Nigel Farage reportedly slammed the behaviour of suspended Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe as “disgusting” and “contemptible” in private WhatsApp messages. Text messages, seen by the BBC, show that Reform’s leader accused Mr Lowe of “damaging the party just before elections” in a newspaper interview which took aim at the party’s leadership.
Reform UK has denied there was any connection between Mr Lowe’s suspension and his criticism of Reform. Mr Lowe, the MP for Great Yarmouth, was suspended by Reform on 7 March and referred to the police.
Reform issued a statement claiming he had made threats of violence against party chairman Zia Yusuf and said it had received allegations of bullying in his offices. Mr Lowe strongly denies all the allegations.
His suspension came two days after he had called Reform a “protest party” run by a “Messiah” in a newspaper interview.
Several messages between Mr Farage and a long-time activist who has worked for Mr Lowe in recent years appeared to highlight Mr Farage’s personal anger with his MP about the newspaper comments.
The activist says: “Why on earth wouldn’t they let the KC finish her investigation? She is horrified. I am pleading with you. This is [redacted] madness.”
Mr Farage responds: “Because he is damaging the party just before elections. Disgusting.”
The activist replied: “Right. So it’s not about the investigation then?”
But Mr Farage answers to say “Of course. It is.”
The activist then pressed him, asking: “So why not let it finish before going public?”
Referring to local elections, Mr Farage said: “But beyond that he is contemptible. Thousands of people working hard for May 1st.”
In the WhatsApp exchanges, Reform’s leader was asked whether the row could have been better handled.
He said that given the allegations of bullying “in the current world we have to take this seriously and to be seen to take this seriously”.
Responding to the BBC’s article, Mr Lowe said: “In messages, uncovered through a BBC investigation, Nigel Farage personally admits the real reason why he removed me from Reform.
“It was because I raised reasonable and constructive criticisms about Reform structure, policy, and communication in the Daily Mail interview. That is why they have tried to disgracefully ruin my reputation.”
A longer statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Lowe adds: “Nigel Farage must never be Prime Minister.”
Reform UK has been contacted for comment.