A Cabinet minister has accused Reform UK's Zia Yusuf of "pretty straightforward racism" after he made comments about a potential Labour by-election candidate, Sagal Abdi-Wali, who was born in Somalia. The remarks were made in a social media post on X, where Yusuf questioned the background of the candidate, who is seen as a strong contender to replace former Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the Holborn and St Pancras constituency. Abdi-Wali, a former child refugee from Somalia, is currently the leader of Camden Council and has spent decades in the UK, making significant contributions to her local community. Yusuf's post, which has been viewed over 8 million times, stated: "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?" In response, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds called the comment "pretty straightforward racism" during an interview on Sky News's Sunday Morning programme. Reynolds highlighted that Abdi-Wali has lived in the UK for many years and has made a substantial contribution to her community. Reform UK's economic spokesman, Robert Jenrick, rejected the claim that Yusuf's remarks were racist. He argued that it is legitimate to question the loyalties of foreign-born candidates. Jenrick stated that while he did not know Abdi-Wali personally, he believed it was important to have representatives in Parliament who are fully committed to the UK's interests. He emphasized that the focus should be on whether candidates prioritize Britain's interests over other countries. Labour has criticized Yusuf's comments, with several Reform UK figures also expressing disapproval during the party's recent conference in Birmingham. Nadine Dorries, a former Conservative minister who joined Reform UK, called the post "nasty," while Laila Cunningham, Reform's mayoral candidate for London and the daughter of Egyptian immigrants, admitted she did not understand the intent behind the comment. Abdi-Wali, who arrived in the UK as a child refugee, has been a prominent figure in Camden for over a decade, working with local charities and serving as a councillor and council leader. Labour is expected to announce its candidate for the by-election soon, facing competition from the Green Party.