Reform U.K.’s Chairman, Zia Yusuf, Quits Amid Infighting

One of the most senior figures in Reform U.K., Britain’s anti-immigration political party, unexpectedly resigned on Thursday after fresh infighting broke out within the insurgent political force led by Nigel Farage.

The sudden departure of Zia Yusuf, Reform’s chairman, is a blow to the party, because he was responsible for the crucial task of helping the relatively new party build its structure.

His resignation comes after Mr. Yusuf, a millionaire businessman who has described himself as “a British Muslim patriot,” criticized Reform’s newest member of Parliament, Sarah Pochin, who on Wednesday called on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to ban the burqa.

Mr. Yusuf, 38, characterized her comments as “dumb” because they did not align with the party’s official policy outlined at the last general election.

Not all senior figures in the party agreed with him, however. Reform’s chief whip, Lee Anderson, wrote on social media: “Ban the burqa? Yes we should.” He added, “No one should be allowed to hide their identity in public.”

In a statement posted on social media, Mr. Yusuf did not give a reason for his decision, saying only that “I no longer believe working to get a Reform government elected is a good use of my time, and hereby resign the office.”