Exclusive

Tory party Deputy Chairman Jonathan Gullis pictured campaigning with convicted heroin dealer

29 May 2024, 16:00 | Updated: 29 May 2024, 18:29

Stoke on Trent North MP, Jonathan Gullis pictured with Yasser Hussain, who was jailed for eight years in 2006
Stoke on Trent North MP, Jonathan Gullis pictured with Yasser Hussain, who was jailed for eight years in 2006. Picture: Alamy/Social Media
Natasha Clark

By Natasha Clark

A Deputy Chairman of the Tory party has been pictured campaigning with a convicted heroin dealer.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Labour accused the Stoke on Trent North MP, Jonathan Gullis, of hypocrisy and betraying victims of drugs crimes after a string of photos emerged of him alongside a notorious drugs kingpin.

Former trainee solicitor, Yasser Hussain, was jailed for eight years in 2006 after being found guilty of masterminding a drug gang in Stoke-on-Trent and beyond.

Cops seized 4kg of heroin with an estimated street value of £400,000 – and several others were jailed alongside him.

Detective Inspector Mark Abbotts, who led the investigation, said at the time: "Hussain was the head of a gang involved in the large-scale supply of heroin in Stoke-on-Trent and further afield. It's only fitting that he received this substantial sentence.”

Richard Holden, the Tory Party chair, told LBC's Andrew Marr this evening: “I’ve not had a chance to speak to Jonathan about it yet. I know what he’s said that he was just doing some visits in his local community.

“I have no idea about the nature of the relationship beyond that. Sometimes politicians…wherever I go on a campaign event, there’s somebody who I don’t know who wants to have a selfie with me.”

He continued: “I don’t know the exact nature of it.”

Mr Gullis pictured with former trainee solicitor, Yasser Hussain, who was jailed for eight years in 2006 after being found guilty of masterminding a drug gang in Stoke-on-Trent
Mr Gullis pictured with former trainee solicitor, Yasser Hussain, who was jailed for eight years in 2006 after being found guilty of masterminding a drug gang in Stoke-on-Trent. Picture: Social Media

A photo of Mr Gullis sitting on a sofa beside Hussain was taken in December 2022.

Further photos show former teacher Mr Gullis, 34, who was made one of the deputy chairmen of the Tory Party after Lee Anderson defected to Reform earlier this year, celebrating a local council win with Mr Hussein in 2021, and attending events with other locals in the area.

Read more: Diane Abbott barred by Labour from standing for the party at the general election

He was also snapped celebrating Mr Gullis' win in 2019 when he was first elected as a Red Wall MP in Stoke.

Mr Gullis previously described drug dealers and those committing anti-social behaviour in his area as "savages", "scroats" and "scumbags" in a video filmed in his constituency.

Hussain pictured in his mugshot when he was jailed in 2006
Hussain pictured in his mugshot when he was jailed in 2006. Picture: Police
Hussain pictured at the Moorcroft by-election count in 2021.
Hussain pictured at the Moorcroft by-election count in 2021. Picture: Stoke Sentinel

A Labour source told LBC: “The gross hypocrisy of Sunak’s Party has once again been exposed, this time betraying the victims of these dangerous drug gangs.

“Whilst Labour has pledged to toughen up and extend closure powers for drug dens, Rishi Sunak’s own Deputy Chairman is welcoming a heroin dealer into his inner circle.”

Read more: ‘Cutting NHS waiting lists is our priority’: Starmer unveils ‘first steps’ for Government if elected into Downing Street

Tory insiders said he’d been invited to various events by local Tories but stressed that he wasn’t a member of the party.

Pictures uploaded to social media in 2019 show Hussain alongside Jonathan Gullis celebrating his election as a Red Wall MP in Stoke.
Pictures uploaded to social media in 2019 show Hussain alongside Jonathan Gullis celebrating his election as a Red Wall MP in Stoke. Picture: Social Media

A spokesman for Mr Gullis told LBC: “Jonathan has attended many events with the local Muslim community in Stoke-on-Trent. It was while engaging with the local Muslim population that Jonathan met Mr Hussain.”

LBC has reached out to Mr Hussain for comment.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

A man walks past empty shelves in a branch of the Co-op in Manchester following the major cyber attack.

Major UK supermarket offering 25% off £40 shops in ‘thank you’ to members after cyber attack

Cyclists are sending a record amount of video footage to police after being overtaken too closely by motorists, new figures show.

Cyclists sending record number of videos to police after being overtaken too closely by drivers, figures show

Exclusive
Suspended chief constable Nick Adderley

Disgraced police chief Nick Adderley slammed for ‘unacceptable’ role in Harry Dunn case

Grenfell tower cover in white tarpaulin

Government pressed over why Grenfell cladding ‘crooks’ not behind bars

Donald Trump is said to be considering joining Israel in striking Iran

Trump 'considering US strike on Iran' - hours after claiming to know supreme leader's location

The biggest lottery prize the UK has seen could still be won after Tuesday’s EuroMillions draw had no winners.

EuroMillions record £208 million jackpot won by single ticket holder

Referee David Coote has been sacked.

Sacked Premier League referee David Coote charged by FA over ‘German c***’ Jurgen Klopp comments

Exclusive
Relatives of the Palestinians killed in Israeli attack, mourn as they carry the bodies to Nasser hospital for funeral procedures in Khan Yunis

Israeli Ambassador denies IDF is 'targeting civilians' as medics say 59 Palestinians killed by IDF at aid distribution centre

The man given a restraining order for stalking British number one Emma Raducanu has been caught trying to obtain tickets for this summer’s Wimbledon.

Emma Raducanu stalker caught trying to obtain Wimbledon tickets after tennis star was left 'shaken' by 'fixated' man

Eight-month-old Mabli had just said a final goodbye to her paternal grandmother Betty Hall, who was receiving end-of-life care at the Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest.

Driver who ran over and killed eight-month-old baby in pram has sentence cut

Exclusive
UK 'not going to be involved' in 'protecting' Israel during Iran conflict, Israeli ambassador confirms

UK 'not going to be involved' in 'protecting' Israel during Iran conflict, Israeli ambassador tells LBC

Abortion rights actvists gather outside the parliament in support of decriminalisation.

MPs vote to decriminalise abortion in England and Wales in historic Commons vote

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander is placed under arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and FBI agents outside federal immigration court on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, in New York.

New York mayoral candidate Brad Lander arrested and detained by ICE amid Donald Trump's immigration crackdown

Trump not planning to attack Iran, Starmer insists as US President says he won't kill Supreme Leader 'for now'

Trump 'not planning to attack Iran', Starmer insists as US President says he won't kill Supreme Leader 'for now'

Dame Katherine Grainger

Olympic gold medallist Katherine Grainger and former Cabinet Secretary Simon Case given peerages

Matheus Cunha signs his Manchester United contract

When does the summer 2025 transfer window open and close?