Nigel Farage's Reform UK has been fiercely criticised by a decorated veteran following controversial remarks that drew a direct comparison between individuals arriving in the United Kingdom via small boats and the historic Allied invasion of Normandy on D-Day. The inflammatory comments were delivered by Zia Yusuf, who was recently appointed to oversee Home Affairs within Reform's newly unveiled "shadow cabinet."
Veteran's Outrage at D-Day Analogy
Speaking at the party's conference, Mr Yusuf asserted that "more people have turned up on our beaches uninvited in the last seven years than stormed the beaches of Normandy on D-Day." This statement prompted an immediate and emotional response from Captain Yavar Abbas, a 105-year-old war hero from London, who labelled the analogy as "disgusting."
Captain Abbas declared: "They are using the Normandy heroes to make a completely and utterly disgusting point. I have better things to do than listen to these people. I have a memorial to the United British Indian Army to organise." The veteran, who previously moved the King and Queen to tears during a VJ Day tribute, emphasised the profound disrespect inherent in such a comparison.
Controversial Shadow Cabinet Appointments
Reform UK's announcement of its senior leadership team on Tuesday has sparked significant controversy, with the party appointing several former Conservative politicians known for their stringent views on immigration, climate policy, and equality. The appointments include Robert Jenrick as shadow chancellor, despite his involvement in Liz Truss's contentious mini-budget and a costly housing approval scandal that allegedly wasted £40 million in taxpayer funds.
Suella Braverman was named education and equalities spokesperson, vowing to abolish the equalities department on "day one" of a Reform government, despite her prior breaches of the ministerial code. Additionally, net-zero sceptic Richard Tice was appointed spokesman for Business, Trade and Energy, shortly after suggesting potential cuts to the minimum wage and advocating for the abandonment of Britain's net-zero targets.
Farage's Evasive Press Conference
During a lengthy press conference, Nigel Farage repeatedly refused to address pointed questions from journalists. When pressed by a Financial Times reporter about plans for a migrant deportation unit and the private school backgrounds of his shadow cabinet members, Mr Farage dismissed the inquiries, stating there was no point in answering and that the journalist should "just write some silly story."
Political and Union Backlash
The appointments have triggered a furious response from Labour and trade unions, who warn that Reform's team consists of "failed Tories" who previously inflicted damage on the economy and public services. Labour chair Anna Turley criticised the shadow cabinet, noting they spent over 3,000 days in government "trashing our economy, hammering families’ mortgages, and leaving our borders open."
Emily Thornberry, Chair of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, questioned the absence of a defence appointment in Reform's shadow cabinet, suggesting Farage might believe such matters could be "outsourced to the White House (or the Kremlin!)."
TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak condemned Reform's pledge to scrap the Equality Act, arguing it would grant employers a "blank cheque to mistreat their staff" and undermine hard-won protections against discrimination based on gender, race, disability, pregnancy, or sexual orientation.
The ongoing controversy highlights deepening divisions over immigration rhetoric and policy direction as Reform UK positions itself for future electoral contests, facing accusations of insensitivity and ideological extremism from critics across the political spectrum.
