A RESTAURANT boss in St Andrews has said he is seeking legal advice after Reform UK accused it of bringing 200 workers and dependents to the UK on sponsorship visas.
The Courier reports that Zulfiqar Ali, manager of popular Indian restaurant Jahangir, rejects the claims made by the party’s home affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf.
Yusuf, who is not an MP, claimed that the restaurant had received 42 skilled worker visas in 2023 and 2024.
Ali told the newspaper the right-wing politician had publicly tarnished his reputation, adding that he has just four staff on a visa.
Yusuf wrote on X: “The business has been going for more than 12 years.
“But in 2023, they appear to have settled on a new business model.
“Between 2023 and 2024 they received forty-two Certificates of Sponsorship for ‘Skilled Worker’ visas.”
Yusuf did not provide any evidence of this claim, and insisted it was the “tip of the iceberg”, alleging that the 42 certificates “did not include the dependents these workers are likely to have brought with them”.
“The ratio between workers and their dependants is often as high as 5 to 1,” Yusuf added.
Welcome to 'Jahangir Balti & Tandoori Restaurant' in St. Andrews. The business has been going for more than 12 years. But in 2023, they appear to have settled on a new business model. Between 2023 and 2024 they received FORTY-TWO Certificates of Sponsorship for 'Skilled… pic.twitter.com/GQYl2jHLSj
— Zia Yusuf (@ZiaYusufUK) August 16, 2026
“That means this single curry house could have brought over 200 people to Britain.”
The Courier reports that the Home Office said visa applications relating to Jahangir, made under the Walham Ltd company, relate to four business locations, not just the one restaurant in St Andrews, Fife.
There are also restaurants in Dundee and Blairgowrie.
Ali strongly denied Yusuf’s claims to The Courier, telling the newspaper: “We are trying to seek advice from our lawyers to see what we can do,” he said.
“I don’t know what in the hell he’s talking about.
“The only people we have on our books work permit wise is four people.
“We don’t know about the 42 he’s talking about.
“How can that be possible in a small restaurant like ours?
“Where is he getting his figures? It’s come from nowhere, I don’t know where he is getting his information.
“He’s tarnished our reputation here, he’s tried to attack us for no reason.”
LibDem MP Wendy Chamberlain said Reform should provide evidence for its claims or apologise and withdraw them.
“If Reform has evidence to support their allegation, they should present it, and if they cannot provide evidence, they should apologise to Jahangir’s and remove Zia Yusuf’s post,” she said.
“Public accusations that risk damaging the reputation of a local business should be backed up by facts, not speculation.”
The Home Office said they had revoked 3299 sponsor licences in 2025, compared with just 347 in 2023 – an increase of 950%.
“We continue to review businesses and potential abuse of the sponsorship system,” a spokesperson said.
“Those found to be breaching the rules will quickly have their licences revoked.”
