In Britain, Reform UK spokesman Yusuf’s post was called racism
In Britain, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds described as “outright racism” a post by Reform UK’s home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf about Sagal Abdi-Wali, the leader of the council in London’s Camden borough. As The Guardian reports, Yusuf wrote on social media platform X that the likely Labour candidate in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election was born in Somalia and asked whether readers understood what was happening.
Minister’s reaction
Abdi-Wali arrived in Camden as a child as a refugee from Somalia. She is considered among the early favourites to secure the Labour Party nomination for the by-election in the constituency following the resignation of former prime minister Keir Starmer.
Speaking to Sky News, Reynolds said that Abdi-Wali had lived in Britain for decades and made a significant contribution to the local community. When asked by the presenter whether he considered Yusuf’s post racist, the minister answered in the affirmative.
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Criticism within the party
According to the publication, Yusuf’s post was viewed 8 million times. It was also criticised by several senior Reform UK figures during the party conference in Birmingham. Former Conservative minister Nadine Dorries, who joined Reform UK last year, called the message “unpleasant” and said she would like Yusuf to close his Twitter account.
Reform UK’s candidate for mayor of London, Laila Cunningham, said she did not understand the meaning of Yusuf’s comment. She stressed that Abdi-Wali is British and leads Camden Council. Reform UK was approached for comment.
Abdi-Wali was elected a councillor in 2022, and in May she became the council’s leader. According to the Labour Party, for more than ten years she has been a volunteer and trustee of local charities, and she also sits on the governing boards of two schools in the borough. Labour is expected to announce its by-election candidate by Wednesday.
