Zia Yusuf Takes Aim At ‘Deadbeat Tory Ministers’ In Swipe At Reform Colleagues

Zia Yusuf has attacked former “deadbeat Tory ministers” in what appears to be a swipe at his Reform UK colleagues.

The party’s home affairs spokesperson claimed a Conservative pact with Reform would only work “over my dead body” in a slap down to the rival right-wing party.

More than 20 former Tory MPs have defected to Reform since the Conservatives were kicked out of government in the 2024 general election.

Yusuf’s remarks revive the existing tensions within Reform between the former Conservatives who defected over to Nigel Farage’s party and those who have been part of the group since before it became a dominant force in mainstream politics.

Mimicking a popular social media format, Zusuf slammed an unnamed “deadbeat Tory minister” who “promised to cut immigration”, only to “throw open Britain’s borders and then “write articles constantly pleading for a ‘pact’ with Reform so you can try and suffocate us from within.”

He added: “OVER MY DEAD BODY!”

Yusuf is not an MP. But, of Reform’s eight representatives in the Commons, four used to be Tory MPs and two were ministers.

Suella Braverman, now Reform’s education spokesperson, was the home secretary under Rishi Sunak while Robert Jenrick, Reform’s Treasury spokesperson, was the immigration minister.

Many on social media suggested Yusuf was directing his criticism towards Jenrick and Braverman, who have tried to distance themselves from their past in government.

Yusuf has been frequently criticised for his outspoken social media takes in recent months.

He has been accused of racism after slamming a former child refugee and a Labour council leader because she was born in Somalia.

The prominent politician also called former Tory defence secretary Ben Wallace – who served in the Army – a “traitor” to the UK.

His remarks have drawn criticism from within his own party, including from Farage who previously said he would give Yusuf a “ticking off” for his “over the top” language.

Former Tory cabinet minister and now Reform member Nadine Dorries also told Times Radio earlier this month: “I think Zia’s got a problem with Twitter. Someone needs to take his phone off him.”

Reform is also grappling with heightened scrutiny over its finances after receiving £72 million in donations from crypto-billionaires last week.

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