Political commentator Tim Montgomerie has announced his resignation from Reform UK, calling on party leader Nigel Farage to “get a grip” of the party. Mr Montgomerie, who defected from the Conservative Party 18 months ago, was suspended from Reform UK last month following public criticism of senior figures.

Montgomerie’s Resignation and Criticisms

Mr Montgomerie’s decision to resign came after a conversation with Reform’s party chair, Lee Anderson, on Tuesday. He told the BBC that he believed the party wished him to return “meekly,” a condition he was unwilling to accept. Despite his resignation, Mr Montgomerie stated he still plans to support Reform and has no intention of re-joining the Conservatives, telling the BBC that he wanted the party to be “more like Reform and less like the AfD” (BBC).

His suspension last month was due to criticisms, including comments made on a podcast where he suggested Reform’s home affairs spokesman, Zia Yusuf, was not a “team player.” Mr Montgomerie also expressed frustration with Mr Farage’s “aggrieved” tone after the Clacton by-election. Reform UK confirmed at the time that his suspension was “in line with party rules” following his public comments.

Call for Leadership and Future Direction

Following his departure, Mr Montgomerie emphasised that Nigel Farage needs to assert his authority and “lead the party,” specifically calling for him to bring people like Zia Yusuf “under control.” He acknowledged Mr Farage’s past success in “policing the right and stopping [far-right activist] Tommy Robinson joining,” but urged him to “sort it out” for the sake of his legacy and decency (HuffPost UK).

Mr Montgomerie described Reform as being “at a junction,” noting that “they haven’t replaced the Conservatives which was plan A.” He voiced concerns about a potential “battle of attrition” between the two parties and questioned Reform’s ultimate ambition: “Does Reform want to be a party of government or does it want to stand at the edge and just change the debate?”

His comparison to Germany’s AfD, a far-right party that recently won a decisive victory in Saxony-Anhalt and advocates for controversial “remigration” policies (understood as mass deportations of migrants), highlighted his concerns about Reform’s direction. This came in the wake of recent demonstrations against migrants in Dover and Portsmouth linked to Tommy Robinson.

Expressing his personal feelings, Mr Montgomerie said he felt “very sad about it” and “battered by it,” adding, “When you get older there’s less fight in you.”

Background and Reform’s Response

Mr Montgomerie joined Reform UK after a significant career as a Conservative adviser and commentator, during which he also ran the ConservativeHome website.

In response to his resignation, a Reform UK spokesman stated: “We wish Tim the best for the future and thank him for his support.”