Senior Reform figure Zia Yusuf has been on quite the journey within the party. The businessman first came to prominence as party chairman after taking over from now-deputy Richard Tice MP, promising to professionalise the growing party. Then, three months ago to the day, Yusuf shocked party colleagues and members by announcing his resignation from the role, posting on X that: ‘I no longer believe working to get a Reform government elected is a good use of my time, and hereby resign the office.’ He returned less than 48 hours later, however, to take on an Elon Musk-style role as Reform UK’s Head of DOGE. And now, during Nigel Farage’s address to the conference, Yusuf has been announced as the party’s Head of Policy. Alright for some!
The tech entrepreneur will also open a department that focuses on preparing for government, while Farage insists there could be a general election as soon as 2027. Speaking to Reform party members at the Birmingham conference, the Reform leader claimed:
We’re used to hearing stories of splits in the Conservative Party. We’re about to witness a big rift in the Labour Party, too. Before long, there’ll be Labour MPs that reckon they’ve got a better chance on the Jeremy Corbyn sectarian ticket … they’ve got a better chance of being re-elected under that ticket, under Corbyn, than they do under Sir Keir. I think there is every chance now of a general election happening in 2027.
While news of Angela Rayner’s resignation has overshadowed Reform UK’s conference somewhat, the party’s senior figures are doing their best to stay upbeat. Pints have been on sale as early as 9.50am, while Greater Lincolnshire mayor Andrea Jenkyns danced onto the main conference stage this afternoon in a sparkly jumpsuit, signing a song she co-authored called ‘Insomnia’. Shouting to the crowd, she asked: ‘Is this godawful Labour government giving you sleepless nights and insomnia too?’ Well, if Farage’s predictions are correct, she may not have to suffer much longer. With Reform topping the polls, ahead of Labour by nine points in some of the latest surveys, an early election would be a stroke of luck for the insurgents…
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