A significant political dispute has erupted within the Reform Party, centring on allegations against Great Yarmouth MP Rupert Lowe, which may result in his permanent expulsion from the parliamentary party if senior officials have their way. The tensions have escalated following remarks made by Lowe in a recent interview with the Daily Mail, where he publicly questioned the leadership of party leader Nigel Farage.

According to reports, Farage removed the whip from Lowe amidst accusations that he bullied staff and issued threats to party chair Zia Yusuf. These allegations surfaced shortly after Lowe’s critical comments regarding Farage’s leadership. In response to the claims, Lowe took to X, expressing his frustration and declaring that he had been ‘betrayed’. In his post, he requested a meeting with Farage, lamenting the difficulties he faced in trying to resolve the issues privately, stating, “I have torn out what remaining hair I have left over the last few months trying to talk.”

The internal strife appears deeply entrenched, with senior figures within the Reform Party suggesting that Lowe’s return is unlikely. One unnamed source indicated that Lowe “has crossed Nigel,” commenting, “the political world is littered with the bodies of people who have done that.”

As tensions mounted, Farage accused Lowe of alienating his parliamentary colleagues since the General Election. In his column for the Sunday Telegraph, Farage acknowledged that the party would await findings from parliamentary authorities and an inquiry led by a King’s Counsel (KC) regarding the complaints made against Lowe.

The allegations against Lowe have also included instances of inappropriate language and confrontational behaviour. Farage expressed disappointment over Lowe’s conduct, suggesting that efforts had been made to mitigate Lowe’s alleged actions, including a prior physical altercation in the Commons with Transport Minister Mike Kane. This confrontation reportedly required the intervention of the Serjeant at Arms to prevent escalation, with witnesses recalling that tensions flared after a contentious exchange about dumping potentially hazardous materials off the coast of Lowe’s constituency.

Lowe has characterised the allegations as ‘vexatious’ and described the surrounding circumstances as a ‘malicious witch hunt’. He reaffirmed that discussions concerning the December incident had been resolved at the time, insisting that both he and Kane had agreed to move on from the matter.

The Reform Party’s statement on the issue confirmed that they have referred the matter to police, citing occasions where Lowe allegedly made threats of physical violence toward Yusuf, as well as serious bullying allegations from two staff members. Despite the gravity of these accusations, Lowe continues to assert that they are unfounded and that he remains committed to seeking clarity and resolution from Farage.

In the backdrop of these developments, Lowe’s remarks during the Daily Mail interview raised further questions about the party’s direction, stating it was “too early to know whether Nigel will deliver the goods,” and suggesting a shift from being a “protest party led by the Messiah into being a properly structured party.” The ongoing confrontation underscores a profound rift within the Reform Party, signalling potential ramifications for its future dynamics and leadership.

Source: Noah Wire Services