Reform U.K., a British anti-immigration party led by Nigel Farage, has faced a fresh blow after its chairman, Zia Yusuf, unexpectedly resigned. Mr. Yusuf, 38, described his decision to step down as an inability to continue contributing to the party’s efforts.
Mr. Yusuf had recently criticized another party member, Sarah Pochin, for comments calling for the ban of the burqa. He characterized her remarks as “dumb” due to their inconsistency with the party’s official policy on the issue.
Despite his resignation, Mr. Yusuf attributed some successes to his tenure as chairman, including an increase in support and membership. Reform U.K. has been gaining ground in opinion polls, overtaking both Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s governing Labour Party and the opposition Conservatives.
This departure comes amidst infighting within the party, following a similar incident last year that led to the resignation of another lawmaker, Rupert Lowe. Nigel Farage had previously praised Mr. Yusuf as a potential future leader but expressed regret over his decision to leave.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/05/world/europe