Latest news with #UKDOGE
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Zia Yusuf Announces His Return To Reform UK Two Days After Shock Exit As Party Chair
Zia Yusuf has announced he will return to Reform UK despite quitting as the party's chair just two days ago. Yusuf resigned after almost a year at the forefront of Nigel Farage's rightwing party. His shock resignation came after he said it was 'dumb' of a new Reform MP to ask the government if it intended to ban the burqa. But today Yusuf has declared that he will be leading 'the UK DOGE team', referring to the Department of Government Efficiency previously headed up by Elon Musk in the US – an idea Reform has been trying to install in Britain. In a post on X, Yusuf wrote: 'Over the last 24 hours I have received a huge number of lovely and heartfelt messages from people who have expressed their dismay at my resignation, urging me to reconsider. 'After 11 months of working as a volunteer to build a political party from scratch, with barely a single day off, my tweet was a decision born of exhaustion. 'I only came into politics out of a sense of duty, to serve the country I love.' He continued: 'I came into politics out of belief that Nigel Farage was the man to deliver that. Having read the messages, I believe in these things more than ever. I know the mission is too important and I cannot let people down. 'So, I will be continuing my work with Reform, my commitment redoubled. 'Reform has come a long way since I was appointed Chairman, and has moved from 'startup' to 'scaleup'. 'Given this, and that we have now won power at a local level, I will focus on a new role. 'I will be running the UK DOGE team to fight for taxpayers, as well as working on party policy and representing it in the media. 'I will continue to give all my time to the most important project of my life, getting a Reform government elected with Nigel as prime minister.' It's a sharp contrast to his brief statement on Thursday, where he said: 'I no longer believe working to get a Reform government elected is a good use of my time, and hereby resign the office.' Over the last 24 hours I have received a huge number of lovely and heartfelt messages from people who have expressed their dismay at my resignation, urging me to 11 months of working as a volunteer to build a political party from scratch, with barely a single… — Zia Yusuf (@ZiaYusufUK) June 7, 2025 Reform UK Chairman Zia Yusuf Resigns With Parting Jibe After Burqa Row Why Keir Starmer Believes It's Far Too Early To Write Reform UK's Political Obituary Kemi Badenoch Claims Nigel Farage's Reform UK Is 'Another Left-Wing Party'
ITV News
5 days ago
- Politics
- ITV News
Why has Zia Yusuf quit Reform UK?
Zia Yusuf was brought in as Reform UK chair less than a year ago, with Nigel Farage hoping the millionaire entrepreneur would help to 'professionalise' his party. Only this week, he was leading 'UK DOGE' - Reform's attempt to copy Elon Musk's cost-cutting drive in the US federal government. But on Wednesday, long-bubbling tensions within Reform boiled over. When newbie MP Sarah Pochin asked Keir Starmer whether he wanted to ban the burqa at PMQs this week, it was a deliberate attempt to provoke controversy and attract attention. But it has backfired spectacularly. On Thursday morning, Zia Yusuf - who is a practising Muslim - said he had no idea the question was going to be asked and labelled it 'dumb' because banning the burqa was not even Reform UK policy. Hours later, he told Farage he'd had enough and would be quitting the party. 'I no longer believe working to get a Reform government elected is a good use of my time,' Yusuf posted in a statement. 'Nigel was very disappointed and shocked,' said a Reform source. All of this matters because Farage wants to become prime minister of a Reform UK government after the next election. And another round of infighting at the top of the party (Rupert Lowe was kicked out as an MP in March) risks leaving the party looking amateur, unprofessional and not ready to govern. From early on, Yusuf's appointment created a rift. Staff who'd been with Farage throughout his Ukip and Brexit party years clashed with Yusuf's start-up style of management. Some long-term officials were pushed out of Reform in favour of younger faces. Farage put Yusuf in charge of overhauling Reform's vetting, campaigning and training operation. He is credited with expanding Reform's membership to more than 200,000 people and overseeing a local election campaign which saw almost 700 councillors elected. But the tensions bubbling away within the party burst out in early March when Yusuf reported one of Reform's MPs, Rupert Lowe, to the police over alleged threats of physical violence. Lowe had the party whip suspended and never returned. Police later said he would not face any charges. Some of Reform's supporters were deeply uncomfortable with the party being managed by a practising muslim, and the row with Lowe caused a torrent of online abuse to be directed at Yusuf. Online streams of Reform events would often see comments filled with hateful, often racist rhetoric when Yusuf appeared on screen. In March, Farage called out the 'online abuse and frankly outright overt racism' directed at his party chair, and criticised the lack of media coverage. Farage was a genuine believer that Yusuf had the intellect to help Reform UK achieve the seemingly improbable task of winning the next general election. He also thought having a young man from an ethnic minority at the top of the party softened Reform's image and blunted accusations from the left that his party was racist. 