Tory MP who quit for Reform launches High Court lawsuit after being locked out of office | Politics | News
Reform party leader Nigel Farage and Andrew Rosundall in January (Image: Getty Images)
A Reform UK MP is suing the High Court after being suspended from his office at his local Conservative HQ. Andrew Rosundall, the Romford MP since 2001, became London’s first Reform MP in January. He defected to Nigel Farage’s party, declaring that the Conservatives were “irreparably committed to previous mistakes”. For more than 20 years he has had exclusive use of a private room in the Romford Conservative Association’s Margaret Thatcher House as his constituency office.
But last Wednesday, the association blocked his access by changing the locks overnight. He is now suing, claiming the association had no right to exclude him, and is asking a judge to order his return. Among his complaints, the former Tory says he has concerns for his “personal safety” after he was denied entry to the “panic room”.
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Royal Courts of Justice (Image: Getty)
The case reached the High Court yesterday for an urgent injunction, but it was adjourned after the association received only 90 minutes’ notice. Mr Rosundall, a 59-year-old veteran politician, had been a Conservative since 2001 before leaving.
In a statement, Mr Rosundall claimed: “The views and concerns of voters like mine in Romford have been consistently ignored for too long. Our country has suffered a controlled decline for a generation. Radical action is now required to reverse the damaging decisions of the past and forge a new course for Britain.”
Mr Justice Pepperall heard Mr Rosundall had had private use of the office for decades, as well as shared use of the campaign room. After he fled, the association told him he could not stay because his Conservative status was an “implicit condition” of his residence.
The locks were changed on March 18. This led to an application for emergency measures to force him to re-enter the country. His lawyer Adam Richardson told the judge: “The defendant removed the applicant from the premises by changing the locks and refusing access. “No court order was obtained.
“The applicant has occupied the building continuously for more than 20 years. This occupation is subject to successive written agreements, the latest of which is dated 12 December 2025. The building contains active casework, sensitive records, parliamentary IT and security systems including a panic room.”
Mr Richardson added: “He is unable to access his IT or the security arrangements put in place for his personal safety. This exclusion materially impairs his ability to carry out his duties. “The constituents are unable to communicate with MPs in the usual way.
The correct way would be to claim ownership through the court. Instead, the defendant has taken the law into his own hands.” Lawyer Alison Wu, on behalf of the association, said the application should not have been heard before 90 minutes.
The association claims it is “implicit” that he can only hold the office while a Conservative. Adjourning the matter, Mr Justice Pepperall said: “The lockout took place on Wednesday, March 18. I hear about it on Tuesday, March 24.
“If an urgent application is required, it is surprising that lawyers did not prepare a request form by Friday. An hour and a half notice is extremely inadequate.” The judge postponed the hearing until the case was filed.
