Andrew Rosindell, the former Conservative MP who defected to Reform UK, has lost a High Court bid to regain access to his constituency office after the locks were changed. The judge dismissed his case as 'intrinsically weak' and ordered him to pay £23,000 in legal costs.
Mr Rosindell had sought an injunction to force the Romford Conservative Association to allow him full access to Margaret Thatcher House, where he had worked since his election in 2001. He argued that his £1,250 monthly rent entitled him to exclusive use, and accused the association of taking the law into its own hands by changing the locks without notice.
However, Mr Justice Choudhury ruled that it was 'obvious' the MP surrendered his right to occupy the office upon defecting. The judge stated that continued occupation would be 'unsustainable' and that sharing the building required a 'common cause' with the Conservative Party, which Mr Rosindell no longer held.
The association's barrister, Tiffany Scott KC, argued that the licence agreement contained an implied term that it would automatically terminate when Mr Rosindell left the party. She warned that allowing him access could damage Conservative campaigning ahead of local elections in May, as he could 'spy' on activities.
Mr Rosindell's barrister, Adam Richardson, maintained that the proper legal course would have been to seek possession through the courts. Despite the setback, the Reform UK MP said he would continue to serve his constituents from alternative premises.
