STORY
Reform UK has suspended political commentator Tim Montgomerie from the party after he publicly criticised senior figures including leader Nigel Farage and home affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf. Reform confirmed that Montgomerie had been suspended in line with party rules following a series of public interventions in which he questioned the conduct and political judgement of figures at the top of the party.
Montgomerie, the founder of ConservativeHome who joined Reform UK after leaving the Conservatives in 2024, had criticised Farage for failing to attend the count at the recent Clacton by-election and had also challenged his response to scrutiny surrounding a £5 million financial gift. He separately criticised Yusuf, arguing that the Reform home affairs spokesperson needed to operate more effectively as part of a team and questioning his handling of relationships with other senior figures.
A senior Reform source said the party’s General Secretary and Chairman had received complaints over Montgomerie’s behaviour and conduct over a period of months and argued that internal disagreements should take place privately rather than through the national media. Montgomerie has said he intends to appeal the suspension and claimed Farage had not known about the decision beforehand. He said the appeal would test whether the party was able to tolerate constructive criticism from within its ranks.