By Political Correspondent | 5 April 2025
Rupert Lowe, the newly elected MP for Great Yarmouth, has found himself embroiled in a bitter and increasingly public spat with Reform UK and its high-profile leader, Nigel Farage. What began as ideological divergence has escalated into suspensions, police investigations, and scathing accusations on both sides.
Here is a detailed timeline of how the feud unfolded.
– January
Elon Musk unexpectedly entered the British political fray by commenting on X (formerly Twitter) that Nigel Farage “doesn’t have what it takes” to lead Reform UK. Instead, Musk appeared to endorse Rupert Lowe, suggesting the MP’s statements “make a lot of sense,” despite admitting he had never met him. This curious endorsement from the tech mogul planted early seeds of division.
– March 6
Mr Lowe publicly questioned Mr Farage’s suitability as leader, suggesting that while his charisma was undeniable, it remained “too early to know whether Nigel will deliver.” He called for a more structured, detailed plan for governance. Mr Farage swiftly responded on TalkTV, asserting that the party’s five parliamentary seats owed everything to his personal appeal, adding that Mr Lowe wouldn’t have had a “cat’s chance in hell” of winning without him.
– March 7
Reform UK suspended Mr Lowe and reported him to the police for allegedly threatening party chairman Zia Yusuf. Scotland Yard confirmed it was assessing verbal threats allegedly made in December 2024. The party also released a statement citing evidence of “serious bullying” and inappropriate remarks about women in Mr Lowe’s office. The MP denied all claims, labelling the allegations “vexatious” and suggesting they were retaliation for raising concerns about party leadership.
– March 8
Undeterred, Mr Lowe extended an olive branch on X, asking Mr Farage for dinner to discuss the party’s internal communication failures. However, in the Telegraph, Mr Farage decried the public infighting, admitting it had “dented” Reform’s unity. The MP, meanwhile, insisted he could only “smash his head against a brick wall for so long.”
– March 9
Mr Lowe claimed he had been “warned” about being vocal on deportation policies. Reform deputy leader Richard Tice defended the decision to launch an independent probe into workplace bullying allegations, stating such matters must be handled “properly.” Meanwhile, a barrister appointed to investigate the claims refuted comments Mr Lowe had attributed to them, calling it “regrettable” they had to correct the record.
– March 11
Lowe suggested he was suspended for being a “tall poppy” threatening Mr Farage’s dominance. A formal police investigation was launched into allegations of verbal threats made between December 2024 and February 2025. While the police did not name Mr Lowe, they confirmed they were investigating a 67-year-old man, widely believed to be the MP.
– March 20
Tensions escalated further when private WhatsApp messages were leaked, in which Mr Farage described Mr Lowe’s conduct as “disgusting” and accused him of damaging the party ahead of the elections. In response, Mr Lowe declared, “Nigel Farage must never be prime minister,” citing the messages as proof of a leadership devoid of integrity.
More Read
– March 25
Reform UK released the findings of an independent KC, who found “credible evidence” of unlawful harassment by Mr Lowe and male staffers in his office. Mr Lowe, again rejecting the findings, accused the party of “shamefully attacking” innocent staff to destroy his character.
– April 4
Mr Lowe hit back with a review commissioned on his behalf, in which another KC questioned the impartiality of the party’s investigation. Mr Lowe described the original probe as “fundamentally flawed, unfair, and influenced by political motivations.”
The dramatic fallout between Rupert Lowe and Reform UK highlights growing turbulence within the party that has positioned itself as an alternative to the political establishment. With accusations flying and reputations hanging in the balance, the question remains: can Reform UK survive its own internal reform?
