Reform insiders urge Farage to sack Zia Yusuf and reassert red lines on extremism after Makerfield byelection defeat

Summary

Following Reform UK's defeat to Labour in the Makerfield byelection, party insiders are urging Nigel Farage to sack Zia Yusuf as home affairs spokesman and resist shifting further to the right. Reform candidate Rob Kenyon came second with Andy Burnham securing 55% of the vote, showing a 3.4 point swing from Reform to Labour since the 2024 general election. Internal figures are making personal pleas to Farage to reassert his red lines on far-right extremism and remove Yusuf, who is described as 'trigger happy'. The party was reportedly 'spooked' by the further right Restore party during the campaign.

Source

bskyReform insiders urge Farage to sack Zia Yusuf and reassert red lines on extremism after Makerfield byelection defeatobserver.co.uk