Former Reform UK Chair Yusuf Apologises, Returns After Burka Ban Row

Zia Yusuf, former chairman of Reform UK, sparked controversy after calling a party MP's question about a burka ban "dumb," leading to his brief resignation and subsequent return to the party in a different role. Yusuf apologized for his tweet, attributing it to exhaustion, and clarified that he did not directly label the MP as dumb but the question itself. Despite his initial criticism, Yusuf stated that if he were an MP, he would likely support a ban on facial coverings in public, including burkas, citing concerns over public safety and threats from masked protesters. Nigel Farage, Reform UK's leader, expressed forgiveness for Yusuf, emphasizing that people make mistakes and praising the MP involved. Yusuf's return to the party includes leading efforts to reduce wasteful local council spending. The episode highlights internal tensions within Reform UK over the burka ban debate and the balancing of liberal values with security concerns.