Nigel Farage has declared there is “no way back” into Reform UK for suspended MP Rupert Lowe, intensifying the internal conflict that has gripped the party in recent days.
The Reform UK leader accused Mr. Lowe of being “out to cause maximum damage” and suggested he was now attempting to gain the backing of billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk.
The feud escalated following Mr. Lowe’s suspension last Friday over allegations of “verbal threats” against Reform chair Zia Yusuf. In response, Mr. Lowe has claimed he is the victim of a “political assassination” for questioning Mr. Farage’s “messianic” tendencies. He was suspended just a day later.
However, Mr. Farage has maintained that Mr. Lowe’s conduct left the party with no choice but to take disciplinary action. Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice echoed this stance, stating that the party had a “duty of care” and that suspending Mr. Lowe was the “right and proper” decision.
Amid the ongoing controversy, Mr. Lowe accused Reform UK leadership of “silencing” him on the issue of Pakistani grooming gangs. He claimed that during a speech in Essex, he was instructed by Mr. Farage’s team to remove a call to deport foreign national family members complicit in grooming crimes.
“Basically, what is happening here is Rupert Lowe knows there’s no way back. And he said to Lee Anderson, our whip and MP: ‘I will slit the throat of the Reform Party.’ He’s out to cause maximum destruction and damage.”
Nigel Farage
Mr. Farage also pointed out that Mr. Lowe was already under investigation by the Metropolitan Police and accused him of lying about conversations with an independent King’s Counsel. He further accused Mr. Lowe of positioning himself as “the only person who wants to deal with the Pakistani rape gangs.”
Elon Musk’s Influence in Reform UK’s Power Struggle
The party rift comes as reports suggest Mr. Lowe is seeking support Trump ally, Elon Musk. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO has been vocal on social media about his stance on the grooming gang scandal, even suggesting that Mr. Farage “does not have what it takes” to lead Reform UK.
Mr. Musk’s endorsement of Mr. Lowe as a potential successor has only fueled tensions. In response, Mr. Farage accused his former colleague of leveraging the dispute to appeal to Mr. Musk. “This is all an attempt not just to damage Reform, but to get Elon Musk thinking that he’s the good guy,” he stated.
Mr. Lowe, however, remained defiant, asserting that Reform UK should be controlled by its members rather than its leadership.
“Reform should not belong to Farage; it should belong to the members. Let them decide if I am welcome in the party. Hold a vote to see if they approve of this malicious witch hunt launched by Reform’s leadership. Farage claims Reform is a democratic party. I say prove it.”
Rupert Lowe
He also dismissed Mr. Farage’s latest accusations as “desperate.” “I said that Reform leadership was slitting its own throat by launching this horrific smear campaign against me, with zero credible evidence,” Mr. Lowe argued.
The turmoil within Reform UK comes as polling data suggests the party’s recent surge in popularity may have hit a ceiling. After weeks of rising support, the latest Techne UK poll places Reform at 25 percent for the third consecutive week, while Labour has pulled ahead to 28 percent, gaining momentum following Keir Starmer’s diplomatic engagements over the Ukraine crisis.
As internal divisions continue to dominate headlines, the future of Reform UK appears increasingly uncertain. Whether Mr. Lowe’s dismissal will stabilize the party or further fracture it remains to be seen.
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