Reform UK burka row is ‘storm in a teacup’

Former Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf has called a row over a social media post – in which he said it was “dumb” for one of his MPs to call for a burka ban – a “storm in a teacup”.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Yusuf said he regretted the post and that “exhaustion led to a poor decision”.

Shortly after criticising MP Sarah Pochin, Yusuf quit as chairman saying that trying to get Reform UK elected was not “a good use of my time”.

However, two days later he returned to work for the party albeit in a different role, leading the party’s Doge unit, a team inspired by the US Department of Government Efficiency, set up by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk.

The initiative aims to cut wasteful spending in the councils Reform now controls.

Asked…