Rupert Lowe, the former Member of Parliament for Great Yarmouth, has recently found himself at the centre of multiple controversies following his expulsion from Reform UK amid allegations of bullying and harassment. The 67-year-old politician’s personal gun collection was confiscated by Gloucestershire Police from his farm in the Cotswolds last month, as part of an investigation prompted by claims he verbally threatened party chairman Zia Yusuf, as well as allegations of harassment involving two women in his employ.

On March 7, Mr Lowe lost the party whip following accusations of making derogatory remarks and serious bullying towards female staff members. He has consistently denied these allegations, asserting that they are part of a “malicious witch hunt” orchestrated by party veteran Nigel Farage, whom he accused of attempting to undermine him after he raised questions about leadership within Reform UK.

In an interview with the Daily Express, Mr Lowe stated, “I am 67 years old, and I have a 67-year-long unblemished record with the law. These are false allegations, designed to maliciously smear my name and ruin my reputation after I dared to bruise Farage’s ego.” He also expressed that the disruption to his personal life had been “significant” and “incredibly damaging” for his family, labelling the use of police processes to silence him as “unprecedented wickedness.”

The situation escalated following the publication of an independent review, commissioned by Mr Lowe himself through law firm Irwin Mitchell LLP. The review found “credible evidence” of harassment, raising questions about whether the earlier investigation conducted on behalf of Reform UK was influenced by political motives. Gemma White KC, the lead author of the independent review, found the initial investigation’s methodology problematic, noting a lack of established terms of reference and expressed concerns about the independence of the process.

Mr Lowe has responded critically to the findings: “In 67 years, I have never seen such vile and unprofessional behaviour,” he remarked, further asserting that the handling of his case by the party and the investigation was unfair and indicative of a politically motivated agenda. He claimed the process undermined not only himself but also the professionalism expected of a political institution.

Reform UK’s deputy leader, Richard Tice, has dismissed suggestions that there is a connection between Mr Lowe’s suspension and the allegations being made public, asserting that the party respects the ongoing police investigation. A spokesman for Reform UK stated, “Mr Lowe is being investigated by the police for making multiple threats to kill our chairman. We will let them do their work without lashing out and making false claims in public.”

The ongoing developments arrive as Mr Lowe attempts to clear his name while navigating the complexities of both legal challenges and the internal dynamics of Reform UK. As an independent MP following his suspension, he has continued to voice his opinions on social media, recently making statements regarding policies and the party’s direction under Farage’s leadership. The situation remains under scrutiny, with further updates anticipated as investigations proceed and both parties prepare their next steps.

Source: Noah Wire Services