Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe has been reported to the police over alleged threats of physical violence against the party’s chair.
A statement from chairman Zia Yusuf and chief whip Lee Anderson also said the party has received complaints from two female employees about alleged serious bullying in Mr Lowe’s offices.
Mr Yusuf and Mr Anderson said “we understand complaints have been made to parliamentary authorities”.
The pair also said in the statement that Mr Lowe had “on at least two occasions made threats of physical violence against” Mr Yusuf.
The statement said: “It is with regret that we feel obligated to disclose that the party received complaints from two female employees about serious bullying in the offices of the member of parliament for Great Yarmouth, Rupert Lowe.”
It added: “Evidence was provided to us of workplace bullying, the targeting of female staff who raised concerns, and evidence of derogatory and discriminatory remarks made about women, including reference to a perceived disability.
“We feel we have a duty of care to all our staff, whether employed directly or indirectly. Accordingly, we appointed an independent King’s Counsel to conduct an investigation into the veracity of these complaints. To date, Mr Lowe has yet to cooperate with this investigation.
“In addition to these allegations of a disturbing pattern of behaviour, Mr Lowe has on at least two occasions made threats of physical violence against our party chairman. Accordingly, this matter is with the police.
“Reform stands for the highest standards of conduct in public life, and we will apply these standards without fear nor favour, including within our own party.”
Earlier this week, Mr Lowe appeared to question Nigel Farageβs leadership of Reform.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, the Great Yarmouth MP said: “Nigel is a fiercely independent individual and is extremely good at what we have done so far. He has got messianic qualities.
“Will those messianic qualities distil into sage leadership?
“I don’t know.”
He added: βI’m not going to be by Nigel’s side at the next election unless we have a proper plan to change the way we govern from top to bottom.β
During Mr Farage’s online falling out with Elon Musk, in which the Tesla businessman said Reform needed a new leader, Mr Lowe drew praise from Mr Musk.
And in the interview with the Daily Mail, Mr Lowe noted that he was “barely six months into being an MP” and “in the betting to be the next prime minister.”
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