Zia Yusuf resigned as chairman of Reform UK after 11 months in the job, delivering a blow to its leader, Nigel Farage, who has promised to build and professionalize the insurgent party in a quest for power at the next general election.

Reform UK have been hit by further chaos after the man brought in by Nigel Farage to professionalise the party quit following a row with their newest MP.Zia Yusuf, a Muslim businessman, had described new Runcorn MP Sarah Pochin as “dumb” after she challenged Keir Starmer over the legality of women wearing the burqa in the UK during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday.

Nigel Farage’s Reform UK has been dealt a major blow after the party’s chairman resigned following a row over banning the burka. Zia Yusuf announced on Thursday that he was quitting the role he has held for almost a year.