Audience members on BBC's Question Time gasped and a fellow panellist branded Reform UK's Zia Yusuf 'typically rude' after he made a dismissive remark to a man asking about immigration policy. The exchange occurred during the programme recorded in Dover, Kent, on Thursday night.
The audience member, who said he began working for the NHS in 1974, asked for clarity on whether migrant workers would lose their right to indefinite leave to remain under Reform UK plans. He expressed concern that health and social care sectors would suffer if overseas staff were forced to leave.
Mr Yusuf responded that his party had never proposed removing that right, then added: 'So if you had paid attention to what we were announcing, you would not have that view.' The comment drew sharp intakes of breath from the crowd, with one person heard shouting 'That's rude'.
Green Party co-leader Zack Polanski intervened, describing the behaviour as 'typically rude'. Labour MP Mike Tapp, whose constituency includes Dover, also criticised Mr Yusuf, saying: 'What I love about my constituency is even people who disagree with me are very polite and that should be afforded by you too, Zia. Be polite to these lovely people.' The audience applauded Mr Tapp's remarks.
Mr Yusuf, who defected from the Conservatives to Reform, defended his comments, noting that his mother works in a care home and that Reform has proposed an 'acute skilled shortage visa' for sectors like care. The clash came after Reform leader Nigel Farage had faced scrutiny on the same programme over his championing of Brexit.
