Reform's Zia Yusuf branded 'racist clown' by Piers Morgan after post about Labour politician

Reform's Zia Yusuf branded 'racist clown' by Piers Morgan after post about Labour politician Reform's home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf has come under fire after attacking a Labour politician tipped to stand in a by-election to replace Keir Starmer next month A senior Reform figure has been dismissed as a "racist clown" by Piers Morgan after attacking a Labour politician tipped to stand in Keir Starmer's old seat. Zia Yusuf, who describes himself as shadow home secretary despite not being an MP, shared a picture of Camden Council leader Sagal Abdi-Wali and whined that she was born in Somalia. London Labour MPs have called on Reform to condemn the comment, and said police should assess whether it should be treated as inciting hatred. Ms Abdi-Wali, a governor at two local schools and a volunteer and trustee at charities in North London, has been linked with the vacant Holborn and St Pancras constituency. A by-election will be held next month after Mr Starmer announced he was stepping down. On Wednesday evening Mr Yusuf wrote: "The front runner being foisted on the people of Holborn by Labour to replace the former Prime Minister Keir Starmer in our Parliament was born in Somalia. Do you understand what’s happening?" It sparked a wave of condemnation, with TV host Mr Morgan responded: "So disgusting. You’re the son of Sri Lankan Muslim immigrants to the UK, you racist clown." Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey wrote: "This is racism, straight out of the Trump playbook. Reform are trying to turn our great country into a franchise of Trump's America. There are countless British patriots who came here from overseas, many of them refugees we proudly welcomed. That's the kind of country we are." Labour MP Dawn Butler and fellow London MPs have written to Reform's chairman, Lee Anderson urging the party to act. In the letter, shared on social media, she wrote: "We condemn his post, which we believe to be racist, in the strongest possible terms. "Councillor Sagal Abdi-Wali is British, who came to this country as a child refugee and has lived here for decades. She has served her community with dedication as a local councillor and is now the leader of Camden Council. Her story is inspiring, and one we should be proud of. "To suggest that her place of birth should somehow determine whether she is fit to represent Holburn and St Pancras in Parliament is deeply offensive, divisive and wrong. It is exactly the kind of politics that we should reject. "Following the horrific murder of Ann Widdecombe, and at a time when abuse toward politicans is sadly on the rise, this rhetoric is dangerous and irresponsible." And it went on to urge the Met Police to look at whether the post meets the threshold for stirring up racial hatred. The letter states: "We also urge the Metropolitan Police to assess whether the post meets the legal threshold for an offence of stirring up racial hatred. That is a matter for the police to determine, but allegations of this nature must be taken seriously." Ms Abdi-Wali arrived in Camden as a child refugee, and has lived in the borough most of her life. Before becoming council leader she was the authority's cabinet member for housing. On Thursday morning Nigel Farage's number two, Richard Tice, struggled to defend his colleague. Asked on Times Radio what Mr Yusuf meant, he said: "It's a question of if that person is selected, it's a question of fact, whether they're born in Somalia or not." And pressed further, he said: "Frankly, that is of little interest to voters up and down the country." And Mr Tice continued: "At the end of the day, everybody is their own individual. I don't control other people's tweets and they don't control my tweets. You know, we do live in a free country and a free society." The Mirror has contacted Reform UK for comment.