Gawain Towler predicts ‘orchestrated’ unrest across Britain as party undergoes dramatic reshuffle with TV doctor David Bull replacing Zia Yusuf as chairman after ‘burqa row’ resignation
A former Reform UK spokesman has warned that “hard-left” groups could orchestrate widespread unrest across Britain if Nigel Farage’s party wins the next general election, drawing comparisons to recent disturbances in Los Angeles.
Gawain Towler told GB News that whoever leads Reform’s home affairs brief must prepare for demonstrations similar to those seen in LA, predicting organised protests would emerge as a response to a potential Reform victory.
The veteran political strategist, who served as Reform’s head of press until last year, delivered the stark warning as the party unveiled TV presenter David Bull as its new chairman following last week’s dramatic resignation of Zia Yusuf.
‘THEY WILL NOT ACCEPT IT’
Towler said: “One thing I was thinking, whoever is in charge of home affairs for Reform UK, going into the election and coming out of the election must be prepared for very similar behaviour to LA in this country.
“It will be orchestrated by the hard left, because they will not accept a Reform victory in the election.
“They will do everything they can. They try it now. There’s always demonstrations where we go.
So I think whoever is in charge of the home affairs brief for Reform going into that election and coming out of the election will have to be prepared for this, and the police will have to also be prepared for it.
FARAGE’S ‘GREAT FUN’ RESHUFFLE
The warning comes as Reform UK attempts to steady the ship after a week of chaos that saw chairman Zia Yusuf sensationally quit before performing an embarrassing U-turn 48 hours later.
Former TalkTV presenter and medical doctor David Bull, 56, was today unveiled as the party’s new chairman at a Westminster press conference, with Farage declaring he would bring “terrific verve, energy, enthusiasm” to the role.
It’s going to be great fun,” the Reform leader added, attempting to put a brave face on the turmoil.
Bull, who previously presented shows including “Most Haunted Live!”, joked about using his “skills in the paranormal to dig around and find skeletons in the closet of the Conservative Party and the Labour Party.
BURQA ROW CHAOS
Yusuf’s departure as chairman came after he branded new Reform MP Sarah Pochin “dumb” for asking Prime Minister Keir Starmer about banning the burqa during her debut at PMQs – despite it not even being party policy.
The 38-year-old millionaire businessman initially declared that working to get a Reform government elected was not “a good use of my time” before sheepishly returning to a new role leading the party’s “UK DOGE” unit, mimicking Elon Musk’s cost-cutting department.
Speaking at today’s press conference, a chastened Yusuf said he was “hugely excited” about Bull taking over, adding: “I wholeheartedly congratulate him and I know he’s going to do an incredible job for us.”
Farage revealed he had “forgiven” Yusuf, claiming he had been “exhausted” and “lost his rag” under pressure, including facing “racist abuse online unlike I think anybody in modern politics has ever had to put up with.
STARMER ‘TAKES THE KNEE’
Towler’s warning about potential unrest follows his criticism of Keir Starmer’s handling of protests, particularly after Reform’s recent rally in Cornwall was targeted by masked demonstrators from the group “Cornwall Resists.
The former spokesman accused the Prime Minister of failing to condemn “hard-left violence,” claiming: “During the BLM [Black Lives Matter] riots, he took the knee, he didn’t condemn.
“He doesn’t condemn hard-left violence, he takes the knee to it. It’s absolutely outrageous. He does not condemn all violence.”
The antifascist group had organised what they called a “noisy protest” aimed at shutting down Reform’s event, stating they wanted to ensure “Cornwall is not an easy breeding ground for far-right hatred.
REFORM’S GROWING PAINS
The leadership turmoil comes as Reform UK continues to lead in many national opinion polls, ahead of both Labour and the Conservatives, making Towler’s warning about potential unrest more pertinent.
Rather than appointing a direct successor to all of Yusuf’s former responsibilities, Reform is splitting the role into multiple posts, including a new head of operations and head of treasury.
Bull’s appointment represents a return to more familiar faces after Yusuf’s tumultuous reign, which saw him praised for “professionalising” the party but criticised for “struggling with relationships and people.
Former Leave.EU co-founder Arron Banks, who was considered a frontrunner for the chairman role, posted that “the corks will be popping in party HQ” after Yusuf’s resignation, adding that while he “worked very hard,” he “struggled with relationships and people.
PREPARING FOR POWER?
Towler’s comments suggest Reform is already thinking seriously about the practical challenges of potentially forming a government, including dealing with civil unrest from opponents.
The comparison to Los Angeles, where recent disturbances have grabbed headlines, paints a picture of potentially serious disorder that authorities would need to prepare for.
His warning that “the police will have to also be prepared for it” indicates concerns that law enforcement may struggle to handle orchestrated protests from what he describes as “hard-left” groups refusing to accept democratic outcomes.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
As Reform attempts to move past its internal dramas and capitalise on its strong polling position, the question of how authorities would handle potential unrest becomes increasingly relevant.
With Bull now at the helm as chairman, the party will hope to present a more stable front to voters while preparing for what Towler suggests could be a turbulent path to power.
Whether his predictions of “LA-style” unrest prove accurate remains to be seen, but his warning serves as a reminder of the deep divisions in British politics and the potential for democratic outcomes to be challenged on the streets.