'Zia leaving will cause him a problem,' said one Reform insider. While some will celebrate Yusuf's departure, he leaves a big hole at the top of the party. 'I think politics was too much for him. He genuinely has a great mind, but he hated having to play the game,' said one Reform source. Farage's biggest challenge now is proving that he can keep his party together. If he can't, he has little chance of convincing voters he is capable of running the country.
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Focus on diversity and net zero if you want government contracts, firms told
Companies have been told to focus on net zero and diversity goals if they want to win public contracts under the Government's new procurement rules. In a new guide to procurement published this month, ministers have urged firms to show how they will help achieve Sir Keir Starmer's 'five missions' and provide 'social value' when bidding for public contracts. The guide asks companies to set out how they will 'strengthen community cohesion', 'remove barriers to entry for young people and under-represented groups' and help with 'accelerating net zero' when carrying out projects for the government. Businesses are also encouraged to focus on 'creating opportunities in areas of deprivation' and demonstrate the 'highest standards' of 'environmental sustainability'. Critics said the new guidelines are an example of 'eco zealotry' and 'woke virtue signalling' trumping value for money. The National Procurement Policy Statement replaces a guide drafted under the previous Conservative government as part of its Procurement Act 2023. The earlier guide did not mention net zero and explicitly discouraged 'onerous requirements' for diversity reporting on companies bidding for government work. The latest guidelines also urge government departments to funnel more money to charities and NGOs as part of the new focus on 'social value'. Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, the former business secretary, said: 'The intention of the Procurement Act 2023 was to maximise value for money for taxpayers. When the public finances are under such strain trying to use it for woke virtue signalling is especially foolish and potentially unlawful.' Andrew Bowie, the shadow Scottish secretary, said: 'It seems this government is more concerned with their eco-zealotry than delivering value for money for the taxpayer. 'By enforcing these mad targets on companies, the British public will face higher bills, and worse services – just to fuel Ed Miliband's own ego and ideology. 'After their disastrous Budget, the Government should be prioritising value for money over eco-zealotry rather than taking another step in the wrong direction and lumbering costs on tax payers.' Lord Kempsell, founder of anti-waste group UK DOGE, said: 'It may be well intentioned but this kind of overly bureaucratic layering will slow down vital procurement and just backfire – it shows why we need UK DOGE right now – the crack team is ready to go, Labour should call us at once.' The procurement process became controversial during the pandemic when the government was accused of cronyism and of wasting billions of pounds of taxpayers money. The Conservatives overhauled procurement in 2023 with a Procurement Act that aimed to make the process simpler and more transparent. In September 2024 the Labour government announced that it would be introducing a new National Procurement Policy Statement because the previous one 'does not meet the challenge of applying the full potential of public procurement to deliver value for money, economic growth and social value'. A Government spokesperson said: 'Our entire focus is on growing the economy, creating high-quality local jobs, driving innovation and opening up opportunities for businesses. 'The National Procurement Policy Statement and Procurement Act does not place any unnecessary burdens onto business, instead it simplifies the procurement process, removing bureaucratic rules and regulations and re-focusing the £400 billion spent each year in procurement to deliver the Plan for Change.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
