The internal conflict within Reform UK has intensified, with leader Nigel Farage declaring there is “no way back” for suspended MP Rupert Lowe. Farage accused Lowe of seeking to inflict “maximum damage” on the party and attempting to win the support of billionaire Elon Musk.
The dispute between Farage and Lowe has been ongoing for several days, following Lowe’s suspension last Friday over allegations of making “verbal threats” against Reform UK chair Zia Yusuf. Lowe, however, claims he is the victim of a “political assassination” by Farage, accusing the Reform leader of silencing him for questioning his “messianic” leadership style.
Farage defended the suspension, stating that Lowe’s behavior and the allegations against him left the party with no choice. Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice echoed this sentiment, telling the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg that the party had a “duty of care” and that suspending Lowe was the “right and proper” decision.
Lowe has countered these claims, alleging that Farage’s team instructed him to remove a call to deport foreign nationals complicit in Pakistani grooming gangs during a speech in Essex. He accused Reform UK of silencing him on the issue, which he described as a critical concern for the party.
In a significant escalation, Farage told The Daily Telegraph that Lowe had threatened to “slit the throat of the Reform Party” and was now focused on causing “maximum destruction and damage.” Farage also claimed that Lowe is attempting to position himself as a champion of addressing the Pakistani grooming gangs scandal to win over Elon Musk’s support.
Reports have surfaced suggesting that Musk, a billionaire ally of former U.S. President Donald Trump, may back a rival political party involving Lowe. Musk has been vocal on social media, calling for a national inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal and even suggesting that Farage should be replaced as Reform UK leader. Musk endorsed Lowe as a potential successor, further fueling tensions between Lowe and Farage.
In response to Farage’s comments, Lowe took to social media, stating that Reform UK “should not belong to Farage, but to its members.” He called for a vote among party members to determine his future within the party, challenging Farage to prove Reform UK’s democratic credentials. Lowe dismissed Farage’s claims as “desperate” and accused the party leadership of conducting a “malicious witch hunt” against him without credible evidence.
The ongoing feud highlights the deepening divisions within Reform UK, raising questions about the party’s future direction and leadership.
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