Reform UK: Tice Denies Chaos After Yusuf Return
- Reform UK's deputy leader, Richard Tice, maintains the party is stable despite recent upheaval.
- Yusuf initially announced his resignation Thursday, stating on social media that working to get Reform UK elected was "not a good use of my time." Though,on Saturday,he reversed...
- Tice, speaking on BBC's sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, described the chairman role as "a tough, brutal job," adding that Yusuf was "essentially fatigued" after 11 months.
richard Tice is defending Reform UK‘s stability after a chaotic 48 hours. Zia Yusuf resigned as chairman, citing exhaustion, but has swiftly returned, now leading a unit focused on identifying spending cuts. This sudden shift and the creation of the “Doge unit,” which is based on a US model, follow Yusuf’s criticism of an MP’s question regarding a burqa ban. tice insists the party is reorganizing,not crumbling,despite the “tough,brutal job” of chair. This leadership shake-up, and the subsequent mockery from rival parties, has set the stage for future announcements. News Directory 3 will continue to report on this evolving political landscape. Discover what’s next as Reform UK appoints new leadership in the coming week.
Reform UK Chairman Resigns, Then Returns in Spending Cut Role
Updated June 08, 2025
Reform UK’s deputy leader, Richard Tice, maintains the party is stable despite recent upheaval. This follows a tumultuous 48 hours that saw chairman Zia Yusuf resign, only to return in a different capacity.
Yusuf initially announced his resignation Thursday, stating on social media that working to get Reform UK elected was “not a good use of my time.” Though,on Saturday,he reversed course,agreeing to lead the party’s “Doge unit.” This unit will focus on identifying potential spending cuts at the council level, modeled after the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency. The Reform UK spending cuts initiative aims to streamline local government.
Tice, speaking on BBC’s sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, described the chairman role as “a tough, brutal job,” adding that Yusuf was “essentially fatigued” after 11 months. He explained that the party’s rapid growth made the position too demanding for one person, prompting a reorganization. Tice expressed his delight that Yusuf would remain with the party, focusing on the “Doge unit.”
Yusuf’s initial resignation came shortly after he criticized Sarah Pochin, Reform’s newest MP. Pochin had used her question at Prime Minister’s Questions to inquire about a potential government ban on the burka. Yusuf, who is Muslim, distanced himself from pochin’s question on X, stating, “Nothing to do with me. Had no idea about the question nor that it wasn’t policy.”
Nigel Farage, Reform UK party leader, saeid Yusuf had been subject to ”pretty vile abuse” and “overreacted to it.”
“It’s a massive job, and as we were growing incredibly fast – essentially that job was too much for one person, so we’re reorganising,” Tice said.
The Liberal Democrats mocked Reform UK’s “musical chairman,” while Labor derided the situation as a “humiliating hokey-cokey.”
Tice dismissed suggestions that the events made the party appear chaotic.He reiterated that Yusuf had been working “24/7” voluntarily and that the pressure of chairing a rapidly growing political party was immense. The party expects to appoint a new chairman and deputy chairman next week, solidifying its leadership and direction.
What’s next
reform UK is expected to announce a new chairman and deputy chairman in the coming week,further solidifying its leadership structure after the recent changes.