Lowe is very vocal and active on social media, very active on asking parliamentary questions, and I think generally respected for donating his MP salary to charity. Elon Musk named him as the person who should lead Reform instead of Farage so that will have been seen by millions.
Anyway, Lowe has just posted an interesting update on twitter
"This is important. I want to break down the Reform statement about me in full, and show you how it is maliciously concocted to drag my name through the mud with zero credible evidence against me. All because I dared to pose a few reasonable questions of Reform’s leadership.
“It is with regret that we feel obligated to disclose that the party received complaints from two female employees about serious bullying in the offices of the Member of Parliament for Great Yarmouth, Rupert Lowe.”
These allegations are not against me personally, but the ‘office’. Both of these employees only raised their complaints once disciplinary proceedings had started against both of them for serious offences. They both admitted to these offences. No complaints whatsoever before. Parliamentary HR were involved in every step of the way, and full parliamentary process was followed. One of the individuals later dropped her appeal. They were Parliamentary employees, not Reform employees.
“One worked in his Parliamentary office, the other in his Constituency office, we understand complaints have been made to Parliamentary authorities.”
I have heard nothing from the Parliamentary authorities. Again, HR have been fully supportive every step of the way. I have a huge amount of evidence to prove it.
“Evidence was provided to us of workplace bullying, the targeting of female staff who raised concerns, and evidence of derogatory and discriminatory remarks made about women, including reference to a perceived disability.”
I did NOT make these remarks. The comments mentioned refer to a different member of staff's remarks, vindictively leaked in private WhatsApp messages by one of the individuals who was going through the disciplinary process. She resigned before that process could finish.
Are MPs now responsible for mildly inappropriate comments that their staff make in private conversations?
Reform has deliberately conflated these accusations to make me look guilty.
Again, there is NO credible evidence against me of any bullying whatsoever.
“We feel we have a duty of care to all our staff, whether employed directly or indirectly. Accordingly, we appointed an independent King’s Counsel to conduct an investigation into the veracity of these complaints. To date, Mr. Lowe has yet to cooperate with this investigation.”
False. I have spoken with the KC at length, on multiple occasions. I have asked for credible evidence against me, none has been provided. To say I have not cooperated is an outright lie, and my legal team are on this.
“In addition to these allegations of a disturbing pattern of behaviour, Mr. Lowe has on at least two occasions made threats of physical violence against our Party Chairman. Accordingly, this matter is with the Police.”
This is total nonsense. In December, Zia and I had a robust debate. We moved on, or so I thought.
This was then reported to the police the day after I raised concerns about the party leadership, months after the event. What a disgraceful waste of police time. Weaponising the process to blacken my name.
“Reform stands for the highest standards of conduct in public life, and we will apply these standards without fear nor favour, including within our own party.”
So we are clear - it is now Reform policy to remove MPs if staff members make vexatious complaints? Even whilst they are going through a disciplinary procedure following serious offences? Before any investigation is even allowed to start?
Do they want to go down this path? Really?
All of this, and more, is with my legal team. I will not tolerate these falsehoods.
It is a vindictive witch hunt, all because I asked awkward questions of Nigel."
It certainly suggests that the Reform statement was misleading, I definitely got the impression that Lowe had made the derogatory and discriminatory remarks but apparently it was someone else.
I did wonder how long Farage would let Lowe stick around after the Musk endorsement so this suggestion of a stitch-up isn't entirely without merit.