The MP who has served as a Member of Parliament for Romford since 2001 has announced a statement today (January 18) that he is joining the Reform party.
He said: “This evening, with sorrow, I have decided to resign from my position as an opposition shadow minister and as a member of the Conservative & Unionist party.”
“Since joining the Conservative party at the age of 14, I have been a loyal and committed supporter of the principles advocated by Margaret Thatcher that has always underpinned my own political beliefs.
“However, the time ahs come to put the country before the party.”
Mr Rosindell added: “The failure of the Conservative party both when in government and more recently in opposition to actively hold the government to account on the issue of Chagossian self-determination and the defence of British sovereignty, represents a clear red line for me.”
He claimed: “Both the government and the opposition have been complicit in the surrender of this sovereign British territory to a foreign power.
“This was made abundantly clear by the failure of Conservative peers to vote down the British Indian Ocean Territory Bill at third reading earlier this month, following direction from the top of the party.”
According to the former Conservative MP, the party is “irreparably bound to mistakes of previous governments” and unwilling to take accountability for “poor decisions” made over various issues.
He stated: “Moreover, the views and concerns of constituents such as mine in Romford have been consistently ignored for far too long.”
Mr Rosindell has spoken with Reform leader Nigel Farage and agreed to join as its seventh Member of Parliament.
The MP believes that Reform is the only party that is “genuinely willing to fight for the best interests of the United Kingdom.”
Announcing the move, Mr Farage called the Romford MP a “great patriot”.
He said: “The Tory lies and hypocrisy over the Chagos Islands betrayal tipped him over the edge.
“He will be a great addition to our May 7th campaign.”
