The chairman of Reform UK, Zia Yusuf, has resigned.
In a statement, Mr Yusuf said in a post on X that working to get the party elected is no longer “a good use of my time”.
He said: “11 months ago I became chairman of Reform. I’ve worked full time as a volunteer to take the party from 14 to 30%, quadrupled its membership and delivered historic electoral results.
“I no longer believe working to get a Reform government elected is a good use of my time, and hereby resign the office.”
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It comes after a row in which he described a question to Sir Keir Starmer about a ban on burkas from his party’s newest MP Sarah Pochin as “dumb”.
There have also been reports Mr Yusuf had been sidelined.
Rupert Lowe, a former Reform MP, was strongly critical of Mr Yusuf in the wake of the politician’s suspension following allegations that he had threatened violence towards the party chair.
Many credited businessman Mr Yusuf with professionalising the party’s operations as they secured millions of votes at last year’s general election.
Reacting to the news, party leader Nigel Farage said: “I am genuinely sorry that Zia Yusuf has decided to stand down as Reform UK chairman.
“As I said just last week, he was a huge factor in our success on May 1st and is an enormously talented person.
“Politics can be a highly pressured and difficult game and Zia has clearly had enough. He is a loss to us and public life.”
Deputy leader Richard Tice said the party would “not be where we are today without him”.
Both Farage and Yusuf were at the head of the party. Pic: PA
Mr Lowe was less complimentary.
He said: “The question is – how did a man with no political experience be given such vast power within Reform? A deeply unpleasant individual who at every stage was protected and promoted by Farage.”
He added that he is still taking legal action against Mr Yusuf.
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