Hosting regular-season US sports events has proved a massive money-spinner to London in recent years, with the playing of basketball, baseball and what the Americans insist on calling football bringing millions to the capital.
The 2024 MLB London series – the hosting of two baseball games at West Ham United’s London Stadium – brought over £56 million in direct economic impact to London, while the NFL has generated an estimated £600 million in spectator spending since 2007. So why are Reform suggesting they might scrap it?
Reacting to a post on X by London mayor Sadiq Khan saying that “London is ready for the NBA” ahead of a game between the Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic at the O2, Yusuf wrote: “One day we will have a Mayor of London who will celebrate Britain, England, London and our own culture.”
Leaving aside that Reform’s own candidate to be the capital’s mayor, Laila Cunningham, is said to be basketball-obsessed, would Yusuf prefer to see such games, and the vast revenue they bring, take place in Munich or Dublin instead? And what traditional English sports would he like in their place? Shove Ha’penny? Welly wanging?
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Yusuf also spent the weekend hitting out at politicians being civil with people they disagree with, reacting angrily to a behind-the-scenes picture from Laura Kuenssberg’s BBC show showing the presenter and guests former chancellor Jeremy Hunt, West Yorkshire mayor Tracy Brabin and broadcaster Kay Burley smiling together.
“As someone who entered politics 18 months ago, I’ve been shocked at just how pally and cosy politicians from legacy parties are with each other in green rooms,” he wrote. “They laugh at how ill informed they think voters are, catch up like all friends, then go on panels and pretend to oppose each other… they’re globalist, open borders Britain-hating traitors.” Heaven forfend grown adults should be polite to each other!
The reason Yusuf is behaving like a bear with a sore head might be because he’s less delighted with Robert Jenricks’s defection than he’s letting on. While boasting in the media that Jenrick joining his party “makes it more likely that we win the next general election”, Yusuf is known to have misgivings and the pair have history. Last year Jenrick accused Zia Yusuf of “bullshit” after he said that a member of his team “accidentally pressed like” on an antisemitic X post attacking Jenrick’s wife, who is Jewish.
Still, at least they’ve now also got Andrew Rosindell, the Romford MP who has also made the journey from the Tories to Reform. Although his former party did respond by saying: “The Conservative Party supported Rosindell throughout his many troubles, and he’s responded by stabbing his friends, colleagues and activists in the back.” Whatever can they mean?
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