The political landscape shifted on Monday, 19 January 2026, as veteran Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell announced his defection to Nigel Farage's Reform UK. The move, framed by Rosindell as a protest over the UK's policy on the Chagos Islands, has ignited a fierce debate not about sovereignty, but about the company Reform chooses to keep.
A Controversial Figure Crosses the Floor
Andrew Rosindell, the 59-year-old MP for Romford for a quarter of a century, cited the "lies and hypocrisy" of both the Conservative government and Labour opposition over the Chagos Islands as his reason for leaving. Nigel Farage swiftly welcomed him, praising his stance. However, this principled stand belies a political career that five successive Conservative Prime Ministers – David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and Rishi Sunak – deemed unfit for ministerial office.
Rosindell's public image, often accompanied by his Staffordshire Bull Terrier 'Spike' wearing a Union Jack waistcoat, has long been at odds with modern, inclusive Conservatism. His political beliefs are rooted in a harder, more reactionary strand of right-wing thought.
A Record Under Scrutiny: From Monday Club to Pinochet
Rosindell's defection forces a spotlight on his extensive and contentious voting record and associations. He has been a consistent opponent of LGBT+ rights, voting against same-sex marriage laws and famously defending the Thatcher-era Section 28. He once warned that allowing same-sex marriage could lead to a monarch in a same-sex union, creating constitutional issues.
His affiliations include membership of the hardline Monday Club, described by critics as a breeding ground for Reform's ideology. He is a self-professed "huge" admirer of Chilean dictator General Augusto Pinochet. On policy, Rosindell has advocated for the death penalty and stricter detention for asylum seekers.
Expenses, Ethics, and 'Jollies'
Beyond ideology, Rosindell's parliamentary conduct has drawn criticism. During the MPs' expenses scandal, The Daily Telegraph revealed he claimed over £125,000 in second home allowances for a London flat while designating his mother's house, 17 miles away, as his primary residence. He argued that claiming £20 a day for food was reasonable for his "subsistence."
In 2010, the BBC reported he breached rules by accepting subsidised trips to Gibraltar and then raising related issues in Parliament without declaring the visits. He was later identified as one of the most prolific MPs on overseas "jollies," taking 16 free trips to Gibraltar and 29 others, valued at £45,000.
His record also includes sponsoring a parliamentary "Erotica" event, attacking the National Trust for "cultural Marxist dogma," and making what his then-leader David Cameron called "outrageous" comments questioning Rachel Reeves's ability to serve in a future Labour government due to maternity leave.
As Conservative minister Kemi Badenoch suggested Robert Jenrick's earlier defection was "a good day" for the Tories, the same sentiment could be amplified for Rosindell's exit. His move to Reform UK poses a significant question for Nigel Farage: in the quest for political credibility, does welcoming a figure with such a baggage-laden record represent a new low, or simply a clear statement of intent?
