactly that

This is going to cost him £££££?

I can hardly believe what I'm seeing.

And people are going to go on voting Reform after this clear indication of Farage's deep inability to work with others? Some elections are just coming up, hope it makes a dent.

Could be something to do with the 'burqua ban' suggestion, is what is being touted.

From previous posts, the pro Reform GNs seemed to like him.

I just saw that, I think it must be unexpected. He is the joint director of Reform with Nigel Farage as well, so presumably it means that Farage is now in sole charge again.