Pollsters, MPs and other senior sources warned that the party is seen as the government’s primary opposition – and Nigel Farage in particular is an “anti-politics” figurehead for a public tired of gameplay and slumps in economic growth.
Yusuf quit the party after describing a call from the party’s newest MP, Sarah Pochin, to ban the burka as “dumb” and saying that working to get the party in power was no longer “a good use of my time.”
But Reform UK’s rivals aren’t celebrating quite yet. Sources speaking to The i Paper have dismissed the idea that these two events could prove to be a turning point in which the party’s polling lead begins to ebb away amid infighting – although some said Farage’s ego may yet cause it to self-destruct.
However, a senior Labour source said of Yusuf’s resignation: “To be honest, I think it only matters to journalists. I don’t think anyone else will even register that he’s gone…among voters, I mean.”
Davy Russell, Scottish Labour candidate, celebrates with Anas Sarwar, Jackie Ballie and Monica Lennon (L) after winning the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election (Photo: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
They described Reform’s third-place result in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election as a “good result” for Reform UK, adding: “From July last year to today, has Labour developed any solutions to dealing with Reform? The answer is probably no. The May local elections and by-election bear that out.
A Tory source said Reform was “the real winner” in Scotland and Yusuf quitting would not harm the party.
They added that the Scotland result was “diabolically bad” for the Tories, who finished fourth with just six per cent of the vote, but added that a pact with Reform would be “illogical” and “suits neither party.”
Last week, Starmer took the unprecedented step of calling a press conference to address Reform and Farage’s economic policies, which he compared to Liz Truss’s disastrous Budget.
‘Reform is the Farage show’
But a senior Tory aide meanwhile urged voters to “listen carefully” to Yusuf when he said he does not believe he can get a Reform government and to note the multiple resignations.
Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage with his party’s candidates onstage during a campaign event at Stafford whilst campaigning for the local elections. Photo credit should read: Jacob King/PA Wire
The aide signalled that Yusuf would have to face an application process if he wanted to defect to the Tories: “He will have to apply for membership in the same way as anyone else.”
YouGov pollster Patrick English said that Reform UK will not be immediately damaged by Yusuf quitting, he warned that Farage must halt the onslaught of infighting and resignations or a perception will take hold that they are a divided party that can’t be trusted to govern.
square LABOUR AnalysisLabour relief at Hamilton by-election win – but alarm bells over Reform’s rise
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“To people who are paying attention, it signals that they may struggle to do the things they need to do to present themselves as a government-in-waiting, which is to look competent, organised and together, and to look like they are going to spend their energy listening to voters rather than arguing among themselves.
“If he wants to be prime minister, if he wants to replace the Conservatives as the party on the right who challenge Labour at the next election, he has to build that sense that his party are serious, they are ready, that he can become prime minister and they will put the British public rather than themselves first.”
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