Reform is inflaming hostile sentiment, warn leading Muslims

Leading British Muslims have warned that Nigel Farage's Reform UK is increasingly inflaming hostile sentiment towards Muslims after chairman Zia Yusuf resigned over a row about banning the burqa.

- Ben Quinn Rowena Mason

His departure was described by the co-chair of the British Muslim Network, a new civil group representing the community, as a "stark illustration" that many in Reform do not view British Muslims as valued equal members of society.

Yusuf, who describes himself as a "British Muslim patriot" and chaired the party for less than a year, quit on Thursday, saying his work for Reform was no longer the best use of his time.

Hours earlier, he had said it was "dumb" for the party's newest MP, Sarah Pochin, to press Keir Starmer for a burqa ban when it was not Reform's own policy. However, Farage did not weigh in behind Yusuf and called for a debate on the issue.

Farage has drawn a line in the past at the rhetoric of the far-right activist known as Tommy Robinson, who is overtly anti-Islam, and has pushed out Reform activists and figures more sympathetic to Robinson such as Rupert Lowe and Ben Habib.