Ta-ta Tim - Montgomerie retires from Reform

It is with some regret that Rats in a Sack has to report that one of the great political duos of our time has come to an end – Tim Montgomerie and Nigel Farage have gone their separate ways.

The political activist was suspended from Reform last month after making the error of going public with his concerns about Farage’s leadership of the party. Now he has formally quit after suggesting that Reform wanted him back in the party, but without the bells and whistles of formally announcing it.

His decision to resign apparently came after a conversation with party chair Lee Anderson on Tuesday. “I think they wanted me back in the party, but meekly,” he told the BBC. “And I wasn’t prepared to do that.”

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Farage’s party saw the capture of Montgomerie, who had been a member of the Conservative Party for 33 years, as a coup when they announced it amid much fanfare in December 2024. They called it a “special announcement” and posted a picture of Montgomerie beaming with leader Nigel Farage and chairman Zia Yusuf on social media. Covering it, the Spectator said: “The ravens really are leaving the Tower.”

But now, after less than two years, Montgomerie has left after discovering, to his horror, that Reform is a shambles.

Last month he was suspended after telling the BBC he was frustrated at Farage’s “aggrieved” tone after the Clacton by-election, followed immediately by going on a Spectator podcast and saying that the party’s self-styled “shadow home secretary” Zia Yusuf was not a “team player”. Reform said he had been suspended “in line with party rules” after public criticism of the party.

Now he has quit, saying: “I want to still be a supporter, but that requires them being more like Reform and less like the AfD.”

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“Nigel needs to get a grip, he needs to lead the party,” he said. “The one thing he’s been brilliant at is policing the right and stopping Tommy Robinson joining. But for the sake of his legacy and the sake of decency he needs to sort it out, and bring people like Zia under control.”

For their part, a Reform UK spokesman said: “We wish Tim the best for the future and thank him for his support.”

Montgomerie has insisted he has no intention of rejoining the Conservative Party. So expect him to be pictured beaming alongside Kemi Badenoch and chair Kevin Hollinrake in five, four, three…