Darren Jones Admits To 'Insulting' Zia Yusuf's Intelligence In Catty Exchange On BBC Question Time

Yahoo

a day ago

Labour minister Darren Jones could not hide his frustration last night as Reform UK's Zia Yusuf continually dodged questions about how his party would actually pay for its promises.
The chief secretary to the Treasury even admitted he was 'insulting' Yusuf's intelligence as they argued over the possibility of future tax rises.
It comes after the government splashed the cash in its spending review on Wednesday, prompting opposition parties to predict that Labour would have to hike up taxes in the autumn to pay for it.
The government claims departmental budgets are all fully-funded – while also refusing to rule out future tax hikes in the future.
On Thursday's BBC Question Time panel, tensions began to build when Jones said he found Yusuf's comparison between Labour and the Tories 'personally offensive', before listing his government's achievements.
The minister added: 'The thing that is the same is when Reform and the Conservatives give you simple answers to complex promises but do not tell you how they are going to do it.'
Looking at Yusuf, he said: 'Those are the questions you should be answering.'
'I'll tell you what's offensive – insulting the intelligence of the British people,' Yusuf said.
Jones cut in: 'I didn't – I insulted your intelligence. Answer the question!'
Yusuf ignored that and pressed on while Jones repeatedly asked to explain 'how' Reform would govern.
'There's no answer,' Jones said eventually.
But Yusuf insisted: 'The British people are sick and tired of being gaslit. The prime minister of this country does it all the time you see it on his social media account, you are unwilling to be honest with the British people.
'You consistently prioritise foreign citizens.'
The minister hit back: 'You did not answer your questions how you would do anything you have promised.
'I'll tell you what the British people are sick of, and that's false promises. That's why they voted for change at the last election.'
Yusuf's appearance came a week after he suddenly resigned as Reform's chairman, claiming it was not a 'good use' of his time trying to get them elected into No.10.
He rejoined within 48 hours but is now working as the head of Reform's Elon Musk-style UK DOGE (department of government efficiency) and looking at cutting waste.
When Reform promise you everything you could have wished for, remember to ask them this important question: how? pic.twitter.com/fFGWZOmiC7
— Darren Jones MP (@darrenpjones) June 12, 2025
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