UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Rupert Lowe, an ex-Reform UK MP, has filed defamation claims against Nigel Farage, Lee Anderson, and Zia Yusuf, alleging their bullying accusations were false.
As reported by The Guardian, Rupert Lowe, the former Reform UK MP suspended in March, has launched legal action against Nigel Farage and two senior party officials, claiming their bullying accusations were damaging.
What did Rupert Lowe claim about the Reform Party row?
Ex-Reform MP, now an independent, is suing Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, Chief Whip Lee Anderson, and Party Chair Zia Yusuf over remarks he claims “seriously harmed” his public image.
The Great Yarmouth MP was suspended after a joint statement by Lee Anderson and Zia Yusuf, who said two women had accused him of bullying, and he allegedly made violent threats against Yusuf on two occasions.
He has dismissed the accusations, insisting he was targeted for questioning Farage’s “messianic” leadership during a media interview and calling for reform within the party.
What did Rupert Lowe say about defamation claims against Reform UK leaders?
Reform UK released a report by a King’s Counsel later in the month, stating that two women had presented “credible” evidence of bullying or harassment by Lowe and his team.
Mr Lowe posted on X, claiming that Yusuf and Anderson spread false allegations. He stated,
“The statement was read by millions and has caused serious harm to my reputation. I believe it was published as part of a concerted smear campaign against me after I made comments about the party’s leader Nigel Farage.”
He said,
“I have today instructed my solicitors Brett Wilson LLP to send letters of claim to Reform’s leader and director Nigel Farage, Mr Anderson and Mr Yusuf asserting claims for defamation.”
The former Reform MP added,
“I call on the party, Mr Farage, Mr Anderson and Mr Yusuf to do the right thing and retract these false allegations. In the event that they are unwilling to do so it is my intention to issue high court proceedings. Whilst I have no desire to litigate, I will do what is necessary to ensure my reputation is restored.”
PRESS STATEMENT BY RUPERT LOWE MP
— Rupert Lowe MP (@RupertLowe10) April 17, 2025
On 7 March 2025 Lee Anderson and Zia Yusuf signed and published a statement on behalf of Reform UK. Mr Anderson and Mr Yusuf are respectively the party’s chief whip and chairman.
The statement falsely alleged, amongst other things, that I had…
What’s behind Lowe and Farage’s tensions over migration and culture wars?
Mr Lowe and Mr Farage’s conflict deepened over differing views on migration and culture wars. The suspended MP, Lowe, with his large following on X, often pushes for the mass deportation of over a million migrants and criticises crime from “alien cultures.”
Despite Mr. Farage’s criticism, Mr Lowe has garnered backing from Elon Musk, who has retweeted his posts and even endorsed him over Farage in January.
What did Rupert Lowe say about Nigel Farage’s leadership and Reform UK?
In an interview with the Daily Mail, he stated, “We have to change from being a protest party led by the Messiah into being a properly structured party with a front bench, which we don’t have.”
Mr Lowe added,
“We have to start behaving as if we are leading and not merely protesting. Nigel is a messianic figure who is at the core of everything but he has to learn to delegate, as not everything can go through one person.”
What did Nigel Farage say in response to Rupert Lowe’s criticism of Reform UK?
Mr Farage responded to Mr Lowe’s comments by saying,
“We are not a protest party in any way at all. That is utterly, completely wrong. We are an entirely positive party. Come to any Reform event and the positivity, the energy – perhaps he should come to one or two.”
When asked why Mr Lowe had gone public with his remarks, Reform UK leader said,
“Perhaps he wants to be Prime Minister – most people in politics do… his comments are wrong, we are making gigantic strides.”
How did Richard Tice respond to Rupert Lowe’s comments?
In response to Rupert Lowe’s comments, Richard Tice, Reform’s Deputy Leader, said, “There’s no harm in a bit of challenge.”
He added,
“Rupert is doing a good job. He’s working hard. We’re all working hard. We’ve got a small number of MPs. We’re growing in the polls, and that’s because we’ve got the policies to get this country growing” before adding that Mr Lowe is “a businessman, we’re all from the world of business, we get things done.”