In today’s political world, a single click can spark a storm — and that’s exactly what happened when Zia Yusuf, a senior figure in Reform UK and close ally of Nigel Farage, found himself at the center of a racism and antisemitism controversy involving a tweet he claims was “liked by accident.”
The Post That Triggered Outrage
It all began when a disturbing tweet targeting Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick, his Jewish wife, and their children was noticed to have been “liked” by Yusuf’s official X (formerly Twitter) account.
The post came from an account named British Racial Chauvinism with the handle Enoch_Is_Right, and it used inflammatory and bigoted language, calling Jenrick a “traitorous Zogbot” and suggesting he had “imported” people to harm British citizens — a vile reference steeped in racist conspiracy theories.
Jenrick Calls Out Yusuf in Blistering Response
Jenrick wasted no time responding. He took to X to challenge Yusuf’s apology head-on, calling it “bull**”** and demanding his removal from the Reform UK party.
“You’ve spent 48 hours calling me a traitor,” Jenrick wrote, referencing previous tensions related to leaked security documents.
“And now we’re supposed to believe this antisemitic post was liked accidentally?”
He continued, calling Yusuf’s defense “insulting” and suggesting the like was never meant to be seen publicly — a “mask-slipping” moment, as he described it.
Kemi Badenoch Steps In with Support
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch backed Jenrick’s response, quote-posting his statement with a simple but pointed remark:
“Well said, Rob. Well said indeed.”
Her show of solidarity added fuel to the calls for accountability and widened the spotlight on the scandal.
Yusuf’s Side of the Story: Blaming a Staffer
Zia Yusuf, who recently stepped down as Reform UK’s chairman and now heads their DOGE team, tried to explain the situation.
He claimed that someone from his team had accidentally liked the tweet while managing his account.
“One of the team who posts to my X account accidentally pressed like on an awful antisemitic tweet earlier today. I apologise for this,” he wrote.
He added that the post was also offensive to him personally, and insisted there was no intention behind the interaction.
Critics Aren’t Buying It
Plenty of people — both inside and outside of Westminster — weren’t convinced.
Conservative MP Jack Rankin responded bluntly on X:
“When people tell you who they are, believe them.
Zia Yusuf’s mask has slipped and must be sacked.”
Even the Board of Deputies of British Jews weighed in, calling the incident “very concerning” and demanding a proper review of Yusuf’s account practices.
Tensions Rising Over Past Posts
Sources within the Conservative Party pointed out that Yusuf’s online rhetoric toward Jenrick had been growing more aggressive even before the tweet incident.
He had already accused Jenrick of being a “traitor” over his handling of a data breach involving sensitive information tied to British intelligence and military personnel.
In one of his earlier posts, Yusuf wrote:
“You’re a traitor to your country.”
With this background, many found it hard to accept that the “like” was simply a slip-up.
What Happens Next?
The Reform Party has not yet issued an official statement, but pressure is mounting from all directions.
With calls for Yusuf’s removal intensifying and growing public scrutiny, it remains to be seen how Reform UK will handle the fallout.
One thing is clear: in the digital age, even a tap of the “like” button can carry enormous weight — especially when it touches on deep, painful issues like racism and antisemitism.