Editing Rupert Lowe (section)

==Political career==
Lowe was a member of the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] until 1993, when he left the party after questioning the [[Maastricht Treaty]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lowe |first1=Rupert |title=LIVE! RUPERT LOWE SPEAKS OUT AS HE RESPONDS TO ALLEGATIONS BY REFORM, NIGEL FARAGE & ZIA YUSUF|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R53oMmGZpnE&t=2913s |website=youtube.com |publisher=[[Dan Wootton|Dan Wootton Outspoken]] |language=en |format=video |date=10 March 2025}}</ref>{{bsn|date=March 2025}} He stood for election as the [[Referendum Party]] candidate for [[The Cotswolds (UK Parliament constituency)|The Cotswolds]] at the [[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997 general election]] and came fourth. He won a seat for the [[Brexit Party]] in the [[West Midlands (European Parliament constituency)|West Midlands]] constituency at the [[2019 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|2019 European Parliament election]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/unitedkingdom/en/european-elections/uk_meps/west_midlands_region.html|title=West Midlands Region – 7 MEPs|publisher=European Parliament|access-date=25 September 2019|archive-date=25 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925064136/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/unitedkingdom/en/european-elections/uk_meps/west_midlands_region.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Lowe had planned to be the Brexit Party Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the [[Dudley North (UK Parliament constituency)|Dudley North]] constituency of the [[UK Parliament]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/news/local-hubs/dudley/2019/08/02/rupert-lowe-and-paul-brothwood-announced-as-brexit-party-candidates-for-dudley/|title=Brexit Party MEP Rupert Lowe will bid to unseat Ian Austin in future general election|last=Farrington|first=Dayna|website=Express & Star|date=2 August 2019 |access-date=25 September 2019}}</ref> but he ultimately withdrew.<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1195008427778596867|user=RupertLowe10|title=It is with a heavy heart I have decided not to contest Dudley North as a Brexit Party candidate. I am putting cou…|date=14 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-11-14 |title=Brexit Party candidate for Dudley North withdraws from election race |url=https://www.dudleynews.co.uk/news/18037470.brexit-party-candidate-dudley-north-withdraws-election-race/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240520224407/https://www.dudleynews.co.uk/news/18037470.brexit-party-candidate-dudley-north-withdraws-election-race/ |archive-date=2024-05-20 |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=Dudley News |language=en}}</ref> In a January 2020 speech in the [[European Parliament]], he cast doubt on the validity of man-made climate change, calling it a "cult" which "marches on with no definitive evidence to support or deny the factual accuracy of [climate scientists'] assertions".<ref>[https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/CRE-9-2020-01-13-INT-1-062-0000_EN.html "Devastating Bushfires in Australia and other extreme weather events as a consequence of Climate Change (debate)"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240702095200/https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/CRE-9-2020-01-13-INT-1-062-0000_EN.html |date=2 July 2024 }}, Verbatim report of proceedings of the [[European Parliament]], Monday, 13 January 2020 – Strasbourg. Quoted in {{cite news |last1=Hogan |first1=Fintan |title=At least 30 Reform candidates have cast doubt on human-induced global heating |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jul/01/at-least-30-reform-candidates-have-cast-doubt-on-human-induced-global-heating |work=The Guardian |date=1 July 2024 }}</ref>

