Reform UK's deputy leader Richard Tice defends suspension of a top supporter as he denies his party is appearing 'thin-skinned' over criticism

By GREG HEFFER, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT Published: 12:51, 20 August 2026 | Updated: 12:56, 20 August 2026 Reform UK's deputy leader Richard Tice today defended the suspension of a top supporter as he denied the party is appearing 'thin-skinned' over criticism. Tim Montgomerie, a political commentator, this week had his Reform membership suspended after he labelled Zia Yusuf, the party's home affairs spokesman, a 'child'. He issued the rebuke as he criticised the senior Reform figure's prolific use of social media and agreed with claims that party leader Nigel Farage has 'fallen out of love' with Mr Yusuf. Mr Montgomerie was also recently critical of Mr Farage's 'puzzling' decision not to attend the declaration of the Clacton by-election result. And he has said the Reform leader 'cannot hide away' from questions about his £5million donation from a Thailand-based crypto-billionaire. Mr Montgomerie is the former editor of the ConservativeHome website, who also briefly served as an adviser to Boris Johnson in Downing Street. He quit the Tories in December 2024 to join Reform and has since been one of the party's most prominent supporters. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday morning, Mr Tice suggested action had been taken against Mr Montgomerie by party officials for going public with his criticisms. Reform UK's deputy leader Richard Tice today defended the suspension of a top supporter as he denied the party is appearing 'thin-skinned' over criticism Tim Montgomerie, a political commentator, this week had his Reform membership suspended after he labelled Zia Yusuf, the party's home affairs spokesman, a 'child'  Mr Tice told reporters: 'With regard to other matters, Tim, and things, we're a fast-growing political party. 'There'll be a range of views, and sometimes we'll agree, and sometimes we'll have a debate and discussion. 'That's what you do in business. That's what you do in a boardroom. That's what you do when you're brainstorming. 'But what we've always said is that actually, when you are, when you're having your discussions about those things, in the nicest possible way, as you would in a boardroom or in a brainstorming session in a company, you keep it behind closed doors, and then you go out and sell a great message. That's what we're doing.' Mr Tice also denied Reform were appearing 'thin-skinned' over the suspension of Mr Montgomerie, as well as Mr Farage's no-show at the Clacton by-election count, and Mr Yusuf's labelling of opponents as 'traitors' on social media. 'Far from it… we get more scrutiny than everybody else,' Mr Tice said. 'But isn't it interesting, Nigel's success in Clacton, getting a thousand more votes than he secured (previously), despite a much, much lower turnout. 'That was an incredible result through hard work, through a brilliant campaign.' He added: 'We're going back up in the polls, and we're back ahead of Labour. We're not afraid of competition. 'In a sense, democracy demands competition, and voters have got more choice. That's a good thing. None of us have ever claimed we're perfect.'