Political commentator Tim Montgomerie has resigned from Reform UK after being suspended last month for publicly criticising senior party figures.
Montgomerie, who defected from the Conservative Party 18 months ago, told the BBC that his decision followed a conversation with Reform chair Lee Anderson on Tuesday. He said the party appeared to want him to return “meekly”, but that he was not prepared to do so.
He said he still planned to support Reform and had no intention of rejoining the Conservatives. However, he urged leader Nigel Farage to take a stronger grip of the party and make it more professional.
“Nigel needs to get a grip, he needs to lead the party,” Montgomerie said. He also called for Reform’s home affairs spokesman, Zia Yusuf, to be brought “under control”.
Montgomerie said he wanted Reform to be “more like Reform and less like the AfD”, referring to Germany’s right-wing Alternative for Germany party. He said the party faced an important choice over whether it wanted to become a party of government or focus on changing the political debate from the sidelines.
He said he felt “very sad” about leaving and “battered” by the dispute.
Montgomerie was suspended last month after criticising senior figures, including Farage and Yusuf. At the time, Reform said the suspension had been made “in line with party rules”. Montgomerie said he continued to believe in Reform’s policies and membership, and that his public criticisms had been intended to make the party “better and stronger”.
A Reform UK spokesman said: “We wish Tim the best for the future and thank him for his support.”
Montgomerie previously worked as a Conservative adviser and ran the ConservativeHome website.