In March 2023 Lowe returned to politics as Reform UK's Business and Agriculture Spokesman.<ref name="spokespeople">{{cite web |date=March 2023 |title=Reform UK Departmental Team Responsibilities |url=https://www.reformparty.uk/departmental_responsibilities_of_reform_uk_spokespeople |accessdate=15 June 2024 |website=Reform UK |archive-date=16 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240116084254/https://www.reformparty.uk/departmental_responsibilities_of_reform_uk_spokespeople |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref >{{cite web|first1=Rubert|last1=Lowe|url=https://x.com/RupertLowe10/status/1637782754510225410|title=Absolutely delighted to join Reform UK.|website=Twitter|date=March 2023|accessdate=15 June 2024|archive-date=15 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240615232448/https://x.com/RupertLowe10/status/1637782754510225410|url-status=live}}</ref> He contested the [[2024 Kingswood by-election]], finishing in third place, surpassing 10% and achieving Reform's best-ever by-election result. This was bettered later the same day by [[Ben Habib]]'s 13% of the vote in the [[2024 Wellingborough by-election|Wellingborough by-election]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Kingswood by-election result: Another defeat for Rishi Sunak as Labour wins seat |url=https://news.sky.com/story/kingswood-by-election-result-another-defeat-for-rishi-sunak-as-labour-wins-seat-13071412 |access-date=16 February 2024 |website=Sky News |archive-date=16 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240216020612/https://news.sky.com/story/kingswood-by-election-result-another-defeat-for-rishi-sunak-as-labour-wins-seat-13071412 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Labour wins Wellingborough seat in by-election |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-68313404 |work=BBC News |access-date=16 February 2024 |date=16 February 2024 |archive-date=16 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240216042453/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-68313404 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Parliamentary career ===
[[File:Reform MPs in Parliament.jpg|thumb|Lowe (far right) seated with fellow Reform UK MPs (left to right) [[James McMurdock]], [[Richard Tice]] and [[Nigel Farage]] in 2024]]
In the [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024 general election]] on 4 July, he stood for the [[Great Yarmouth (UK Parliament constituency)|Great Yarmouth]] constituency<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.greatyarmouthmercury.co.uk/news/24279246.rupert-lowe-standing-great-yarmouth-reform-candidate/|title=Meet the ex-football boss who hopes to be your next MP|date=28 April 2024|website=Great Yarmouth Mercury|accessdate=24 June 2024|archive-date=12 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240612235757/https://www.greatyarmouthmercury.co.uk/news/24279246.rupert-lowe-standing-great-yarmouth-reform-candidate/|url-status=live}}</ref> and won, gaining 35.3 per cent of the vote.<ref>{{cite news |title=Great Yarmouth – General election results 2024 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election/2024/uk/constituencies/E14001256 |access-date=5 July 2024 |work=BBC News }}</ref> After his election he compiled a list of schools in his constituency where he said that teachers were biased against Reform during the election campaign, saying he would be meeting with headteachers to discuss the allegations.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Quinn |first1=Ben |last2=Weale |first2=Sally |title=Reform UK MP accused of mounting 'witch-hunt' against local teachers |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jul/09/reform-uk-mp-accused-of-mounting-witch-hunt-against-local-teachers |access-date=10 July 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=9 July 2024}}</ref> He also pledged to donate his MP salary to a different local charity or worthy cause each month.<ref>{{cite web |title=Boris warns Tories not to merge with Reform |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/07/05/general-election-2024-results-live-updates2/ |website=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=5 July 2024 |access-date=7 July 2024 |archive-date=6 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240706192329/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/07/05/general-election-2024-results-live-updates2/ |url-status=live |last1=Sigsworth |first1=Tim |last2=Penna |first2=Dominic }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/1524138f-585a-438a-a467-b1cae523f3e1|title=Reform MP faces backlash for giving away salary|first1=Anna|last1=Gross|first2=George|last2=Parker|date=20 September 2024|accessdate=3 December 2024|work=FT}}</ref>

In January 2025 the South African-Canadian-American billionaire businessman [[Elon Musk]], who had endorsed Reform UK, called on [[Nigel Farage]] to resign as leader, and then praised Lowe.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hutchinson |first1=Emma |title=Who is Rupert Lowe, the MP Elon Musk thinks could replace Nigel Farage as Reform UK leader? |url=https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2025-01-06/who-is-rupert-lowe-the-mp-elon-musk-thinks-should-be-reform-uk-leader |access-date=7 January 2025 |work=ITV News |date=6 January 2025 |archive-date=7 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250107203010/https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2025-01-06/who-is-rupert-lowe-the-mp-elon-musk-thinks-should-be-reform-uk-leader |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Toth |first1=Albert |title=Who is Rupert Lowe? From unpopular football chairman to Musk's candidate to lead Reform after Farage fallout |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/reform-rupert-lowe-farage-musk-southampton-b2674865.html |access-date=7 January 2025 |work=The Independent |date=7 January 2025 |archive-date=7 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250107203939/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/reform-rupert-lowe-farage-musk-southampton-b2674865.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Lowe thanked Musk, but reiterated his support for Farage.<ref name=bbcmusk>{{cite news |last1=Sinclair |first1=Andrew |title=Reform MP backs leader Farage amid Musk snub |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn85d8vjdleo |access-date=7 January 2025 |work=BBC News |date=6 January 2025 |archive-date=8 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250108205046/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn85d8vjdleo |url-status=live }}</ref> The dispute between Musk and Farage stemmed from Musk's endorsement of the imprisoned activist [[Tommy Robinson]], whom Farage has rejected; Lowe said Robinson should be acknowledged for "exposing these [child rape] gangs" but called him "not right for Reform".<ref name=bbcmusk/>

