Reform UK has been hit by fresh reports of internal turmoil, with Suella Braverman said to have been considering her position as tensions continue between senior figures around Nigel Farage.
The latest claims come from The Sun’s Harry Cole, who reports that Braverman was “on resignation watch” while an attempt to persuade another major political figure to join Reform also fell apart amid concerns about the party’s internal chaos.
The report lands at an awkward moment for Farage.
Reform is trying to present itself as a serious alternative government capable of taking on Andy Burnham’s Labour, but much of the party’s recent coverage has instead centred on suspensions, briefing wars and tensions involving some of its most senior figures.
Tim Montgomerie was suspended this week after publicly criticising Farage and Reform’s home affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf. The suspension was later defended by deputy leader Richard Tice, who said internal disagreements should be handled privately rather than played out in public.
Braverman reportedly ‘on resignation watch’
Braverman, a former Conservative home secretary who later joined Reform, has become one of the party’s highest-profile defectors.
According to Cole’s report, she has recently been unhappy enough inside the party that her future was being closely watched.
The article does not report that she has resigned, and Braverman remains in her Reform role.
It does, however, suggest that frustration has been growing among some of the former Conservatives who joined Farage’s party expecting to help build a credible challenger to Labour.
Braverman has recently been fronting Reform policy announcements, including plans to overhaul higher education and expand apprenticeships.
That makes any suggestion she has been considering her future significant.
Reform has not announced any change to her position.
Another defection reportedly fell apart
The same report says Reform had also been trying to recruit another well-known political figure, but that the potential defector got “cold feet amid the chaos”.
The individual is not named.
That claim comes as Reform continues trying to attract politicians, advisers and donors from the Conservatives and other parts of the right.
Several prominent Conservatives have already moved across, including Robert Jenrick, while others have taken advisory or campaign roles.
Farage has made clear that he wants Reform to be in a position to fight the next general election as a serious contender for power rather than simply an insurgent party.
Internal instability could make that recruitment effort harder if prospective defectors become concerned about how the party is being run.
Montgomerie suspension exposed tensions
The latest reports follow the suspension of Tim Montgomerie, the ConservativeHome founder who joined Reform after leaving the Conservatives.
Montgomerie had criticised Farage over his absence from the Clacton by-election count and questioned the handling of the £5 million gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne.
He also attacked Zia Yusuf’s conduct and questioned whether Yusuf was behaving as a “team player”.
Reform said Montgomerie had breached party rules by publicly criticising colleagues.
He has since said he intends to challenge the suspension and wants to remain in the party.
The episode also produced an unusual detail: reports suggested Farage himself did not know Montgomerie was going to be suspended before the decision was taken.
That added to speculation about who is exercising influence inside Reform while Farage remains the dominant public face of the party.
Zia Yusuf remains at centre of disputes
Yusuf has repeatedly featured in reports about internal tensions.
Farage has publicly backed him, although The Sun reports that the Reform leader has privately expressed frustration with some of Yusuf’s social media activity.
The latest row followed Yusuf calling former Conservative defence secretary Ben Wallace a “traitor”.
Farage later said Yusuf would receive a reprimand over the remark.
Cole also reports criticism within Reform of Yusuf’s frequent interventions on X, with some insiders questioning whether the posts are helping the party reach the voters it needs.
Yusuf remains one of Reform’s most senior figures and there is no suggestion he is being removed from his role.
Farage trying to shift focus back to policy
The internal rows come as Reform attempts to move its public focus back towards policy.
This week the party unveiled a major welfare package fronted by Robert Jenrick and Richard Tice, promising tens of billions of pounds in savings through restrictions on benefits and wider reforms.
Braverman has also been promoting the party’s education and apprenticeships programme.
The Spectator reports that Reform is building out a more detailed policy operation under academic James Orr, with preparations under way for a manifesto that could be ready for an election as early as next year.
Reform insiders are said to be concerned that continued infighting could distract from that work.
The party remains a major force in national polling and Farage continues to argue that Reform can replace the Conservatives as the dominant party of the British right.
Burnham changes the political calculation
The pressure on Reform has increased since Andy Burnham became Prime Minister.
Labour’s polling position has improved significantly since the change of leadership, while Burnham’s personal favourability ratings have been much stronger than those recorded by his predecessor.
That has altered the contest Farage is preparing for.
Instead of facing a deeply unpopular Labour government under Keir Starmer, Reform is now trying to compete with a new prime minister enjoying an early polling boost.
At the same time, the Conservatives are hoping Reform’s internal problems could help them recover some of the support they have lost.
The Financial Times reported this week that the recent feuding has lifted morale among Tory MPs, some of whom now believe Reform’s internal divisions give the Conservatives a route back.
For Reform, the immediate challenge is therefore straightforward: keep building policy while preventing its internal disputes from dominating the headlines.
Reports that one of the party’s most prominent defectors has been considering her position will make that harder.
2 responses to “Fresh Reform turmoil as Suella Braverman ‘considers her position’”
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Farage has only ever been about himself and corrupt tax dodging mates. I’m sick of the way he’s divided this country by his vile rhetoric and I can’t understand why he’s not personally been criminally charged.
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Reform
are finished , Restore will flower next then
Be consigned themselves to the dustbin of history
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