Reform meltdown deepens as top KC denies Rupert Lowe's claim she dismissed bullying allegations against him amid furious row with Nigel Farage
Reform UK has been thrown into fresh chaos after a top lawyer appointed to investigate MP Rupert Lowe denied making statements he attributed to her.
The King's Counsel barrister made the astonishing decision to speak out after the Great Yarmouth MP suggested she was unhappy at the action taken against him amid claims made about his conduct.
Mr Lowe had the Reform whip suspended on Friday and was reported to the police after claims of threatening violence against the party chairman Zia Yusuf.
Reform also said it had received evidence of 'serious bullying' and 'derogatory' remarks made about women in the MP's offices, with two separate employees said to have made allegations.
Mr Lowe has claimed the charges were part of a 'malicious witch hunt' instigated because he claimed leader Nigel Farage was acting like a 'messiah', and denied any wrongdoing.
In a post on X shortly after the news first broke on Friday evening, he claimed that the KC was 'dismayed' that the statement had been made by Reform, and had 'stated on numerous occasions' that 'there is no credible evidence' against him.
However last night the KC told the BBC: 'I have not expressed either ''dismay'' or ''shock'' at any time as to the process'.
'Nor have I said ''there is zero credible evidence against [Mr Lowe]'', let alone said this ''repeatedly''.'
The King's Counsel barrister made the astonishing decision to speak out after the Great Yarmouth MP suggested she was unhappy at the action taken against him amid claims made about his conduct.
In a post on X shortly after the news first broke on Friday evening, he claimed that the KC was 'dismayed' that the statement had been made by Reform, and had 'stated on numerous occasions' that 'there is no credible evidence' against him.
Mr Lowe has claimed the charges were part of a 'malicious witch hunt' instigated because he claimed leader Nigel Farage was acting like a 'messiah', and denied any wrongdoing.
The lawyer has not been named by Reform but the broadcaster said their credentials had been verified.
Her statement is the latest twist in an increasingly rancorous row between Mr Lowe, Mr Farage and the wider Reform leadership.
In a further statement on X on Sunday evening, Mr Lowe said that 'ever since this malicious attack on my reputation was launched, all I have asked for from both Reform and the KC is the credible evidence against me.'
He said that 'none has been provided' because 'there is no credible evidence against me'.
He added: 'I will not have my name dragged through the mud as part of a political assassination because I dared to question Nigel Farage.'
Splits in the party appeared on Thursday after Mr Lowe told the Daily Mail that Reform remained a 'protest party led by the messiah' under Mr Farage.
Asked whether the former Ukip leader had the potential to become prime minister, as his supporters have suggested, Mr Lowe said: 'It's too early to know whether Nigel will deliver the goods. He can only deliver if he surrounds himself with the right people.'
Yesterday, Reform's deputy leader Richard Tice said it was 'right and proper' that the KC had been appointed to conduct an investigation.
Mr Lowe had the Reform whip suspended on Friday and was reported to the police after claims of threatening violence against the party chairman Zia Yusuf.
He told Sky News: 'We've also got a duty of care as a party, whether people are employed directly or indirectly. So, that's why the chairman has instructed an independent investigation by a KC, that's the right and proper thing to do. That will run its course.'
Mr Lowe has threatened to sue his former party Reform, insisting he is being targeted because he spoke out against Mr Farage. He also accused the party of trying to silence him over his outspoken immigration views, which include deporting more than a million immigrants out of the UK.
Mr Farage used an article in a Sunday newspaper to warn that parties which fight in public only alienated voters.
But In a lengthy X post, Mr Lowe said the claims against him were 'maliciously concocted to drag my name through the mud with zero credible evidence'.
Hitting out at the decision to suspend him before the results of an independent investigation he added: 'All of this, and more, is with my legal team. I will not tolerate these falsehoods. It is a vindictive witch hunt, all because I asked awkward questions of Nigel.'
