The Reform UK politician drew sharp reactions in Dover when he told a long-serving NHS worker he “hadn’t paid attention” to the party’s policies.

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The audince member was met with sharp retort by Zia Yusaf.

Audience members on Question Time gasped last night after Zia Yusuf made what many felt was an unnecessary jibe at a man asking a question. The Reform UK politician was accused of being “typically rude” when he suggested the audience member “hadn’t paid attention” to his party’s immigration policies.

The man had simply asked for clarification on whether Reform UK planned to remove migrant workers’ rights to indefinite leave to remain, potentially forcing long-settled workers to leave the country. Mr Yusuf insisted his party had never proposed such a policy.

The Mirror reports he then added: “So if you had paid attention to what we were announcing, you would not have that view.” At that moment, the crowd reacted audibly, with sharp intakes of breath and someone calling out, “That’s rude.”

Despite the visible discomfort in the Dover, Kent audience, Mr Yusuf continued speaking. Green Party leader Zack Polanski intervened to label the remark “typically rude.”

Mr Yusuf’s comments came after his colleague Nigel Farage had already faced tough questioning over his stance on Brexit. The exchange only deepened the scrutiny on Reform UK, with fellow panellist Mike Tapp also criticising Yusuf’s tone.

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Zia Yusuf, Reform UK Party Policy Director(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)

Following Yusuf’s explanation, Mr Tapp — Labour MP for Dover and Deal — reminded him: “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.” His remark was met with applause, and the original questioner smiled appreciatively.

The man had explained he began working for the NHS in 1974 and that his team had long depended on staff from overseas. He said the care sector, too, relies heavily on migrant workers, and expressed concern that Reform UK’s plans could push these workers out, harming health and social care.

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Mr Yusuf, who left the Conservatives to join Reform UK, rejected that interpretation. “No, that is not at all what Reform is suggesting,” he said. “My mother is a care home worker and has been for years. We have announced an acute skilled-shortage visa specifically for sectors like the care sector. I know the care sector well because my mother has worked in it for years, and I know how hard those people work.”