Yusuf back at Reform two days after quitting as chair

Zia Yusuf has announced he is returning to Reform UK - just 48 hours after quitting as the party's chair.

- MILLIE COOKE

The businessman, who said his decision to leave was an error that came as the result of exhaustion, will take up a new role in the party following peace talks with leader Nigel Farage.

While his formal title has not been decided, he is expected to lead Reform’s Elon Musk-inspired Doge unit, modelled on the Department of Government Efficiency set up by Donald Trump in the US.

Reform’s Doge UK team was set up to identify spending cuts in councils the party now controls and was formally launched this week.

Mr Yusuf will also oversee some aspects of policymaking, fundraising and media appearances for the party. A new party chair is expected to be appointed next week and a deputy chair will be hired too.

It comes just two days after Mr Yusuf said he no longer believes “working to get a Reform government elected is a good use of my time”.

While Mr Farage is pleased about his ex-chair’s decision to rejoin the party’s leadership, it is unlikely to resolve growing concerns about the Reform leader’s ability to work with others.