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By Alexandra Rogers, political reporter

Senior members of Reform UK are embroiled in a bitter row – with certainly one of its MPs being suspended from the celebration.

Rupert Lowe, the MP for Nice Yarmouth, misplaced the celebration whip over the weekend, that means he’ll now sit as an impartial within the Commons.

It is a setback for Nigel Farage, who’s been on a mission to “professionalise” Reform because it surged into the lead within the polls.

However how did the row begin, and what now for Lowe?

Alleged threats of bodily violence

Lowe, former chairman of Southampton Soccer Membership, was suspended final week after Reform reported him to the police over alleged threats of bodily violence in direction of the celebration’s chairman, Zia Yusuf.

An announcement from Yusuf and Lee Anderson, the chief whip, additionally mentioned the celebration had acquired complaints from two feminine workers about alleged severe bullying in Lowe’s places of work.

Lowe, who served as a member of the European Parliament for the Brexit Occasion, has strongly denied the allegations.

What has Lowe mentioned?

In response to the allegations, Lowe mentioned the celebration management had a “full incapacity to just accept even probably the most gentle constructive criticism with out such a malicious response”.

In an extra assertion on X, Lowe mentioned: “Ever since this malicious assault on my fame was launched, all I’ve requested for from each Reform and the KC is the credible proof in opposition to me.”

He mentioned that “none has been supplied” as a result of “there is no such thing as a credible proof in opposition to me”.

He added: “I can’t have my identify dragged via the mud as a part of a political assassination as a result of I dared to query Nigel Farage.”

Disagreement

Lowe’s assertion suggests he believes he has been suspended from the celebration as a result of he selected to criticise Farage.

In a latest interview with the Every day Mail, Lowe mentioned whereas Farage was a “fiercely impartial particular person” with “messianic qualities”, that didn’t equate to “sage management”.

These phrases may have struck a nerve with Farage after Elon Musk – the Tesla and House X billionaire who has change into certainly one of Donald Trump’s closest allies – urged the Reform chief “would not have what it takes” and that Lowe ought to take over.

Farage has dismissed the incident and claimed Lowe’s suspension was a results of “inappropriate” behaviour.

“If the final basic election taught us something, it’s that the general public doesn’t like political events that have interaction in fixed infighting,” he wrote in The Every day Telegraph.

Reform’s deputy chief Richard Tice informed Sky Information it was “proper and correct” {that a} KC had been appointed.

Since then, the lawyer appointed to research the claims in opposition to Lowe – who has remained nameless – has denied saying they have been “shocked” concerning the celebration’s course of.