Andrew Rosindell: Reform defector loses High Court bid for access to Tory HQ and ‘panic room’
An MP has been denied access to his old constituency office by the High Court after switching from the Conservative Party to Reform UK.
Andrew Rosundall, who has represented Romford in East London since 2001, has been suspended from the office he occupied for more than two decades at Margaret Thatcher House in Romford following his move in January.
Mr Rosundall took legal action against the Romford Conservative Association (RCA), which manages the building.
His legal team argued in court on Monday that the association had “taken the law into its own hands” and sought an injunction to grant it “full and unrestricted” access to the facilities.
They said monthly payments of around £1,250 were made for the exclusive use of an office and full access for the MP and his staff.
His lawyer Adam Richardson said the lockout had “materially impaired” Mr Rosundall’s ability to serve his constituents and left him without security measures including CCTV and a panic room.
RCA opposed the application, with lawyers saying it was “dazzlingly obvious” that Mr Rosundall’s license to use the premises was dependent on his membership of the Conservative Party.
They expressed concern that he might “spy” on their activities ahead of local elections.
Tiffany Scott KC, representing the association, argued there was an “implied condition” in the agreement that the license would “automatically terminate upon Mr Rosundall’s departure from the Conservative Party”.
He added that the facility was “key to the Conservative campaign” for the May election and that it was “damaging to the RCA and the Conservative Party for a rival political party to have free access to the building”.
In his judgment, Mr Justice Choudhury rejected the injunction, stating that Mr Rosunull’s case was “inherently weak”.
The judge said the MP “must realize that he has given up his right to occupy” his office.
He added: “From the moment he left the party it was clear to him that the continued occupation would be unsustainable.”
Mr Justice Choudhury said the requirement that occupiers of the building “share a common purpose” with the Conservative Party “seems to me not only necessary but consistent with common sense”.
He also noted the lack of evidence that Mr Rosundall had sought alternative accommodation; This point was also made by Mrs Scott, who said that Reformation “must also support it”.
The court ordered Mr Rosundall to pay £23,000 towards RCA’s legal costs.
