Why Keir Starmer Believes It's Far Too Early To Write Reform UK's Political Obituary

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage had a tricky week after his chairman Zia Yusuf (R) unexpectedly resigned.Nigel Farage knows more than most about surviving near-death experiences.The Reform UK leader was campaigning for one of his previous parties, Ukip, on the day of the 2010 election when the light aircraft he was travelling in plunged to the ground.Miraculously, he walked away from the wreckage and, after several more failed attempts, was finally elected to Westminster last July.In similar fashion, those who believe that Zia Yusuf’s dramatic resignation as Reform’s chairman on Thursday night will inevitably lead to the party’s implosion are very likely to be disappointed.That is certainly not how the development is being viewed in 10 Downing Street.One senior ally of Keir Starmer told HuffPost UK: “Their success is because of how pissed off people are with the state of the country, not because of any great love for them or Nigel Farage.“So it would be a mistake to think that they will just disappear because they are a bunch of clowns.”Nevertheless, many could not resist the temptation to revel in Reform’s discomfort, pointing out that internal splits have been a recurring feature of Farage’s political career.Indeed, it is only three months since Rupert Lowe, one of the five Reform MPs elected at the last election, was booted out of the party.Gavin Barwell, the former Tory MP who was Theresa May’s chief of staff when she was PM, described Yusuf’s resignation as the “least surprising political news ever”.Posting on X, he said: “Nigel Farage is incapable of sharing the stage. Sooner or later, anyone who tries to do so gets pushed off it. The only surprise is that they seem surprised when it happens.”Least surprising political news ever. @Nigel_Farage is incapable of sharing the stage. Sooner or later, anyone who tries to do so gets pushed off it. The only surprise is that they seem surprised when it happens https://t.co/djOw1Vz8vT— Gavin Barwell (@GavinBarwell) June 5, 2025That view seemed to be reinforced by the resignation of Nathaniel Fried, the tech entrepreneur Zia Yusuf unveiled on Monday as head of Reform’s Doge-style cost-cutting unit.But Chris Hopkins, political research director at pollsters Savanta, cautioned against over-interpreting the significance of Yusuf’s departure, insisting there is little reason to believe it will damage Reform’s standing with voters.“The public aren’t going to care hugely about a party chairman resigning,” he said. “Any idea of Zia Yusuf being that important to voters and that Reform should be written off because he’s gone, I think is incredibly premature.“Unless Farage himself is involved in serious controversy, or has to step aside, then Reform are going to continue to be strong.”Further evidence of the right-wing party’s durability came just a few hours after Yusuf announced on X that he no longer believed that “working to get a Reform government elected is a good use of my time”.Although they came third in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election, it was the size of their vote share – 26% – that made political observers sit up and take notice less than a year out from the next Scottish Parliament election.For a party which did not even exist the last time the seat was contested in 2021, and which has no organisational apparatus to speak of in Scotland, it was a remarkable result.Luke Tryl of the More in Common think-tank said Reform “have clearly built a credible base of support since the general election in Scotland”.“If, and it’s a real if given their recent turmoil, they can hold it together they could be a formidable force in the Scottish Parliament next year,” he said.Reform UK insiders believe Yusuf’s resignation could even turn out to be a good thing for the party, not least because it will be welcomed by many party workers.“He’s a hard worker and totally committed, but he’s not a good man manager,” said one source. “There won’t be many tears shed at HQ that he’s gone.”Others have sympathy with him, insisting that Yusuf should not have been expected to put up with the online abuse which came with the job.One source said: “The amount of shit he got from people because he’s Muslim would have been off the scale – why do you need that sort of shit?“He was working 15 hour days for eight months and wasn’t even being paid.“I don’t think there’s malice in him, he was just inexperienced when it came to politics. But there’s no doubt that the work he did was at least in part responsible for the party’s recent success.”Gawain Towler, who was sacked as Reform’s chief spin doctor by Yusuf, dismissed the idea that the chairman’s departure will precipitate the party’s implosion.“Those are just comfortable feelings for people who need comfort,” he said. “The party will go onwards and upwards from here.”Nigel Farage and Zia YusufRelated...Labour Win Crunch By-Election In Stunning UpsetNigel Farage Accused Of Using Trump Tactics After Attacking Journalist At Press ConferenceNigel Farage Sparks Fresh Race Row By Making Another Bizarre Claim About Labour Leader

Comments

Breaking news

Campgrounds closed along Pacific Crest Trail in search for man wanted in daughters' deaths

Independent

Comments

Breaking news

Campgrounds closed along Pacific Crest Trail in search for man wanted in daughters' deaths

How an innovative portable shelter could help India's outdoor workers beat the heat

Judge says administration can dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services

Jurors have convicted a Minnesota man of killing 5 young woman in a 2023 vehicle crash

Mass deportations from Trump’s Big, Beautiful Bill could quietly cost U.S. over $1.4 trillion

Madeleine McCann suspect ‘told police decisive questions can never be answered’

Nick Knowles, 62, and his fiancée Katie Dadzie, 34, arrive at their wedding venue ahead of their 'lavish six-figure Essex nuptials' this weekend

Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness SPLIT their $24M NYC penthouse amid ugly divorce

