Labour has formally accused Reform UK’s Zia Yusuf of “straightforward racism” following his suggestions that the party’s potential candidate to succeed Keir Starmer in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election is not British.
Sagal Abdi-Wali, a former Somali child refugee and current leader of Camden Council, is considered a leading contender to represent Labour in the London by-election following the former prime minister’s resignation.
In a post on X last week, Yusuf, who serves as Reform UK’s home affairs spokesperson, wrote: “The frontrunner being foisted on the people of Holborn by Labour to replace the former prime minister Keir Starmer in our parliament was born in Somalia. Do you understand what’s happening?”
The controversial post, which garnered millions of views, drew sharp criticism from senior Reform UK figures during the party’s conference in Birmingham over the weekend. Appearing on Sky News on Sunday, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds also condemned Yusuf’s post as “straightforward racism.”
When asked by presenter Jon Sopel for his reaction to the message, Reynolds stated: “Pretty straightforward racism, isn’t it? The individual referenced is a potential candidate who has spent decades in this country and made a huge contribution to her local community, so I think that speaks for itself.”
When Sopel asked if the comments constituted “plain racism,” Reynolds responded unequivocally: “Absolutely.”
Yusuf has faced substantial backlash in recent months for inflammatory online comments, including from within his own party. Nadine Dorries, the former Conservative minister who defected to Reform UK last year, described the post targeting Abdi-Wali as “nasty.”
“It was a nasty tweet. Zia Yusuf is a brilliant man, and he’s a genius actually, and he’s an incredible communicator. I wish he closed down his Twitter account,” she stated in an interview with Times Radio.
Laila Cunningham, Reform UK’s candidate for Mayor of London and the daughter of Egyptian immigrants, expressed confusion regarding the post, telling the Standard: “I don’t know what he meant by that comment. I read it a few times.
“I didn’t understand what he meant by that comment. Of course, that woman is British. She’s the leader of Camden council. I didn’t understand what he meant by that.”
Reform UK has been approached for official comment on the matter.
Abdi-Wali arrived in Camden as a child refugee from Somalia. According to Labour, she has dedicated over a decade to community service, working as a volunteer and trustee for local charities, and serving as a governor for two schools in the borough.
First elected as a councillor in 2022, she assumed leadership of the council in May, stating: “Camden has been my home for 35 years. It is the place that gave my family sanctuary, that welcomed us, and that has shaped so much of who I am, what I stand for and what inspired my commitment to public service and to working for the community that welcomed us.”
Labour is anticipated to announce its official candidate for the Holborn and St Pancras by-election by Wednesday. The party faces a tough challenge from the Green Party to retain the seat, with Zack Polanski, the Green leader for England and Wales, expected to be confirmed as their candidate.
