Zia Yusuf

Ahead of the 2026 local elections, numerous old offensive posts by Reform candidates are uncovered despite earlier assurances by the leadership, including Yusuf, about the rigour of vetting. The episode raises questions about the screening and checks established during his chairmanship.

State of the evidence

Documented

As Reform's home affairs spokesperson, Yusuf outlines a mass deportation scheme including an ICE-style agency, substantial increases in detention capacity and flights, and challenges to certain permanent residence rights and international legal constraints. NGOs and lawyers denounce a legally fragile programme potentially incompatible with fundamental rights.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Following former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace's criticism of Reform's prison and migration policies, Yusuf publicly calls him a 'moron' and 'traitor' and suggests he could be prosecuted for treason in connection with the evacuation of Afghans. Nigel Farage considers the words excessive and announces that he will reprimand him.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

Yusuf publishes a post questioning the 'Britishness' of Sagal Abdi-Wali, a Camden council leader born in Somalia who arrived in the United Kingdom as a child refugee. Ministers, opponents and several Reform figures describe the post as racist, inappropriate or incomprehensible.

State of the evidence

Reported by the press

Attribution

Personally implicated

Following the Dover blockades and Portsmouth disturbances, Yusuf meets and speaks with Daniel Thomas, an organiser associated with the protests, then accuses the government of inflaming disorder and criticises certain political condemnations of protesters. His position contributes to another internal split, as Nigel Farage had more clearly condemned masked groups.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

Yusuf and Reform UK present a plan to deport all foreign nationals held in British prisons and, where their countries of origin refuse to accept them, consider transferring them to rented prisons in third countries such as El Salvador or Kosovo. Presented as a response to prison overcrowding, the plan attracts serious legal, diplomatic and human rights objections.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Following announcements that Reform UK would become more member-controlled, structural documents show that a new non-profit company associated with the party then has only Nigel Farage and Zia Yusuf as members/directors. The discrepancy between the democratisation rhetoric and actual structure attracts criticism.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Direct responsibility

After describing a Reform MP's question proposing a burqa ban as ill-judged, Yusuf abruptly resigns as chairman, declaring that he no longer considers working to bring the party to power a good use of his time. Less than two days later, he returns to the party in another senior role.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Direct responsibility

After his return, Yusuf heads Reform's 'Doge' unit tasked with identifying savings in party-controlled local councils. A specialist press investigation finds that the team has visited only three councils and that the authorities concerned refuse to share certain data because of legal and confidentiality concerns.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Several weeks after donating £200,000 to Reform UK and becoming its chairman, Yusuf is still registered as a member of the Conservative Party. His Conservative membership is revoked following press enquiries, fuelling criticism of the consistency of his party commitment.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Direct responsibility