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Reform UK in chaos after whip is withdrawn from Rupert Lowe

MP who criticised leader Nigel Farage is accused of bullying

Reform UK dramatically split on Friday as the party removed the whip from one of its only five MPs and said he had been reported to the police for alleged threats of physical violence against the party’s chair.

The row between Nigel Farage’s populist rightwing party and MP Rupert Lowe has thrown Reform into chaos, just as it is trying to cement its polling lead against the ruling Labour party and main Conservative opposition.

Tensions within the party have risen in recent days, with Lowe claiming earlier this week that Farage’s leadership style was “Messianic”.

On Friday, chief whip Lee Anderson and chair Zia Yusuf said the party had also appointed an independent King’s Counsel to investigate complaints from two female employees who had accused Lowe of bullying.

Lowe, who has been MP for Great Yarmouth since last July, responded saying there had been “zero credible evidence” against him and that he was disappointed and surprised by the “untrue and false” allegations...

In January, amid suggestions that Musk might donate significant sums to the party, the US billionaire suggested that Lowe take the leadership from Farage.

https://www.ft.com/content/f8a56da7-...6-ceef45229073