On 8 January 2025 Lowe brought in a [[Ten Minute Rule Bill]] to ban [[quantitative easing]], praising [[Argentina|Argentinian]] president [[Javier Milei]] and looking forward to [[Elon Musk]] working with [[Donald Trump]], before saying "The cost of government should be covered by taxes alone, limiting the growth of excessive statism" which he said was linked to "a general moral decline in society".<ref>{{cite web |title=Quantitative Easing (Prohibition) |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025-01-08/debates/8B7172B2-ADDA-4448-B830-D96FAF3FAD5E/QuantitativeEasing(Prohibition) |website=[[Hansard]] |access-date=8 March 2025}}</ref> Also in January 2025, Lowe voted along with other Reform UK MPs to block the [[Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill]] with a motion that called for a new national inquiry into [[grooming gangs]]. The amendment was defeated at 364 votes to 111, a majority of 253 against the amendment.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/grooming-gangs-inquiry-voted-down-parliament/|title=MPs vote down Conservatives' attempt to force new national grooming gangs inquiry|date=8 January 2025|website=LBC|access-date=11 January 2025|archive-date=11 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250111004956/https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/grooming-gangs-inquiry-voted-down-parliament/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.sky.com/story/mps-vote-against-new-national-inquiry-into-grooming-gangs-13285629|title=MPs vote against new national inquiry into grooming gangs|date=8 January 2025|work=Sky News|archive-date=9 January 2025|access-date=11 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250109013457/https://news.sky.com/story/mps-vote-against-new-national-inquiry-into-grooming-gangs-13285629|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/01/08/politics-latest-news-keir-starmer-elon-musk-grooming-vote/|title=Labour accused of 'cowardice' after blocking national grooming inquiry|first1=Daniel|last1=Martin|first2=Genevieve|last2=Holl-Allen|first3=Jack|last3=Maidment|date=8 January 2025|work=The Daily Telegraph|archive-date=11 January 2025|access-date=11 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250111004956/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/01/08/politics-latest-news-keir-starmer-elon-musk-grooming-vote/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/how-your-mp-voted-grooming-gangs-inquiry-3469733?ico=most_popular|title=How your MP voted on holding an inquiry into grooming gangs|first=Bill|last=McLoughlin|date=8 January 2025|website=The i Paper|access-date=11 January 2025|archive-date=9 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250109143246/https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/how-your-mp-voted-grooming-gangs-inquiry-3469733?ico=most_popular|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 6 March 2025, in an interview with the ''[[Daily Mail]]'', Lowe criticised the governance of Reform UK as "a protest party led by the Messiah", suggesting he might leave the party if things did not change, and saying it was too early to tell whether Farage would make a good [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|prime minister]].<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last1=Holl-Allen |first1=Genevieve |last2=Gibbons |first2=Amy |last3=Leake |first3=Natasha |date=2025-03-06 |title=Farage acts like a 'messiah', says Reform MP |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/03/06/farage-acts-like-a-messiah-says-reform-mp/ |access-date=2025-03-07 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}</ref> Farage disputed Lowe's criticism of himself and Reform UK, describing his personal following as a good thing, and went on to suggest Lowe's remarks were driven by a desire to be prime minister himself.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> In the same ''Daily Mail'' interview, Lowe stated he thought that MPs' pay should be increased to about £250,000 a year with the size of the House of Commons halved, and described the [[BBC]] as a "cancer at the heart of Britain".<ref name=":1">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/mar/06/reform-mp-says-nigel-farage-must-change-messianic-leadership-style|title=Reform faces split as Farage hits back over 'messianic' criticism|first=Rowena|last=Mason|date=6 March 2025|accessdate=7 March 2025|work=The Guardian}}</ref>

