# Divided Reform UK reports own MP to police amid bullying claims

Party chair and chief whip issue statement alleging female employees complained about Rupert Lowe

## Party Chair and Chief Whip Issue Statement

Party chair and chief whip, Zia Yusuf, and Reform’s chief whip, Lee Anderson, have issued a joint statement regarding allegations of workplace bullying, targeting female staff, and threats to employees, including Rupert Lowe.

One of the complainants was in Lowe’s parliamentary office, while the other was in his Great Yarmouth constituency office. The statement also mentions allegations of derogatory and discriminatory remarks made by Lowe, which are widely circulated.

**Evidence Provided:** Evidence was provided to them of workplace bullying, the targeting of female staff who raised concerns, and evidence of derogatory and discriminatory remarks made about women, including a perceived disability.

**Evidence of Recent Bullying:** Lowe has yet to cooperate with the KC, which has stated on numerous occasions that the allegations are not backed by evidence. He also has not met the request for more communication and regular meetings.

**Threats:** Lowe has made threats of physical violence against the party chairman. The statement states that this is a lie and that there is no credible evidence against him.

## Response from Rupert Lowe

Rupert Lowe, the former Southampton FC chair, criticized Nigel Farage in an interview. He said Reform needed a “proper plan,” more policy, and spokespeople. He also suggested he could leave the party unless it was centred less around Farage’s “messianic” leadership and had a formal frontbench.

### Respondent's Response

Farage responded angrily, saying Lowe would not have had a chance of winning a seat without his leadership of the party.

In his statement, Lowe said it was “no surprise” that these allegations had been issued the day after his reasonable and constructive questions of Nigel and the Reform structure. He also noted that the day after he had done this, he had received a knife in his back over false allegations.

**Statement:** He has been pushing for this behind the scenes for many months, with zero success. He has been frozen out of meetings, policy discussions, press conferences, and more. His repeated requests for better communication and regular meetings have been ignored and mocked.

He adds: “If they want to kick me out over false claims, they’ll have to finally present some credible evidence against me. There is none, as the KC has just told me.

“A complete inability to accept even the most mild constructive criticism without such a malicious reaction is not effective leadership.”

## Further Comment

He also explicitly linked the allegations to his decision to criticize Farage, saying that the day after he had done this, he had received “a knife in my back over false allegations.”

In a reply sent to the Guardian and posted on X, Lowe said he was “disappointed, but not surprised” at the statement, and that he had fully cooperated with the KC, saying she was “shocked” at what had happened.

He said: “Allegations of physical threats are outrageous and entirely untrue. I have never made any derogatory comments about women, or those with disabilities. This is a lie. These allegations are not even referring to me. I will be seeking legal advice immediately.

“There is no credible evidence against me, as the KC has just told me.”

On Thursday, Lowe, the former Southampton FC chair, criticized Farage’s leadership in an interview. He also suggested he could leave the party unless it was centred less around Farage’s “messianic” leadership, and had a formal frontbench. There has been speculation within Reform about tensions between Lowe and Farage, especially after Musk’s intervention.

## Further Discussion

Farage responded angrily, saying Lowe would not have had a chance of winning a seat without his leadership of the party.

In his statement, Lowe said it was “no surprise” that these allegations had been issued the day after his reasonable and constructive questions of Nigel and the Reform structure. He also noted that the day after he had done this, he had received a knife in his back over false allegations.

He added: “I have been pushing for this behind the scenes for many months, with zero success. I have been frozen out of meetings, policy discussions, press conferences, and more. My repeated requests for better communication and regular meetings have been ignored and mocked.”

The statement went on: “If they want to kick me out over false claims, they’ll have to finally present some credible evidence against me. There is none, as the KC has just told me.

“A complete inability to accept even the most mild constructive criticism without such a malicious reaction is not effective leadership.”

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