Yusef condemns hair-pulling incident
Zia Yusuf has condemned Reform UK members who pulled the hair of a heckler during Nigel Farage’s speech on Friday.
Asked whether he condemned the actions of some members who appeared in footage pulling the woman’s hair and grabbing her head, the party’s home affairs spokesman told a conference fringe event: “On the question of whether I condemn people punching people, yes I condemn people punching people.”
Chris Stevenson5 September 2026 11:45
Police seek protester after footage shows Reform audience pulling hair
West Midlands Police have asked a protester who was thrown out of the Reform UK conference to come forward after footage showed audience members pulling her hair and grabbing her head.
The force said it had not received a direct complaint but asked the woman to make contact so officers can carry out further investigations.
Demonstrators were thrown out of the main conference hall four times at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, where Reform UK are holding their annual get-together.
They interrupted Nigel Farage’s keynote speech, shortly after his deputy Richard Tice had a banner displayed during his own address referencing the scandal around a donation to Mr Farage.
The Reform UK leader laughed during the disruption and said: “We’ve got a screamer. Oh dear.”
Addressing the conference hall, the Reform leader said, “that poor young girl, she looked like she was going to do herself an injury”, before adding, “boring, boring, boring”.
A statement from West Midlands Police said: “We’re aware of a video circulating from the Reform UK conference showing an incident with a protester.
“We haven’t received a complaint but would ask the woman involved to come forward and contact us so we can carry out enquiries.
“Anyone with any information should contact us on 101 quoting log number 924 of 5 September 2026.”
Activist group Climate Resistance claimed responsibility for the protest.
In a comment they said they were “horrified at the violence” from Reform conference audience members.
The group also said the protester is considering whether to come forward to police.
The end of the first main day of the Reform conference saw a series of protests disrupting speeches.
Dan Haygarth5 September 2026 11:14
Full story: Nigel Farage fights for survival as new Reform sleaze scandal rocks party
With the conference framed around Reform’s plans for its “first 100 days” in government, the discussion was knocked off course as Mr Farage was instead forced to answer questions on whether he could bounce back from another scandal.
Read the full report from yesterday below.
Dan Haygarth5 September 2026 10:57
Today’s schedule at Reform conference in Birmingham
1600 Nigel Farage closing remarks.
Daniel Haygarth5 September 2026 10:23
Robert Jenrick to promise tax cut amid row over Reform donations
Robert Jenrick will pledge to raise the income tax threshold as Reform UK attempts to move on from allegations about its finances.
The party’s Treasury spokesman is expected to tell the final day of the Reform conference in Birmingham that he would increase the tax-free personal allowance to £15,000 within the first 100 days of taking office.
The threshold has been set at £12,570 since 2021 and is due to remain there until 2031.
Reform said the plan would save the average taxpayer £500 a year and take 2.9 million people out of income tax altogether, at a cost of £17.7 billion in its first year, rising to £21 billion five years later.
The party has previously said it wants to increase the personal allowance to £20,000, with Mr Jenrick expected to say he will approach the figure “step-by-step” when it is affordable.
Mr Jenrick will also use his speech to set out some £80 billion in spending cuts, primarily through slashing the welfare budget.
He is expected to say: “The hard choice for Burnham and for us is exactly the same. It’s either welfare waste, foreign aid and migrants — or the British worker. We choose the worker.”
Dan Haygarth5 September 2026 10:10
Watch: Robert Jenrick bemoans ‘disappointing’ donations scandalRobert Jenrick bemoans ‘disappointing’ donations scandal
Dan Haygarth5 September 2026 08:44
Allegations expected to widen police probe into Reform, Times reports
The Times reports that these allegations are expected to widen the police investigation which is examining donations worth £500,000 made to the party.
Mr Tice has said the money was paid to his company by Reform donor Fiona Cottrell – a significant donor to Reform UK and mother of a convicted fraudster with close links to Nigel Farage.
Dan Haygarth5 September 2026 08:31
Allegations cause splits at the top of Reform
The allegations have caused splits at the top of the party. Senior Reform figures have given conflicting accounts of whether the suspensions are permanent, or temporary and pending an investigation.
Zia Yusuf, the party’s home affairs spokesperson, has distanced himself from the two suspended men, telling reporters of the investigation: “It’s just not something I am personally involved in.”
Reform UK’s deputy leader on Friday declined to rule out party advisers Dan Jukes and James Orr returning after an internal investigation.
Asked whether the pair could return, Richard Tice told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Let’s wait and see what the investigation says.”
Challenged over comments by Reform chairman Lee Anderson saying Mr Jukes and Mr Orr would not return, he added: “It’s not actually, in the nicest possible way, for any individual to make that determination until the investigation (finishes).”
Dan Haygarth5 September 2026 08:27
Two Reform aides ‘permanently suspended’, Jenrick says
Two senior Reform UK aides are permanently suspended from their roles, Robert Jenrick has said, after undercover journalism appeared to show them discussing how to disguise foreign donations.
Senior Reform figures have given conflicting accounts of whether James Orr and Dan Jukes’ suspension is permanent, or temporary and pending an investigation.
Mr Jenrick told Times Radio: “They have been permanently suspended. There is obviously due process, and so there is going to be an investigation, and we want to learn all the facts, give them obviously a right of reply.
“But Nigel (Farage) has acted very swiftly, as soon as he saw the footage. Some of their comments, it’s fair to say, were very disappointing and inappropriate.”
Pressed on the nature of the suspension, Mr Jenrick said: “Well, they have left the conference. They’ve been suspended from their roles.”
Mr Jenrick was later asked whether he still believed leaving the Conservatives for Reform was worth it after the scrutiny his new party had faced in recent months, and told the broadcaster it was “one of the best decisions that I have ever made”.
Dan Haygarth5 September 2026 08:17
Editorial: Andy Burnham must take his chance to bury Nigel Farage
Dan Haygarth5 September 2026 08:15