Guido hears that tensions are bubbling up over at Reform HQ over the role of party chairman Zia Yusuf. Last month, the BBC reported that at least a dozen interim chairs of local Reform UK branches resigned, citing frustration with the party’s leadership team. Among the critics is Reform’s former London Mayoral candidate Howard Cox, who claimed:
“My inboxes are now flooded with grassroots Reformers who are incredibly upset and feel that their political optimism for our country has been betrayed. Over a dozen Reform branches have contacted me, stating that they have been replaced, overridden, and disrespected by Zia Yusuf’s headquarters team.”
Now senior insiders have complained to Guido that Yusuf’s management style is “ineffective” and “abrasive”, claiming multiple staffers are “on the verge of resignation.” One senior figure told Guido: “The guy couldn’t run a tap, let alone a political party”…
On the other hand, Yusuf’s allies claim that the criticism is little more than sour grapes from few disgruntled ex-staffers. According to his supporters, he remains a figure with loyal backing within the party and is focused on “professionalising the party”. With Farage and Reform’s attention now firmly on local and by-election campaigns, there’s little appetite for another public row as of yet. Happy families…
Sarah Pochin at Reform Scotland’s manifesto launch event: “I really wanted to come on in a Reform tartan burka, but apparently I wasn’t allowed… One day let’s do one of these events not live-streamed. We’ll do all the naughty stuff…”