Commentator Tim Montgomerie has resigned from Reform UK, urging Nigel Farage to "get a grip" and rein in figures such as home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf, whom he accused of harbouring leadership ambitions. Montgomerie's party membership had already been suspended after he criticised Farage, and rather than appeal the ban he chose to quit outright. His departure highlights growing tension within Reform, which is grappling with donor scrutiny, softening poll numbers and reported infighting, and comes as the party faces questions over how it is managing internal dissent and its shift towards harder-line rhetoric.

Montgomerie, a former Conservative member and ex-editor of ConservativeHome, said he wanted Reform to resemble itself rather than Germany's far-right AfD, and praised Farage for previously blocking Tommy Robinson from joining the party. He has repeatedly clashed with Yusuf, including telling a Spectator podcast that Yusuf "cannot behave like a child in politics", and suggested Farage should recognise that Yusuf is "running to replace him as leader". The row comes amid a wider party split over masked anti-migrant protests in Dover and Portsmouth, with Farage and deputy Richard Tice condemning the "thugs" involved, while Yusuf visited Portsmouth to speak to protesters and criticised Tory leader Kemi Badenoch for using similar language.