Zia Yusuf has been mocked at the Liberal Democrats’ autumn conference for supposedly being blocked from running for parliament by his own party. Reform UK’s home affairs spokesperson is a prominent politician known for his divisive online presence, but he is not actually an MP. However, Yusuf suggested to BBC Question Time earlier this year that he may have put himself forward as a party candidate in a recent by-election only to not be selected by Reform. So the Lib Dems’ home affairs spokesperson, Max Wilkinson, took aim at the right-wing politician while speaking to his own party delegates on Monday. He described Yusuf as the “angriest man on the internet”, adding: “Isn’t he just totally ridiculous? “The wannabe MP who spends so much time on X posting increasingly extreme and offensive ideas that even the Reform Party now has to block his route to parliament. “It’s no wonder he’s so angry.” The Cheltenham MP then challenged Yusuf to a debate, adding: “You’re a self-style hardman of politics. You’re always up for a scrap. As you can probably tell, I’m not afraid to mix it either. “So when are we going to debate, Zia? Or are you a big chicken?” Reform UK has been approached for comment. Zia Yusuf, Reform UK home affairs spokesperson attends a press conference setting out plans to remove foreign nationals from British prisons in a bid to ease overcrowding. There have been seven by-elections since Reform’s surprising success in the July 2024 general election, but Yusuf has not been selected by his party in any of them. Instead he has become a well-known name on X, having caused multiple controversies by attacking other politicians – including those in his own party. At the weekend, he hit out at “deadbeat Tory ministers” who he claimed had failed to cut down on immigration – words which many took as a criticism of ex-Conservative MPs, Suella Braverman and Robert Jenrick. He has been accused of racism after slamming a former child refugee and a Labour council leader because she was born in Somalia. Yusuf also previously called former Tory defence secretary Ben Wallace – who served in the Army – a “traitor” to the UK. His remarks have drawn criticism from within his own party, including from Farage who previously said he would give Yusuf a “ticking off” for his “over the top” language. Former Tory cabinet minister and now Reform member Nadine Dorries also told Times Radio earlier this month: “I think Zia’s got a problem with Twitter. Someone needs to take his phone off him.” Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster. Related... Zia Yusuf Takes Aim At 'Deadbeat Tory Ministers' In Swipe At Reform Colleagues Zia Yusuf Hit With Brutal 3-Word Reminder By Tory Chairman After Attack On Migrants Reform Civil War Erupts Again As Senior Figure Quits Party With Blast At Zia Yusuf