In a latest twist in Reform UK’s internal row, party leader Nigel Farage has reportedly described the conduct of suspended MP Rupert Lowe as “disgusting” in private WhatsApp messages – a salvo that has further inflamed tensions within the party on the eve of crucial elections.
According to leaked messages obtained by the BBC, Farage accused the Great Yarmouth MP of “damaging the party just before elections”. The conversation, held with a member of Lowe’s staff – who is not currently a party member – emerged after Lowe publicly criticised Farage in a Daily Mail interview. In the WhatsApp exchange, Farage’s tone was unequivocal. “Because he is damaging the party just before elections. Disgusting,” Farage wrote, leaving little doubt about his frustration with Lowe’s recent actions.
The fallout from these revelations has been swift. Rupert Lowe, who has been suspended amid allegations that he threatened Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf – an accusation he vehemently denies – lashed out in response. In his latest public comments, Lowe condemned the leadership, stating, “These messages unquestionably prove that the Reform leadership has zero integrity.” He added that he would not work with what he described as a “rotten and deceitful Reform leadership” and declared that “Nigel Farage must never be prime minister.”
The background to the dispute centres on an internal investigation into allegations of misconduct against Lowe. It appears that the push for further scrutiny, including a lawyer being brought in to complete the investigation into his conduct, was met with immediate resistance from Farage. When questioned by Lowe’s staff member about the lack of independent legal oversight before the party removed the whip, Farage’s curt reply left no room for ambiguity. Moreover, when it was hinted that the investigation might be a retaliatory measure against Lowe’s previous criticisms of the party’s leadership, Farage responded dismissively: “We are definitely damaged and within two weeks of nominations. Awful.”
Farage’s uncompromising stance is not without wider implications. His comments have intensified the debate within Reform UK over the direction and integrity of its leadership as the party gears up for the May 1 elections. Farage, who has been credited with rebranding the party as a viable challenger ahead of the polls, insists that swift action – including the suspension of Lowe – was necessary to protect the party’s image and electoral prospects. “The attack on the party is separate but dreadful,” he told the PA news agency, emphasising that every action taken was with the party’s best interests at heart. “We have worked for seven months to build a party capable of contesting the May 1 elections at scale. Mr Lowe has not helped us at all.”
More Read
The fallout from Lowe’s suspension has already reverberated across party ranks. Deputy leader Richard Tice has previously denied any suggestion that Lowe’s suspension was linked to his public criticisms, maintaining that the decision was driven solely by concerns over bullying allegations in Lowe’s offices. Tice’s comments suggest an effort to distance the leadership from what some see as an increasingly personalised power struggle.
The internal strife comes at a particularly sensitive moment for Reform UK. As the party aims to consolidate its position and present a united front against larger political adversaries, divisions such as this risk undermining its credibility. For many within the party, the leaked WhatsApp messages are symptomatic of deeper issues – with critics arguing that personal vendettas and a lack of internal discipline are jeopardising the party’s long-term prospects.
As the dust settles on this latest scandal, both Farage and Lowe remain entrenched in their positions. With the elections drawing ever nearer, the battle lines within Reform UK have been redrawn in stark, uncompromising terms. Whether these internal conflicts can be resolved ahead of the electoral contest remains to be seen, but for now, the party finds itself mired in a bitter dispute that has captivated both members and observers alike.
