𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Reform UK rebel Tim Montgomerie has vowed to fight his suspension from the party. The political commentator was booted out after public criticism of Reform and senior figures.

His suspension came days after he hit out at Zia Yusuf and accused him of behaving “like a child” after he sparked a row by attacking former Tory Defence Secretary Ben Wallace on social media. Mr Montgomerie, who founded the Conservative Home website but defected to Reform in 2024, also criticised Nigel Farage’s “aggrieved tone” after winning the Clacton by-election.

Speaking to BBC Newsnight, Mr Montgomerie said: “I am going to fight this suspension. I want to stay in Reform. I didn’t leave the Conservative Party lightly.

“I think Reform can reach parts of the country that the Conservative Party never will be able to, so I’m going to fight my corner in Reform, and I’m going to make this a test case of whether it is a party that can tolerate free speech and dissent.”

Mr Montgomerie’s criticism of Zia Yusuf came after Reform’s home affairs spokesman branded Mr Wallace as a “traitor” in comments that were slapped down by Mr Farage.

Speaking on the Spectator’s Coffee House podcast, he said: “There are a lot of people who are on no speaking terms with Zia, and it’s nearly always Zia who initiates it, and it needs to end. You cannot behave like a child in politics.”

He added that Mr Yusuf “has so many qualities” but added that he needs to be a “team player”.

In a statement on X after his suspension, Mr Montgomerie insisted he was trying to make Reform “better and stronger” with his public criticisms.