===Bullying allegations and suspension from Reform UK===

On 7 March 2025 it was announced that Lowe had been reported to the police by Reform UK after its chairman, the businessman [[Zia Yusuf]], alleged Lowe made verbal threats against him three months and a month prior, in December 2024 and in February 2025 respectively,<ref>{{cite news |work=[[BBC News Online|BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gm5dr95jqo |title=Police investigate MP Rupert Lowe over alleged threats |access-date=14 March 2025 |date=11 March 2025 |first=Sam |last=Francis |url-status=live |archive-date=14 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250314105512/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gm5dr95jqo}}</ref> and that he was also under investigation by Reform UK for claims of bullying within his parliamentary office.<ref name=":3" /><ref name="loweskynews">{{cite news |title=Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe reported to police over alleged threats against party chair |url=https://news.sky.com/story/reform-uk-mp-rupert-lowe-reported-to-police-over-alleged-threats-to-party-chair-13323564 |first=Tim |last=Baker |date=7 March 2025 |access-date=2025-03-07 |work=Sky News |language=en}}</ref> Reform UK said that Lowe had also refused to cooperate with the investigation, while Lowe himself said that Reform UK's statement was published before an investigation had even begun.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Henry |title=Reform UK investigating Rupert Lowe after complaints of 'serious bullying' by female employees |url=https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/uk/reform-uk-investigating-rupert-lowe-after-complaints-of-serious-bullying/ |date=7 March 2025 |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=LBC |language=en |archive-date=7 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250307195756/https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/uk/reform-uk-investigating-rupert-lowe-after-complaints-of-serious-bullying/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="loweskynews" /> Lowe subsequently had the whip suspended by Party Whip [[Lee Anderson (British politician)|Lee Anderson]] who said 'to remove the whip was a deeply painful thing to do.'<ref>{{Cite web |last=Heren |first=Kit |title=Reform UK civil war as party suspends Rupert Lowe after complaints of 'serious bullying' by female employees |url=https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/uk/reform-suspends-rupert-lowe-mp/ |date=7 March 2025 |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=[[LBC]] |language=en |archive-date=7 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250307190431/https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/uk/reform-suspends-rupert-lowe-mp/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/03/08/lee-anderson-reform-cannot-go-on-with-rupert-lowe/|title=Lee Anderson: Reform UK cannot go on with Rupert Lowe as MP|first=Ethan|last=Croft|date=8 March 2025|work=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref>

Lowe denied all allegations against him and called them [[Vexatious litigation|vexatious]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hazell |first=Will |title=Inside Reform's civil war: Farage's rivals are circling - and gunning for defections|url=https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/inside-reforms-civil-war-farage-activists-defect-3583719 |date=14 March 2025 |website=[[The i Paper]] |language=en}}</ref> He also alleged that there were malicious briefings against him by "senior Reform figures" to journalists to claim he had dementia<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lbc.co.uk/politics/uk-politics/nigel-farage-reform-uk-rupert-lowe/|title=Nigel Farage warns 'no way back' for Rupert Lowe in Reform UK amid bullying investigation|date=12 March 2025|website=LBC}}</ref> and that both his removal from Reform UK and the investigation into his alleged conduct were in response to his criticisms of Farage as leader of the party.<ref name = "Independent">{{cite news| title=The Rupert Lowe fracas shows why Reform may not survive  |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/03/11/the-rupert-lowe-fracas-shows-reform-wont-survive |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=11 March 2025}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/03/11/farage-rupert-lowe-row-huge-distraction-i-could-do-without/|title=Musk 'considers backing Rupert Lowe if he forms new party after Reform row'|first=Dominic|last=Penna|date=11 March 2025|work=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lbc.co.uk/politics/uk-politics/rupert-lowe-speaks-out-police-reform-farage/|title='All I did was stand up to Farage': Suspended Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe breaks silence as police launch probe|date=11 March 2025|website=LBC}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c80yd11nm73o|title=Nigel Farage hits back at Reform UK MP's leadership criticism|date=6 March 2025|work=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=2025-03-14 |title=Farage ally hints Reform leader could axe party chair in row with Rupert Lowe |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nigel-farage-zia-yusuf-reform-b2715088.html |access-date=2025-03-15 |work=The Independent}}</ref> In a statement to the media, Lowe said he had been continually "frozen out of meetings, policy discussions, press conferences and more" for pushing for internal party reform, and accused Farage of putting "a knife in [Lowe's] back over false allegations".<ref>{{cite news |last=Walker |first=Peter|title=Divided Reform UK reports own MP to police amid bullying claims |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/mar/07/reform-uk-chaos-claims-bullying-rupert-lowe |date=8 March 2025 |access-date=2025-03-07 |work=[[The Guardian]] |language=en}}</ref>

