Zia Yusuf was blocked from standing for Reform UK in a recent by-election. Yusuf, the party’s Home Affairs spokesperson, suggested that any accusation that he had been unwilling to “put his head above the parapet” was a big “presumption”.

The former party chairman made the claim whilst appearing on BBC’s Question Time, was responding to criticism from Conservative Party Chairman Kevin Hollinrake, who accused him of hypocrisy for never standing for public office whilst simultaneously criticising those who have. Hollinrake asked: “Why have you not stood in some of the by-elections, the opportunities you’ve had round the country to get elected?”

Yusuf shot back cryptically: “It is interesting that you think all of the country’s problems seem to be down to whether I have stood in a by-election or not.

“What makes you think I never put myself above the parapet?”

When presented with the fact that he had not been named as a candidate in any by-election in recent years, Yusuf responded: “So anybody that wishes to stand in a by-election automatically gets the chance to do so?

“Maybe that is what happens in the Conservative Party where it is just cronyism and nothing else matters, mate, but I think you have made a lot of big assumptions.”

He added: “We have a process for standing in parliamentary by-elections and all I would say is that coming after me for not standing in a parliamentary by-election is incorrect and hugely presumptuous.”

Yusuf avoided being drawn into answering whether he had or had not put himself forward for candidacy, despite being asked repeatedly by Hollinrake, Labour MP Emily Thornberry and host Fiona Bruce.

Bruce ended the segment by asking: “Just to be clear because this is new information, what you are telling us tonight Zia is that you have requested to stand in a by-election but you haven’t been selected.”

He responded: “What I am telling you is that the presumption that I have not put myself forward is a presumption and it is inaccurate.”

Bruce concluded: “I am taking from what you have said that you have put your name forward to stand in a by-election but you have not been selected. If I am wrong tell me now.”

Yusuf then remained silent. Yusuf did not specify which by-election he was barred from standing in.

The revelations came on a Question Time special in which a public audience posed questions about the likely installation of Andy Burnham as Prime Minister, the need for a general election sooner than 2029 and the impact of Brexit in making the UK “ungovernable”.