On 18 August, we learned that Reform UK had suspended prominent member and journalist Tim Montgomerie. The suspension came after Montgomerie criticised Zia Yusuf. Since then, more has come out – including the fact that Nigel Farage was allegedly unaware of the suspension. This has led some to speculate that Yusuf was the man behind what happened:
Farage didn’t know about Montie’s suspension
ZIA YUSUF HAS GONE ROGUE.
This is NOT a drill. I repeat.
ZIA YUSUF HAS GONE ROGUE!
— Don McGowan (@donmcgowan) August 18, 2026
On top of all this, Yusuf has had something of a meltdown on X/Twitter.
Reform at war
If you’re unfamiliar with Tim Montgomerie, he’s the founder of Conservative Home. Despite this, Montgomerie abandoned his beloved Conservative Party to
jump on the Reform gravy trainsupport Nigel Farage. Now, he’s found himself on the outs with his new party.
Montgomerie was suspended after criticising Yusuf. The picture he painted of the man was that Yusuf is a loose cannon who struggles to maintain working relationships with colleagues (and presumably Farage). Going off Yusuf’s posts, it’s easy to believe this:
Yusuf, we have a problem pic.twitter.com/B9ZDWEW0lf
— Mr Ethical
(@nw_nicholas) August 18, 2026
People are also mocking Yusuf because he referred to himself as a “lethal electoral threat”:
What I’d do to have the phone number of Zia Yusuf’s drug dealer
Boy’s off his chops
The absolute Benny Hill of this is spectacular pic.twitter.com/5oAXT3FiOJ
— Stuzi
(@stuzi_pants) August 18, 2026
Given that Reform’s polling has been on a downwards trajectory for the past 12 months, this threat seems to be somewhat exaggerated. We also know that his colleagues don’t agree with the assessment. After all, they’ve turned him down every time he’s begged to run as an MP.
Montgomerie has since said the following about Yusuf:
“Can you look us in the eye and tell us that Mr Yusuf… he is suitable for one of the great Offices of State?”
“I don’t know…”
Suspended Reform UK supporter Tim Montgomerie discusses Zia Yusuf’s approach as Reform’s Home Affairs spokesperson.
Reform says he has been suspended… pic.twitter.com/xq9sCDLHP5
— BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) August 18, 2026
Fading fortunes for Farage?
People have an alternative explanation as to why the media turned on Yusuf and Reform UK:
“Tory client press” translated means Telegraph. TImes and Mail which have ended the mid term flirtation with Farage and Reform UK. Why? Not so much crypto donation scandal, but owners (Dopfner, Murdoch, Rothermere) who don’t see him as a winner, quite apart from policies… https://t.co/MJWJzus2F5
— Lionel Barber (@lionelbarber) August 18, 2026
Reform UK and Farage definitely won’t win the establishment media over with Yusuf running his gob; the party also doesn’t agree that he’s a “lethal electoral threat”. Given that, it seems like it’s only a matter of time before he’s ejected. That or Farage goes first, and Yusuf emerges as his replacement.
Either way, Reform is increasingly rudderless.
Featured image via Karl Black
By Willem Moore
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