Lowe said that he had disagreed with Farage over the former's endorsement of mass [[deportations]] and support for forcibly removing over a million people from the UK if required.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/mar/09/nigel-farage-rupert-lowe-reform-uk-feud-escalates|last=Courea|first=Eleni|work=The Guardian|date=9 March 2025|accessdate=9 March 2025|title=Reform feud escalates as Nigel Farage and Rupert Lowe trade public barbs}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/reform-uk-reform-conservative-echr-british-b2711651.html|last=Besley|first=John|work=[[The Independent]]|date=9 March 2025|access-date=9 March 2025|language=en|title=Lowe says he was 'warned' by Reform UK leadership over position on deportations}}</ref> Staff members for Lowe have dismissed the bullying allegations as "nonsense",<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.sky.com/story/the-reform-row-what-has-happened-and-what-has-been-said-13325620|last=Rogers|first=Alexandra|work=[[Sky News]]|date=10 March 2025|language=en|title=The Reform row: What has happened and what has been said?|access-date=11 March 2025|archive-date=11 March 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250311034514/https://news.sky.com/story/the-reform-row-what-has-happened-and-what-has-been-said-13325620|url-status=live}}</ref> and the alleged bullying by Lowe was later revealed not to involve him. Lowe's entire parliamentary team wrote a public letter in support of him, denying the allegations and stating they have never been contacted as part of any parliamentary investigation.<ref name="Independent" /> The former [[Leader of Reform UK#Leadership|deputy leader of Reform UK]] [[Ben Habib]] called Lowe's suspension "an injustice". Habib accused Farage and Yusuf of "trumping up complaints against" Lowe to oust him after [[Elon Musk]] suggested Lowe should become Leader of Reform UK instead of Farage. Reform's official X account stopped retweeting Lowe's posts after Musk's comments.<ref name="auto" /> Habib called for both men's resignations.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Habib |first=Ben |date=2025-03-08 |title=If anyone deserves to be removed from Reform, it's Zia Yusuf |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/03/08/if-anyone-deserves-to-be-removed-from-reform-its-zia-yusuf/ |access-date=2025-03-15 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Habib |first=Ben |date=2025-03-13 |title=Farage must step aside and let Rupert Lowe lead Reform |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/03/13/farage-must-step-aside-and-let-rupert-lowe-lead-reform/ |access-date=2025-03-15 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}</ref>

Musk has reportedly considered backing Lowe if he forms a new party after the row,<ref name="auto" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/d7cbb26a-57b8-4fd5-ac5b-00de25d53a0e|title=Musk expresses support for rival to Reform UK as feud in Farage's party intensifies|first=Anna|last=Gross|work=Financial Times |date=10 March 2025}}</ref> while multiple senior Conservative figures expressed an interest in Lowe defecting to the Conservative Party instead.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/inside-reform-rupert-lowe-civil-war|title='The Tories Can Have Him': Inside Reform's Rupert Lowe Crisis|date=14 March 2025|website=Politics Home}}</ref> On 20 March 2025 [[BBC News]] reported on a series of leaked [[WhatsApp]] messages between Farage and an unnamed source in which Farage spoke of Lowe as "contemptible" and his anger with Lowe's ''Daily Mail'' interview. In the messages, Farage stated that the inquiry into Lowe's alleged behaviour was the right thing to do because the "reputation of the party must be protected", and that he had not allowed a lawyer to complete the investigation before suspending Lowe because he had been "damaging the party just before elections". In response, Lowe told the BBC that the leaked messages proved that the motivation behind his removal was his criticism of Reform UK's party structure, policy and communication and criticism of Farage himself. Lowe concluded by saying Farage "must never be [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]]". Farage himself did not comment on the leaks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj0qgnvqmm5o|title=Reform UK row: Leaked messages reveal Farage fury with Lowe|first1=Chris|last1=Mason|first2=Laura|last2=Kuenssberg|work=BBC News|date=20 March 2025}}</ref>

==== Dismissal of the legal proceedings against Lowe ====
On 14 May 2025 the [[Crown Prosecution Service]] (CPS) announced that there was insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction related to allegations of threats towards Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf, after a thorough review of the evidence, including multiple witness statements.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-14 |title=Ex-Reform MP Lowe will not face charges over alleged threats |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cnv138z2gl9o |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Penna |first=Dominic |date=2025-05-14 |title=Rupert Lowe brands Farage ‘a coward and a viper’ after Reform allegations dropped |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/05/14/rupert-lowe-not-prosecuted-reform-bullying-allegations/ |access-date=2025-05-14 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}</ref>