Well, that was quick. Within 48 hours of his resignation as party chairman, Zia Yusuf has returned to the Reform fold. In a joint Sunday Times interview with Nigel Farage, Yusuf has admitted to making a ‘mistake’. He will now take up a new revised role within the party, focusing on policy formation and leading on the party’s DOGE mission in local government. A new chairman will be named on Tuesday, amid a backroom shake-up focused on sharing the load on Reform’s leadership.
‘Welcome back Zia,’ wrote Richard Tice on one internal Reform WhatsApp group. ‘Hope you enjoyed your holiday!’
What led Yusuf to change his mind? The obvious precedent here is Farage himself in May 2024. He initially announced he would not stand in the general election, publishing a letter on X declaring he would focus on the US presidential race. But following an outpouring of support, Farage U-turned to announce his decision to stand.
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