Reform UK has suspended MP Rupert Lowe and referred him to the police after allegations that he made “threats of physical violence” against the party’s chairman, Zia Yusuf. In a statement issued alongside chief whip Lee Anderson, Yusuf also revealed that the party had received complaints of bullying in both Lowe’s parliamentary and constituency offices.
The statement further revealed that a lawyer had been appointed to investigate claims of “workplace bullying” made by two female employees of Lowe. These allegations are now under formal investigation by the party, which has appointed a senior lawyer, known as a KC, to lead the inquiry.
In response, Lowe took to social media, vehemently denying the allegations, calling them “untrue and false.” He expressed disappointment but said he was “not surprised” by the claims, insisting there was “zero credible evidence” against him. Lowe added that he was seeking legal advice to address the matter.
The party’s statement also referred to a disturbing pattern of behavior, including two separate instances where Lowe allegedly made threats of physical violence towards Yusuf. As a result, the matter has been handed over to the police for further investigation.
Lowe, however, dismissed the allegations as a “vexatious statement” issued after he had criticized party leader Nigel Farage. In an interview with The Daily Mail, Lowe had described Reform UK as a “protest party led by the Messiah” under Farage’s leadership. He also indicated that he might leave the party unless significant changes were made before the next general election. Lowe called for Reform UK to evolve into a properly structured party, complete with a frontbench team, rather than continuing as a protest movement.
In response, Farage hit back, calling Lowe’s criticism “completely wrong” and stating that Reform UK was “absolutely not a protest party.”
Shortly after the statement was made, Reform UK confirmed it had withdrawn the party whip from Lowe, meaning he would no longer sit as part of the party’s parliamentary group and would now serve as an independent MP. Lowe described this decision as a “knife in my back over false allegations.”
A source within Reform UK denied that the investigation into Lowe was connected to his public criticism of Farage, maintaining that the allegations were being addressed on their own merit.
Reform UK, which emerged as the successor to Farage’s Brexit Party, had five MPs elected to the House of Commons in last year’s general election.
Source:https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4ge5jl62nro
