BBC Question Time crowd applauds guest’s scathing remark at Reform’s Zia Yusuf

Zia Yusuf, who is Head of Policy for Reform UK, again came under fire on Question Time on Thursday night during a discussion about British values and pride in our nation

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Zia Yusuf was on Question Time again on Thursday

The Question Time audience applauded at a blistering attack on Reform UK’s policies on Thursday.

Zia Yusuf, the party’s Head of Policy, faced criticism when a guest expressed fury at its brutal stance on immigration. The audience member said these policies threatened to destroy the UK’s diversity and encouraged the party to instead embrace diversity.

It led to warm applause from the crowd in Dorking, Surrey, where Mr Yusuf was making his sixth appearance on Question Time in the space of just 16 months, despite his unelected status. The 39-year-old entrepreneur responded to the remark by insisting Reform must challenge immigration.

The young woman in audience had said: “I am proud to be British but I don’t appreciate, Zia, you mentioning Gen Z, that Gen Z don’t have pride in Britain. I really think they do, I really think we all do but I think your party, especially, isn’t giving me much to be proud of with the way that your party discriminates, or attempts to discriminate against people.

“I was reading your party’s policies just before we came in, and the first four listed are all about immigration, all about trying to change diversity, which is what makes Britain great.”

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The woman’s remark led to applause from the audience in Dorking, Surrey

Her jibe came during comments about whether Brits feel proud of their nation, including remarks from a teacher who urged politicians to be “more tolerant” and accepting. She also referred to the British values she teaches her children, which she admitted she rarely sees in the political spectrum.

When offered the chance to respond to these digs, Mr Yusuf, whose parents migrated from Sri Lanka to the UK in the early 1980s, said: “The first four points on our policy website at the moment are, indeed, about immigration. Immigration is the number one salience issue for the Britrtish public as we speak, according to the latest YouGov polling… I totally respect why you (the woman who asked the question) may feel concerned about those things (the policies), but that is precisely why Reform is leading by 10 points in the average of the polls right now.

“We make no apology for saying we need secure borders, number one, we need to stop the boats from coming – the real time invasion of this country – and we must deport illegal migrants who are in this country already, and we need law and order.”

The politician, who was one of the first in a string to ditch the Conservatives for Reform UK, remained defiant immigration is “the number one issue” for Brits at the moment. Last month though, a survey found 23% of Labour voters felt the cost of living is the biggest challenge politicians should tackle.

Keir Starmer vowed to sight this issue, stating in January: “This Labour government is on your side, doing everything we can to ease the cost of living – and make life better. In 2026 the choices we made will mean more people begin to feel that positive change.

“Cutting your energy bills by £150, raising the national living wage. We’re helping cut the cost of your commute and the school run too. Freezing rail fares for the first time in 30 years. Capping bus fares. And extending the fuel duty cut until September.”