A police investigation into alleged verbal threats made by Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe has reached a new stage, with officers passing a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), it was confirmed on Tuesday.
The Great Yarmouth MP, who was suspended from Reform UK earlier this year amid bitter internal conflict, is accused of making verbal threats of physical violence towards party chairman Zia Yusuf. Reform reported the matter to police in March, describing the threats as “serious and concerning”.
While Scotland Yard declined to name the individual involved, it confirmed that an investigation had been launched into “a series of verbal threats made by a 67-year-old man”. The Metropolitan Police has been approached for further comment but has not yet issued any additional details.
In a statement issued last night, Mr Lowe, 67, forcefully denied the allegations and suggested they were politically motivated. “These are false allegations, designed to maliciously smear my name and ruin my reputation after I dared to bruise Farage’s ego,” he said.
The former MEP and businessman added: “Weaponising the police process to vindictively attack and silence a party colleague is unprecedented wickedness. I am, of course, fully co-operating with the authorities, and look forward to clearing my name.”
Mr Lowe’s suspension came amid escalating tensions within Reform UK, as the party continues to struggle with internal divisions and competing leadership ambitions. The feud between Lowe and senior party figures — particularly Farage loyalists — has been described by insiders as “deeply personal and politically toxic”.
Zia Yusuf, the current party chairman and a close ally of Reform leader Nigel Farage, has not commented publicly on the latest developments, though the party previously stood by its decision to involve the police, calling it “a matter of principle and responsibility”.
A source close to Mr Yusuf said at the time that “no individual, no matter their standing in the party, can be allowed to behave in a threatening or intimidating manner”.
The CPS confirmed it had received a file relating to the matter and would now begin its review. “We can confirm that a file has been received from the police in connection with allegations of verbal threats. The CPS will consider the evidence and decide whether charges should be brought in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors,” a spokesperson said.
This development threatens to deepen the crisis within Reform UK, which had been celebrating electoral gains in recent months, particularly at the local level. Mr Lowe, a high-profile recruit for the party and one of its few sitting MPs, had been considered a potential leadership contender prior to his suspension.
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However, the allegations and the resulting fallout have damaged both his political standing and the party’s image, with rival parties seizing on the apparent dysfunction within Reform to question its credibility as a serious political force.
Labour and Conservative figures alike have criticised Reform’s internal management, with one senior Tory backbencher calling the situation “a soap opera that would be amusing if it weren’t so deeply troubling”.
Mr Lowe, for his part, remains defiant. In his statement, he reiterated his intention to continue serving his constituents while the matter is resolved. “I remain committed to representing the people of Great Yarmouth with integrity and dedication,” he said.
The outcome of the CPS review could have significant implications not only for Mr Lowe’s future in politics but also for Reform UK’s attempts to present itself as a unified and credible challenger ahead of the next general election.
For now, the party remains mired in controversy, and the question of who holds sway within its fractured leadership remains wide open.
