Reform UK crash into civil conflict as social gathering claims MP Rupert Lowe reported to police over ‘threats’

Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe has been reported to the police for allegedly threatening the party’s chairman with violence.

It comes after days of public meltdowns and backbiting in interviews between Mr Lowe and party leader Nigel Farage.

According to an unusual statement, issued by the party this afternoon, Mr Lowe has also been accused of bullying by staff.

The statement, signed by MP and chief whip Lee Anderson and chairman Zia Yusuf, reads: “Mr Lowe has on at least two occasions made threats of physical violence against our party chairman. Accordingly this matter is with the police.”

And it said the party had set up an investigation led by a King’s Council to investigate claims of bullying, but that Mr Lowe had not cooperated.

Mr Lowe said the allegations were “untrue and false”.

He said he had cooperated with the investigation into a “minor staff matter”, and that the KC had been “dismayed” that the party’s statement had been made.

“Allegations of physical threats are outrageous and entirely untrue,” he added.

Mr Lowe suggested the statement had been issued in retaliation for an interview he had given in which he branded Mr Farage “messianic” and saying he didn’t know whether the party leader would “deliver the goods.”

“Nigel is a fiercely independent individual and is extremely good at what we have done so far,” he told the Mail. “He has got messianic qualities. Will those messianic qualities distill into sage leadership? I don’t know.”

In his statement Mr Lowe claimed the remarks were “all reasonable requests of a party looking to form the next Government.”

He added: “Our voters, our members and our country all deserve so much better than this.

“To Reform supporters of mine, please stay with the party. We must win the next election. There is no other choice. Infighting serves nobody but our enemies.

“This could have all been resolved with even the most basic level of communication. I do not believe that Reform members will be pleased to know that their membership fees are being spent on instructing expensive lawyers to investigate their own MPs, over matters that are entirely baseless and have been dealt with in the correct Parliamentary procedure, with HR’s full involvement and support.”