Reform UK Chairman Zia Yusuf Resigns After Burka Ban Dispute

Zia Yusuf, chairman of Reform UK, has resigned, stating that working to get the party elected is no longer a good use of his time. His departure follows a controversy sparked by newly elected Reform MP Sarah Pochin, who asked Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during Prime Minister's Questions if Britain would consider banning the burka, a policy not officially supported by Reform UK. Yusuf publicly criticized the question as "dumb" and unrelated to party policy, leading to tensions within the party. Reform leader Nigel Farage expressed regret over Yusuf's resignation, highlighting Yusuf's significant role in the party's recent electoral successes and acknowledging the pressures of political life. The resignation coincides with Reform UK's efforts to make gains in a Scottish by-election, described by the Scottish First Minister as a close contest between Reform and the SNP. Yusuf's exit and the internal disputes raise questions about the party's cohesion and leadership as it seeks greater influence in British politics.