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Reform UK has launched a probe into one of its MPs over allegations of “severe bullying” and “concentrating on of feminine employees”.
Nigel Farage’s right-wing social gathering introduced the investigation into Great Yarmouth MP Rupert Lowe simply 24 hours after he publicly criticised his boss.
The social gathering additionally revealed it has reported Mr Lowe to the police, claiming he had made threats of bodily violence towards social gathering chairman Zia Yusuf on no less than two events.
In a joint assertion, chairman Zia Yusuf and chief whip Lee Anderson mentioned: “It’s with remorse that we really feel obligated to reveal that the social gathering obtained complaints from two feminine workers about severe bullying within the workplaces of the Member of Parliament for Nice Yarmouth, Rupert Lowe.
“One labored in his Parliamentary workplace, the opposite in his constituency workplace, we perceive complaints have been made to Parliamentary authorities.”
A Reform spokesperson added: “Rupert Lowe has had the whip withdrawn.”
The social gathering mentioned it obtained proof of “office bullying, the concentrating on of feminine employees who raised considerations, and proof of derogatory and discriminatory remarks made about ladies, together with reference to a perceived incapacity”.
It got here shortly after a unprecedented spat between Mr Lowe and Mr Farage, with the previous accusing his boss of getting “messianic” tendencies. Mr Farage hit again, saying there wouldn’t have been a “cat’s likelihood in hell” of Mr Lowe profitable his seat.
There have lengthy been studies of ill-feeling between Mr Lowe and the social gathering chief after Elon Musk known as for Mr Farage to get replaced within the prime job – endorsing Mr Lowe as his most well-liked successor.
Requested if Mr Lowe would nonetheless be a Reform UK MP by the subsequent election, he mentioned: “Effectively I hope so however he appears to be taking a tone that claims he may not settle for us.”
Because the row between the pair threatened to escalate additional, the social gathering mentioned: “Reform stands for the very best requirements of conduct in public life, and we’ll apply these requirements with out worry nor favour, together with inside our personal social gathering.”
The complaints towards Mr Lowe are understood to have been shared with parliamentary authorities, whereas Reform has employed an impartial King’s Counsel to analyze them.
Reform added that Mr Lowe has up to now refused to cooperate with its investigation.
Responding to the claims, Mr Lowe mentioned the allegations have been “false and unfaithful”, including that the investigation is predicated on “zero credible proof”.
The MP mentioned he has spoken “at size” with Reform’s investigating lawyer, including that she was “dismayed that this assertion [by Reform] has been made”.
“Allegations of bodily threats are outrageous and fully unfaithful,” he mentioned.
He added: “I’ve by no means made any derogatory feedback about ladies, or these with disabilities. This can be a lie. These allegations usually are not even referring to me. I can be looking for authorized recommendation instantly.”
However in addition to denying the allegations, Mr Lowe lashed out once more at Mr Farage, deepening the rift between the 2 and elevating the prospect of Reform shedding certainly one of its 5 MPs.
“An entire lack of ability to just accept even essentially the most delicate constructive criticism with out such a malicious response will not be efficient management,” he mentioned.
“It’s no shock that this vexatious assertion has been issued the day after my affordable and constructive questions of Nigel and the Reform construction,” he mentioned.
Mr Lowe mentioned he was merely calling for higher communication, delegation and social gathering construction. “I stand by all the pieces I mentioned,” he added.
He mentioned: “I’ve been pushing for this behind the scenes for a lot of months, with zero success.
“My repeated requests for higher communication and common conferences have been ignored and mocked.
“I’ve tried and tried – and can proceed to strive. I didn’t converse publicly with out exhausting all different choices, repeatedly. I’ve finished all the pieces in my energy to resolve this behind closed doorways. Sadly, I failed.”
Mr Lowe urged Reform supporters “of mine” to stick with the social gathering, suggesting he doesn’t intend to give up.
He added: “That is our social gathering as a lot as it’s Nigel’s.”
The infighting comes after polling prompt that the social gathering might have hit their ceiling with a surge in help for the reason that common election coming to an finish three weeks in the past.
The most recent weekly Techne UK ballot for The Unbiased places Reform on 25 per cent for the third week in a row and has Labour pulling forward by three factors on 28 per cent after reward for Sir Keir Starmer following a week of diplomatic talks over the Ukraine disaster.
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