REFORM UK's Zia Yusuf has failed to deny he put himself forward to stand as a party candidate for a by-election, but was not selected.
On Friday night's BBC Question Time special focusing on the resignation of Keir Starmer, the Reform UK spokesperson for home affairs was challenged on his claim that running a government "is easy" by Conservative MP Kevin Hollindrake.
The challenge concluded in Yusuf staying silent when directly asked if he had put his name forward to be candidate.
When speaking about Andy Burnham's by-election win in Makerfield, Hollindrake said: "One thing that never ceases to amaze me is you talk about how easy it is to run a government, yet you've never stood for parliament.
"Andy Burnham, to be fair to him, and you criticise many of things he's done and said, but at least he's willing to put his head above the parapet. Why have you not done that? Why have you not stood in some of the by-elections, the opportunities you've had, around the country to get elected?"
Yusuf replied: So, it's interesting that you think all of the country's problems seem to come down to whether I've stood in a by-election or not. What makes you think I've never put myself above the parapet and wanted to stand in a by-election?"
Hollindrake replied: "Well you haven't done that, have you?"
Yusuf replied: "What makes you think that?"
Hollindrake answered: "Because you haven't stood."
Watch as Reform UK's Zia Yusuf fails to deny he put himself forward to stand as a party candidate for a by-election and was not selected The challenge on BBC Question Time concludes with Yusuf staying silent when directly asked if he had put his name forward to be candidate pic.twitter.com/DHXbxLVYJx
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"So anybody who wants to stand in a by-election automatically gets to do so? Maybe in the Conservative party where it's just cronyism and nothing else matters mate, but I think you made a lot of very big assumption," Yusuf said.
Yusuf is a Scottish businessman who was Reform UK's largest individual donor, which led to him being appointed chairman in July 2024.
Host Fiona Bruce then weighed in to ask directly: "That's interesting, so have you put your name forward to stand in a by-election?"
Yusuf replied: "We have an application process to stand in parliamentary by-elections and all I'll say is coming after me for not being willing to stand in a parliamentary by-election is incorrect and hugely presumptuous."
"What did you do? Why did they stop you?" Labour MP Emily Thornberry can be heard asking, and Hollindrake asks: "Did they refuse you?"
The audience laughed and applauded as Yusuf stated: "What we did not do is get an MP who was duly elected by a constituency in 2024 to stand down for the sole purpose of unseating the current prime minister of the United Kingdom. That's what we did not do."
Later, Bruce directly asked: "Just to be clear as this is new information, what you are telling us tonight Zia, is that you have requested to stand in a by-election but you haven't been selected?"
Yusuf said: "What I'm telling you is the presumption that I have not put myself forward is a presumption and yeah, it's inaccurate."
Yusuf and Hollindrake then spoke over each other and throughout the exchange, Thornberry repeats: "They stopped you. They wouldn't let you be a candidate".
Bruce concludes the segment stating: "I am taking from what you said – because it is new information and I think it's worth noting – you have put your name forward to stand in by-elections but you've not been selected. If I'm wrong, tell me now."
Yusuf remained silent.
Yusuf resigned his role of chairman in in June 2025, returning days later as head of Reform's department of government efficiency, before becoming head of policy from September 2025 to February 2026.
Yusuf has appeared on the BBC panel show several times, and more times than the Green Party as a whole since the start of last year.
