The Metropolitan Police has launched an investigation into suspended Reform MP Rupert Lowe.
It comes after the social gathering revealed they’d referred him to police and stripped him of the whip on Friday, alleging he made “verbal threats” in opposition to chairman Zia Yousaf – which Mr Lowe denies.
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They added: “Our unique assertion referred to alleged threats made in December 2024. We want to make clear that when this matter was reported to us it referred to a sequence of alleged threats made between December 2024 and February 2025.
“Further enquiries are ongoing at this stage.”
In response to the replace Mr Lowe mentioned he was unaware of the precise allegations however denied wrongdoing.
“I have instructed lawyers to represent me in this matter,” he mentioned.
“My attorneys have made contact with the Met Police, and have made them conscious of my willingness to co-operate in any needed investigation.
“My lawyers have not yet received any contact from the Police. It is highly unusual for the police to disclose anything to the media at this stage of an investigation.
“I stay unaware of the precise allegations, however in any occasion, I deny any wrongdoing.
“The allegations are entirely untrue.”
Why was Rupert Lowe suspended?
In a press release on Friday, Reform claimed it had acquired proof from employees of “derogatory and discriminating remarks made about women” by Mr Lowe, 67, who was elected to his Nice Yarmouth seat final yr.
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Reform UK row: Who mentioned what?
The assertion additionally claimed Mr Lowe had “on at least two occasions made threats of physical violence” in opposition to Mr Yusuf and “accordingly, this matter is with the police”.
Mr Lowe denied the claims, describing them as “vexatious” and mentioned it was “no surprise” that it had come a day after he raised “reasonable and constructive questions” about Reform chief Nigel Farage.
In an interview with the Every day Mail on Thursday, Mr Lowe had mentioned Reform stays a “protest party led by the Messiah” beneath the Clacton MP.
Requested whether or not he thought the previous UKIP chief had the potential to change into prime minister, as his supporters have prompt, Mr Lowe mentioned: “It’s too early to know whether Nigel will deliver the goods. He can only deliver if he surrounds himself with the right people.”
Learn Extra:The Reform row: What has occurred and what has been mentioned?
He additionally claimed that he was “barely six months into being an MP” himself and “in the betting to be the next prime minister.”
Confrontation escalates
These phrases may have struck a nerve with Mr Farage after Elon Musk, the Tesla and Area X billionaire who has change into one in every of Donald Trump’s closest allies, prompt the Reform chief “doesn’t have what it takes” and that Mr Lowe ought to take over.
The pair launched bitter private assaults on one another in articles for the Sunday Telegraph, with Mr Farage accusing Mr Lowe of falling out with all his fellow Reform MPs attributable to “outbursts” and “inappropriate” language.
He additionally quoted Labour minister Mike Kane, who mentioned after a confrontation with Mr Lowe within the Commons that his anger “showed a man not in charge of his own faculties”.
In his article, Mr Lowe repeated his declare that there isn’t a credible proof in opposition to him, mentioned he was the sufferer of a “witch hunt” and that the Reform UK management was unable even to simply accept essentially the most delicate constructive criticism.
