Reform UK Split As Chairman Hits Out At MP's 'Dumb' Question In PMQs

Zia Yusuf, Chairman of Reform UKReform UK’s chairman has hit out at the party’s new MP for asking a “dumb” question in the Commons.Sarah Pochin askedKeir Starmer during Wednesday’s prime minister’s questions if the government would follow the example of France, Denmark and Belgium and “ban the burqa”.Starmer did not offer a direct answer, and just said he was not “going to follow her down that line”.It later emerged that banning the burqa, which is typically worn by Muslim women to cover their whole bodies aside from their eyes, is not even Reform’s policy.A spokesman told HuffPost UK the party wanted to see “a national debate” on the issue.Right-wing media personality Katie Hopkins then asked on X if party chairman Zia Yusuf was behind that quote.Yusuf quickly hit back, writing: “Nothing to do with me. Had no idea about the question nor that it wasn’t policy. Busy with other stuff.”He added: “I do think it’s dumb for a party to ask the PM if they would do something the party itself wouldn’t do.”In a separate post he wrote: “Just to be clear, I learnt about the question and the party’s position re it not being policy for the first time on my X feed.“I’m busy with UK DOGE,” he noted, referring to Reform’s plan to mimic Elon Musk’s cost-cutting “department of government efficiency” which advises the White House.Meanwhile, Reform MP for Ashfield, Lee Anderson, wrote on X that the burqa should be banned, adding: “No one should be allowed to hide their identity in public.”A Labour spokesperson hit out at the brewing divide, telling HuffPost UK: “Nigel Farage could fit all of his MPs in the back of a cab, yet he can’t stop them fighting among themselves.“Reform only guarantees more Liz Truss-style chaos.“Their £80 billion of unfunded commitments would lead to economic meltdown and put up everyone’s mortgage and bills. They’re just not credible.”Pochin won the Runcorn and Helsby by-election by just six votes – overturning Labour’s 14,700 majority – in a huge victory for Reform UK in May.The latest row comes months after Reform kicked another MP, Rupert Lowe, out of the party and reported him to the police over accusations of workplace bullying.The Metropolitan Police dropped its investigation into the allegations last month.Lowe, who still sits as an independent, called Farage a “coward and a viper” two weeks ago, saying he should never be prime minister.He also commented on Yusuf’s post about Pochin’s question, writing on X: “Sarah Pochin is an elected MP – she has every right to voice her opinion on such an important topic. That is not ‘dumb’. And she’s absolutely right. We should ban the burqa. Whilst we’re there, let’s throw in the niqab. What’s your view, Zia?”Related...New Reform UK MP Stuns The Commons With Outrageous Request In PMQsIs Nigel Farage About To Give Keir Starmer Another Bloody Nose At The Ballot Box?'No-Show Nigel': Farage Accused Of Not Attending His Own Media Event

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