A Muslim entrepreneur has donated hundreds of thousands of pounds to Reform U.K., saying migrants who came to Britain legally are dismayed that “we have lost control of our borders”. The Telegraph has the story.
Zia Yusuf, who co-founded the luxury concierge app Velocity Black before selling it last year for £233 million, believes Nigel Farage alone has the policies to heal the “broken” country.
Mr. Yusuf’s donation to Reform, the biggest of the election campaign so far, is a major coup for a party which faces regular accusations of racism from its critics.
It is also a blow to the Conservatives, as the entrepreneur is a former member of the Tory Party but now thinks they are unable to make the “hard decisions”.
The 37-year-old, whose parents came to Britain from Sri Lanka in the 1980s and forged careers in the NHS, said the “vast majority of Muslims” in the country are patriots who believe net migration is too high.
He told the Telegraph: “My parents came here legally. When I talk to my friends they are as affronted as anyone by illegal Channel crossings, which are an affront to all hard-working British people but not least the migrants who played by the rules and came legally.
“I think Britain can be an amazing country, it’s the country of Dyson and DeepMind, but we have completely lost control of our borders, that is just factually correct.”
Mr. Yusuf claimed net migration was at 50,000 when his parents arrived in Britain, which made assimilation easier.
“Last year it was 650,000 and that’s causing the NHS to buckle under pressure, despite us spending more than we have ever spent on it. We are also not building enough homes to cope with the growing population.” …
He has no time for people who dismiss Reform’s policies as racist.
“I am a businessman, an entrepreneur, and I have come across racism and Islamophobia so I know what it looks like,” he said.
“Having spent time with Nigel Farage it’s clear to me that he wants the best for Britain and its people, no matter their religion or skin colour.
“No-one is more aware than I am of the contribution immigrants can make. My parents came here 40 years ago and they travelled all over the country to find work and advance their careers.”
Mr. Farage said: “I met Zia many years ago and know how devoted to this country he is. Aside from his generosity, he will be a great asset and media performer during this campaign and beyond.”
Worth reading in full.
To join in with the discussion please make a donation to The Daily Sceptic.
Profanity and abuse will be removed and may lead to a permanent ban.