Former Reform UK ally quits amid internal party turmoil
A former key ally of Nigel Farage and prominent figure within Reform UK has left the party after a public confrontation following his suspension, reports BritPanorama.
A civil war erupted within the party after Tim Montgomerie, a commentator and senior party figure, was suspended last month due to public criticism of Reform UK’s home affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf.
Mr Montgomerie told the BBC’s Newsnight that he intended to fight his suspension, but this week he announced he had resigned from the party altogether.
He indicated to the BBC that the party expected him to return “meekly,” a demand he stated he was “wasn’t prepared to do.”
Having joined Reform UK in 2024 after 33 years with the Conservative Party, Mr Montgomerie expressed ongoing support for the party but warned that Mr Farage “needs to get a grip” on its direction.
“Nigel needs to get a grip, he needs to lead the party,” he urged. “The one thing he’s been brilliant at is policing the right and stopping [far-right activist] Tommy Robinson joining.”
He further remarked on social media that while he still envisioned Mr Farage as the next prime minister, achieving this would depend on the party “rejecting all imitations of Restore” and “professionalising its HQ urgently.”
Mr Montgomerie suggested his non-member status might make it easier for him to advocate for these changes, following his suspension, which he deemed a product of impulsive decisions by party officials.
Prior to his suspension, he had been vocal in his criticism of Mr Yusuf, even implying in a podcast that “Nigel has fallen out of love with Zia.”
The conflict intensified when Mr Farage criticized Mr Yusuf for labelling a former Tory defence secretary a “traitor” and for comments regarding Ben Wallace’s actions following the UK’s withdrawal from Afghanistan.
On The Spectator’s Coffee House Shots podcast, Mr Montgomerie described Mr Farage’s criticism as unprecedented, questioning why Mr Yusuf did not retract the tweet that drew such ire. “He wouldn’t. He’s loyal to Nigel as he has to be if he wants to succeed him, but in terms of being able to really play as a team player…”
Mr Montgomerie alluded to Mr Yusuf’s tendency to freelance on social media, including by associating with Conservative candidates, even amid differing party policies.
Reports suggest that Mr Yusuf was aware of Mr Montgomerie’s suspension prior to the podcast airing, following a series of public critiques of the party.
Mr Montgomerie further revealed that they had been at odds after Mr Yusuf discovered he had aided Robert Jenrick’s defection to Reform, accusing him of acting “like a child.”
“A lot of people are on not-speaking terms with Zia, and it’s nearly always Zia who initiates it,” he noted. “It needs to end. You cannot behave like a child in politics.”
