High Court Denies Reform Defector Access to Tory HQ and Panic Room
An MP who defected from the Conservative Party to Reform UK has been refused access to his former constituency office by the High Court. Andrew Rosindell, the MP for Romford in east London since 2001, was locked out of Margaret Thatcher House in Romford after his move in January, following over two decades of occupancy.
Legal Battle Over Office Access
Mr Rosindell initiated legal proceedings against the Romford Conservative Association (RCA), which manages the building. His legal team argued in court that the association had "taken the law into its own hands" and sought an injunction for "full and unfettered" access. They claimed monthly payments of approximately £1,250 were made for exclusive use, and the lockout was "materially impairing" his ability to serve constituents, depriving him of safety measures like CCTV and a panic room.
Conservative Association's Opposition
The RCA opposed the application, with barristers stating it was "blindingly obvious" that Mr Rosindell’s licence depended on his Conservative Party membership. They expressed concerns he could "spy" on activities ahead of local elections. Tiffany Scott KC argued there was an "implied term" for the licence to "terminate automatically upon Mr Rosindell leaving the Conservative Party". She noted the premises were "key to the Conservative campaign" for May elections, making it "damaging" for a rival party MP to have access.
Judge's Ruling and Costs
In his ruling, Mr Justice Choudhury refused the injunction, describing the case as "intrinsically weak". He said the MP "ought to have realised that he had surrendered his right to occupy" his office and that continued occupation would be "unsustainable" after defecting. The judge emphasised the necessity for users to "share a common cause" with the Conservative Party, calling this "consistent with common sense". He also noted a lack of evidence that Mr Rosindell sought alternative accommodation, a point raised by Ms Scott, who said Reform "ought also to be supporting him". The court ordered Mr Rosindell to pay £23,000 towards the RCA’s legal costs.
