The ongoing power struggle at the top of Reform UK has intensified, with Nigel Farage and Rupert Lowe engaging in fresh verbal battles and the party denying any political motives behind Lowe’s suspension.
Richard Tice, Reform’s deputy chair, appeared on Sunday media programs in an attempt to de-escalate the conflict, which has enveloped the party just weeks before crucial local elections. Tice insisted that there was no connection between Lowe’s suspension from the party and his previous criticism of Farage. He dismissed any suggestions that the actions were directly related, affirming that there was no truth behind such accusations.
Tice also addressed the BBC, stating that while Lowe had been involved in commendable work, there had been repeated instances of a different character emerging. He vehemently denied any similarities with authoritarian practices in response to criticism from Sky News.
On Friday, following an extraordinary statement from Reform UK laying out a series of allegations against him, Lowe was stripped of the party whip. The allegations included bullying accusations from two former women colleagues, complaints made to parliamentary authorities, and threats of violence toward Reform’s chair, Zia Yusuf, which were reported to the police. Lowe has vigorously denied these allegations.
Before his suspension, Lowe had given an interview where he remarked that under Farage’s leadership, Reform UK remained a protest party led by a ‘Messiah’. He also questioned whether Farage could deliver on his promises to become prime minister.
The conflict spilled over into the Sunday Telegraph, with Lowe casting off the allegations as a ‘witch-hunt’ and lamenting the leadership’s inability to accept even mild, constructive criticism. He further claimed to have been cut off from the party’s inner workings for months.
Farage responded in kind, accusing Lowe of relentlessly criticizing the party’s operations and its key figures. He pointed to Lowe’s history of disagreements with colleagues and suggested that Lowe’s temperament was the issue.
Farage hinted that the party had initiated an investigation into bullying complaints against Lowe before his leadership criticism, which might have triggered Lowe’s outburst.
Tice maintained that there was a long-standing pattern of concerning behavior from Lowe, which justified the professional decision to suspend him. He acknowledged that these concerns had been present before the Christmas parliamentary break.
In response to Tice’s comments, Lowe expressed his disappointment, questioning why he was only penalized after his critiques of the party’s leadership.
Chris Philp, the Conservative shadow home secretary, seized on the incident, pointing out that Lowe had articulated a widespread perception that Reform UK lacks substantive policies and is led by a ‘messianic’ figure in Farage. Philp criticized the party’s reaction as a smear campaign against Lowe.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/mar/09/nigel-farage-rupert-lowe-reform-uk-feud-escalates
