Reform split deepens over deportation row

In-fighting is always a bad look, but it’s especially not-good in an election. Despite this, Reform’s Zia Yusuf has publicly called out Robert Jenrick’s grip on the party’s policy platform:

Robert’s answer is not Reform policy.

As the person responsible for our deportation plan I want ensure people know where we stand:

If a foreign national lives in social housing at taxpayer expense, they automatically fail our economic test and will be deported. https://t.co/g7S7SmoDrJ

— Zia Yusuf (@ZiaYusufUK) May 26, 2026

Poverty by design

The first thing we should note is that social housing isn’t supposed to be a place where we send poor people to punish them. Currently, social housing only makes up around 16% of all households, and as such local authorities use it to house tenants with the most needs. Ideally, however, we would have enough social housing that people from all walks of life to live in.

This surplus of social housing would also mean private landlords had more competition, forcing them to keep their prices — you know — competitive. That is if we kept private landlords around, anyway. We’re not sure what benefit they’re providing, but we seem to be stuck with them for now, so let’s at least make them feel the market forces capitalists claim are so vital.

Back to the feud. Yusuf is saying we should instantly deport foreign nationals who live in social housing. His argument is only poor people live in social housing, and we don’t need any more poors, thanks. Responding to this:

Anyone can fall on hard times.
Many low-paying industries like care rely on foreign workers.
If Reform doesn’t want so many poor people, the solution isn’t to banish the impoverished; it’s to close the gap between the haves and the have nots.

The purpose of wealth taxes isn’t just to bring in more money. As things stand, the wealthy are getting richer and richer because their money is doing their work for them. While you’re grinding away earning not very much, these people are seeing their portfolios balloon through no hard work of their own. They use this money to buy up Britain’s assets, and they use the power that brings to make life more favourable for themselves.

It’s a vicious cycle, and one which Reform is seeking to distract from by pointing at those who have the least.

Fighting words from Reform UK loyalists

Back to the feud, people have been saying:

Reform now in open civil-war. As I said yesterday. They’re a party that’s now experiencing a complete nervous breakdown https://t.co/Gp2IqVHy9W

— (((Dan Hodges))) (@DPJHodges) May 26, 2026

You say two are slagging it out, but does Jenrick know he's in this fight? Seems like a bit of an unexpected drive-by. Post-Farage future of the party already up for grabs, it seems.

— Liam Stokes (@LNJStokes) May 26, 2026

Oops!

Looks like Zia Yusuf is about to fall out with yet another Reform MP.

Their party conference is going to be fun.

Yusuf can't be in the same place as Tice, Anderson or Jenrick now. pic.twitter.com/1XApR591Cf

— Don McGowan (@donmcgowan) May 26, 2026

On the broader issue of Reform politicians not seeing eye to eye, commenter Dave Lawrence noted:

WHAT is happening inside Reform?

– The new Chairman Lee Anderson – mentioned the byelection 2x if you include a retweet of the podcast
– he has made 3 tweets about the ‘visit’ to the ‘special needs’ cafe – defending it and seeking to undermine the staff in the same period.

– Jenrick and the unelected Yusuf in a public spat about immigration policy
– this a fortnight after Laila Cunningham attacked the immigration rhetoric and the fact it cost votes in London

– no-one has thanked David Bull who was sacked as Chairman who has literally disappeared whilst leaving his account as Chairman – ‘live’

– Farage is just missing.

As we’ve reported, Farage is no doubt avoiding media scrutiny because of a £5m gift he failed to declare. That and because he no doubt doesn’t want to answer questions about the party’s pervert by-election candidate in Makerfield.

Zack Polanski, meanwhile, took issue with Labour’s response to the feud:

A Labour minister unable to condemn Reform's plan for the mass deportations of our neighbours.

Cowardly and disgraceful.

Labour are incapable of standing up to Reform's divisive nonsense. Only the Green Party have the courage to do this. pic.twitter.com/62WeCq1jaL

— Zack Polanski (@ZackPolanski) May 26, 2026

Divisive by design

Reform UK is running a classic ‘divide and conquer’ strategy. Working people know they’re poorer than they used to be, and Reform is trying to convince them it’s because of foreigners, disabled people, folk who want more rights, etc — not the billionaires who suspiciously seem to be getting richer and richer while all this is going on.

The interesting thing is Reform also seems to be dividing and conquering itself. At this rate, the party is going to struggle making it to the 2029 election. After all – it’s already given rise to two different breakaway parties in Restore Britain and Advance UK.

Featured image via Leon Neal / Getty Images