A Cabinet minister has accused Reform UK’s Zia Yusuf of “pretty straightforward racism” following comments made about a potential Labour by-election candidate born in Somalia.
The criticism follows a social media post regarding Sagal Abdi-Wali, a former child refugee and leader of Camden Council who is tipped as a favourite to stand for Labour in Holborn and St Pancras after former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer resigned as an MP.
Yusuf wrote on X last week: “The front runner 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?”
When asked about the Reform politician’s post on Sky News’s Sunday Morning programme, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: “Pretty straightforward racism, isn’t it?”
Reynolds noted that the prospective candidate had “spent decades in this country” and delivered a “huge contribution to her local community”.
Robert Jenrick, Reform’s economic spokesman, rejected claims that his colleague’s remarks were racist, maintaining that it was legitimate to question the allegiances of foreign-born candidates.
Asked if Yusuf’s post was racist, Jenrick told the same programme: “No.”
“I don’t know this person, so I’m not here to cast aspersions upon her, but I do want people to sit in our Parliament who are entirely committed to our country,” Jenrick said.
“Maybe she is someone who is entirely patriotic and supportive of this country. I would just say, and this is the point I think Zia was making, that is not everyone sadly in our current House of Commons…
“I want people who are solely interested in putting the interests of our country first.”
He continued: “It’s not about whether she’s from Somalia or the United States or wherever.
“I’m saying that if you weren’t born in this country and you stand for Parliament, it’s a legitimate question to ask: Where are your loyalties? Are you going to put the interests of Britain first?
“And you would not believe how much time is wasted in the House of Commons debating things that have nothing to do with this country whatsoever, and how many people stand up and make the case for Pakistan or Gaza as if they were representing those places and not their own constituents, and I want that to end.”
