Nigel Farage reprimands Reform’s Zia Yusuf for calling former defence secretary a ‘traitor’
A public rift has opened within Reform UK after leader Nigel Farage rebuked his home affairs spokesman, Zia Yusuf, for branding former Conservative defence secretary Ben Wallace a "traitor". Farage told The Sun the language was "too strong" and "over the top", and said he would give Yusuf "a ticking off", exposing tensions over the tone of the party's rhetoric as it seeks to broaden its appeal beyond its core base.
The row began after Wallace criticised Reform's new pledge to deport all foreign nationals from British jails to countries including El Salvador. Yusuf responded on X, calling Wallace a "moron" and accusing him of importing unvetted Afghans, including alleged Taliban fighters, under a superinjunction, and suggested he could face prosecution for treason. Reform-supporting commentator Tim Montgomerie publicly criticised Yusuf's "intemperate" social media conduct as damaging to the party, while Labour MP Oliver Ryan called for Yusuf to be sacked.
- Farage rebukes Reform's Zia Yusuf over "traitor" jibe at Ben Wallace
- Row followed Wallace's criticism of Reform's foreign prisoner deportation policy
- Commentator and Labour MP have both criticised Yusuf's conduct
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Reform UK is a right-wing party led by Nigel Farage that has been gaining ground in British politics, partly on a tough stance on immigration and crime. Zia Yusuf, the party's home affairs spokesman, is a senior figure within it, while Ben Wallace is a former Conservative cabinet minister who served as defence secretary. The row between them touches on immigration policy and how Reform handles criticism from outside the party.
The dispute began when Wallace criticised a Reform policy that would see all foreign nationals in British jails deported, including to third countries such as El Salvador. Yusuf responded with strong personal attacks on social media, which drew criticism from commentators and opposition politicians, and prompted Farage to publicly rebuke his own spokesman over the choice of language.
The episode matters because it highlights internal tensions in Reform UK as the party tries to present itself as a credible, mainstream political force while retaining the combative tone that has driven much of its support. How Farage handles disputes like this could shape perceptions of his ability to manage his party and its public image ahead of future elections.