In today’s political landscape, where social media posts can ignite serious controversy in seconds, a single ‘like’ has snowballed into a fierce row between senior political figures.
The latest drama stems from an explosive accusation involving Kemi Badenoch, Zia Yusuf, and Robert Jenrick—and it’s raising big questions about accountability and prejudice in public life.
Badenoch Backs Jenrick After Offensive Post Liked by Yusuf’s Account
Kemi Badenoch, a senior Conservative figure, publicly accused former Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf of deliberately endorsing an anti-Semitic tweet that targeted Tory justice spokesman Robert Jenrick and his Jewish wife and children.
The controversy began when Yusuf’s account on X (formerly Twitter) ‘liked’ a highly offensive post from a fringe account known for racist content.
The post accused Jenrick of being a “traitorous Zogbot” and spread inflammatory stereotypes, linking his Jewish family background to immigration and criminal behavior.
Yusuf’s Team Blames the Like on an Accident
After the tweet came to light and sparked online backlash, Yusuf quickly issued a statement claiming the like was an accident made by someone on his social media team.
He apologized and described the tweet as “awful” and anti-Semitic, adding that the post also contained racist language against him, as a Muslim.
“I hope this sort of racism stops,” he wrote, “because it’s spiralling out of control.”
Jenrick Calls Yusuf’s Apology “Bull****” and Demands His Removal
But Robert Jenrick wasn’t buying the apology.
In a fiery response on X, he blasted Yusuf’s explanation as “bull****,” accusing him of pretending it was a team member’s mistake when it was likely a private act.
“You must think we’re all thick,” Jenrick wrote. “The mask has slipped.
Likes are private. You thought nobody would know.”
He added that Reform UK should immediately fire Yusuf, saying the party had been exposed by the very post they hoped would stay hidden.
Kemi Badenoch Chimes In with Support for Jenrick
Backing Jenrick’s stance, Kemi Badenoch weighed in with a sharp “Well said, Rob.
Well said indeed,” essentially doubling down on the pressure for Reform UK to take disciplinary action against Yusuf.
Racist Tweet Triggers Political Fallout
The offensive tweet, posted by a user with the handle @Enoch-Is-Right and the name “British Racial Chauvinism,” openly used anti-Semitic slurs, baseless conspiracy theories, and violent imagery.
It painted Jenrick as a national threat because of his Jewish identity and accused him of facilitating immigration for sinister purposes.
The fact that Yusuf’s account ‘liked’ such a post, even if unintentionally, set off alarm bells in both political and Jewish communities.
Yusuf’s Past Comments Add Fuel to the Fire
Yusuf, who stepped down as Reform UK chairman just last month, already had a reputation for making inflammatory remarks.
His resignation came after he criticized Reform MP Sarah Pochin for asking what he called a “dumb” question about banning the burka during Prime Minister’s Questions.
At the time, he stated working for Reform UK “was not a good use of my time.”
But just two days later, he returned to head the party’s Doge team, a UK equivalent inspired by Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency.
Reform Leader Admitted Yusuf Had Faced Racial Abuse
Interestingly, Nigel Farage, who leads Reform UK, had previously acknowledged that Yusuf had been subjected to racial abuse online due to his Muslim background.
But that hasn’t softened public reaction to this latest incident.
Other Conservatives Are Demanding Accountability
Tory MP Jack Rankin didn’t hold back either.
Echoing Jenrick’s anger, he posted: “When people tell you who they are, believe them.
Zia Yusuf’s mask has slipped and he must be sacked.”
The call for Reform UK to act decisively has grown louder, especially after a video surfaced online clearly showing Yusuf’s account had engaged with the tweet.
Jewish Community Calls for Oversight and Accountability
A spokesperson from the Board of Deputies of British Jews said the incident was “deeply concerning” and welcomed Yusuf’s attempt to distance himself from the content.
However, they urged his office to review how it happened and prevent future incidents.
“We’ll be keeping a close eye on this going forward,” the spokesperson added.
Political Tensions Rise After Afghanistan Leak Fallout
The timing of all this isn’t coincidental. Conservative insiders say Yusuf has been escalating personal attacks on Jenrick ever since the fallout from a leaked spreadsheet allegedly naming UK intelligence officers in Afghanistan.
In one post, Yusuf even accused Jenrick of being a “traitor to his country.”
What Comes Next?
At the time of writing, Reform UK had not released an official comment on whether any action would be taken against Yusuf.
With growing political and public pressure, the party may soon have no choice but to respond more formally.
As the online and offline fallout continues, one thing is clear: a single social media ‘like’ has sparked a much bigger conversation about accountability, racism, and political leadership in the digital age.