Health Secretary to unveil 'death of the doctor's letter' in digital first switch to help slash NHS postage bills

Dakota Johnson reveals savage revenge on friend's ex amid her own split from Chris Martin

ANDREW NEIL: Like a clown running into a minefield, Musk threw caution to the wind, but he's right - Trump's 'big beautiful bill' IS a 'disgusting abomination'

Revealed: How Nicola Peltz has hired Harvey Weinstein's former attack dog to beat the Beckhams in PR battle - and he's ALREADY bombarding KATIE HIND with threatening messages

Lawyers warned to stop using ChatGPT to argue lawsuits after AI programs 'made up fictitious cases'

AMANDA PLATELL: King Charles should stop dishing out gongs to pampered self promoters - and sort out the REAL problem

EXPOSED: How restaurants are lying to you about their hygiene ratings. STEVE BOGGAN'S investigation reveals the shocking truth about those green stickers - and exactly what the owners had to say when confronted

Signs our dead loved ones are trying to contact us: SUZANNE GIESEMANN was a Navy commander when her stepdaughter died. What happened next will shake any sceptic and changed her life - and can bring hope back to yours too

I've been publicly crucified for arresting a knife-wielding teenager: Policeman sacked after 10 years' unblemished service gives his side of the story about divisive video

Arrgh you joking? Tesco pensioner stuns shoppers by bringing his pet PARROT with him to buy groceries

Police foil terror plot on King's Guards: 'Lone wolf' stopped from carrying out attack on Britain's streets

Britain backs routine, mandatory eye tests for drivers - as one in four road users have not checked their vision in the past two years

Post Office compensation chief steps down after Sir Alan Bates raised 'serious concerns' about schemes

Dawn French sparks backlash after filming peculiar video about October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry enjoy wholesome Disneyland trip with their children

Simone Biles says Riley Gaines looks like a MAN in furious attack on anti-trans commentator

Trump breaks silence on escalating feud with Elon Musk and teases his next move

America's worst mother Lori Vallow is thrown out of court after attacking judge

Starmer goes all in on NHS with PM set to hand health service £30bn spending boost at expense of other public services

Sarah Vine's new book isn't just the most riveting political memoir for years, says A.N. WILSON: It's also deliciously entertaining proof that the class divide still runs though British society like a poisonous thread

The Costa Del Sol bloodbath: A shocking new underworld theory is uncovered by FRED KELLY

Bruce Springsteen and Paul McCartney reunite in Liverpool! Music legends greet students outside the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts

Businessman accused of assaulting ex-girlfriend and Miss Universe finalist Chloe Othen claims she told him another boyfriend beat her up

Bombshell truth about why I don't speak to my dad Jeff Brazier or brother Bobby: In his only interview FREDDY BRAZIER reveals shocking story of feud, his cannabis addiction and makes shattering accusations of sabotage and spying

The papers: 'Trump and Musk, babies at war' and 'DIY Ozempic boom'

Government struggles to cut foreign aid spent on asylum hotels

Return of Abrego Garcia Raises Questions About Trump’s Views of Justice

Agents Use Military-Style Force Against Protesters at L.A. Immigration Raid

Hundreds could strike at Glasgow Airport in July over pay and conditions dispute

Urgent recall of 1,700,000 air conditioners over fears they harbour mold

‘Taking my rapist to court was worse than what he did to me’

Footage shows immigration raids on nail bars, construction sites and restaurants

Zelensky refutes Trump’s take on war and calls Putin ‘murderer who came to kill the kids’

Strikes by airport workers could disrupt summer holidaymakers, union warns

Supreme Court will hear Alabama appeal in bid to execute man found to be intellectually disabled

Escaped murderer known as ‘Devil in the Ozarks’ captured after massive manhunt

AP PHOTOS: Tattoos, clay and bouncing hair bring the French Open to life

Conservationists celebrate as long-vanished bird returns to the UK

Former DC police officer sentenced to 18 months for lying about leaking info to Proud Boys leader

UK could face up to £30bn of tax rises to fund defence spending boost, economist says

Immigration authorities carry out enforcement activity across Los Angeles amid crowds of protesters

These mysterious dark ‘streaks’ on Mars aren’t what scientists initially believed

'Chespirito: Sin Querer Queriendo' is a tribute to the Mexican comedian who shaped a generation

Diddy still paying ex-girlfriend’s $10,000 rent as part of ‘love contract,’ Jane Doe testifies

Family & friends of 3 Brits facing death penalty in £300k Bali coke smuggling plot reveal horror as trio’s fate awaits

Arrests of illegal migrant workers increase by 51% in year since Labour elected

Millions to receive NHS screening invitations and appointment reminders on their phones

BREAKING: Escaped killer cop known as 'Devil of the Ozarks' has been captured

Elon Musk's estranged dad wades in on Trump feud branding them both 'animals'

Madeleine McCann suspect makes sick taunt in letter about police investigation as German paedophile's prison release date draws closer

EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Cancelled 'Dreaded Meghan' professor returns to arts role

Ulrika Jonsson admits 'crippling anxiety, fears and self-loathing' led her to alcohol as she marks one year of sobriety