5 days ago
Reform infighting as chairman appears to call MPs' burqa ban question 'dumb'
Reform UK is being rocked by more infighting after the chairman said MP Sarah Pochin's first question at PMQs was "dumb" because it did not align with party policy.
Parliament's newest MP, who recently won the Runcorn & Helsby by-election, urged the prime minister to "ban the burqa" in the interests of public safety.
But the party has since made clear to other news outlets that there is no policy to ban the Islamic head covering, despite fellow MP Lee Anderson backing Pochin on social media.
Anderson retweeted Pochin's post, writing "ban the burqa? Yes we should. No one should be allowed to hide their identity in public".
But party chairman Zia Yusuf, who was hired to "professionalise" the party ahead of the next general election, hit out at his colleague's question.
The businessman, who himself is Muslim, said the question had "nothing to do" with him, adding: "I do think it's dumb for a party to ask the PM if they would do something the party itself wouldn't do."
Reform party sources have suggested that he was not calling the question "dumb," but have not yet explained exactly what he meant.
Party Leader Nigel Farage, whose past party, Ukip, did call for a burqa ban under his leadership, did not say a burqa ban was a Reform policy, but did say the issue should be debated.
Appearing on GB News after PMQs on Wednesday, the Clacton MP said: "I think people do feel uncomfortable, actually, around people whose faces are covered".
"I don't think face coverings in public places makes sense – and I think we do deserve a debate about that, of which I see the burka as being a part."
Pochin had asked the prime minister to follow the example of other European nations which have outlawed the burqa.
France introduced a ban in 2010, and several others have since followed, including Denmark and Belgium.
Keir Starmer appeared to rule out a ban when responding to Pochin in the Commons chamber, saying he's "not going to follow her down that line".
And a Labour Party spokesperson said: "Nigel Farage could fit all of his MPs in the back of a cab, yet he can't stop them fighting among themselves."
It is, of course, not the first instance of infighting to hit the new party. Great Yarmouth MP Rupert Lowe claims he was booted out for criticising Farage, but the party insisted the real reason was that he'd threatened chairman Yusuf with violence.
The allegations against Lowe were reported to police, but officers said there was insufficient evidence to prosecute.
ITV News has contacted Reform UK for a response.
