Zia Yusuf has been condemned for a “sickening” and “racist” attack on a Labour council leader who was born in Somalia.
Camden Council leader Sagal Abdi-Wali is reportedly the front-runner to stand for Labour in the upcoming Holborn and St Pancras by-election triggered by Keir Starmer’s resignation as an MP.
Abdi-Wali was born in Somalia but came to the UK as a child refugee with her family in the early 1990s.
In 2022, she became a Labour councillor and has been the leader of Camden Council since May.
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But Reform’s Zia Yusuf reckons all that matter is where she was born.
In a dog-whistle post on X, Reform’s home affairs spokesperson wrote: “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?”
The unelected Reform man has sparked a furious response for his comments, with many accusing him of racism.
And whilst Nigel Farage may want to distance himself and his party from the likes of Tommy Robinson, he may want to take note of how in-step his home affairs spokesperson is with the convicted criminal and anti-Islam agitator.
Yusuf’s comments are the latest instance of him sparking anger and controversy with his social media activity.
In just the last few weeks, Yusuf has been slammed for labelling former Tory defence secretary Ben Wallace a ‘traitor’ (in a controversy that resulted in one of Reform’s most senior members being suspended) and launched attacks that in fact take aim at a few of his Reform colleagues.