Nigel Farage has suggested there’s no way back for ousted Reform MP Rupert Lowe, who has caught the eye of Elon Musk and has accused the party of a “witch hunt”
Reform UK’s civil war has deepened after Nigel Farage banished Elon Musk’s favourite MP, Rupert Lowe, for good.
The MPs have been locked in an ugly war of words since last week, when former Southampton FC chairman Mr Lowe questioned Mr Farage’s ability to lead. After being kicked out, he branded it a “malicious witch hunt” and challenged for members to be given a say on whether he is allowed to return.
The vicious spat has played out in public after Mr Lowe likened Mr Farage to a “Messiah” and hinted he might not stand alongside him at the next election. The following day Reform announced he had been suspended and reported to police over allegations he threatened chairman Zia Yusuf with violence. The party also made allegations of bullying of Parliamentary staff – all of which Mr Lowe denies.
It has set off a messy back-and-forth of claims and counter claims by the right-wing duo. And it’s done Mr Farage no favours at a time when voters were already worried about his handling of the crisis in Ukraine.
In an incendiary escalation Mr Farage claimed his rival had told chief whip Lee Anderson: “I will slit the throat of the Reform Party”. And to make matters worse for Reform chiefs, there are reports billionaire Mr Musk may back a rival party headed by Mr Lowe.
What did Rupert Lowe do?
Mr Lowe had a massive boost when Elon Musk singled him out after calling for Mr Farage to step down. It meant he was viewed as a potential leadership contender.
And in an interview with the Daily Mail last week he made it clear that things were not rosy between the two. He accused his then-boss of acting like a “messiah” and hinted he may walk away at the next election.
Mr Lowe brazenly dismissed Reform as a “protest party led by the Messiah” and said it needs “top to bottom” change. And in a blistering shot at Mr Farage he said: “I’m not going to be by Nigel’s side at the next election unless we have a proper plan to change the way we govern from top to bottom.”
Yikes. So then what happened?
The following day Reform issued an eye-opening statement saying Mr Lowe had been suspended – but not for his remarks.
The statement, signed by MP and chief whip Lee Anderson and chairman Zia Yusuf, reads: “Mr Lowe has on at least two occasions made threats of physical violence against our party chairman. Accordingly this matter is with the police.”
And it said the party had set up an investigation led by a King’s Counsel (KC) to investigate claims of bullying, but that Mr Lowe had not cooperated. Mr Lowe said the allegations were “untrue and false”.
He said: “I will not have my name dragged through the mud as part of a political assassination because I dared to question Nigel Farage.”
And it’s not quietened down since then?
Nope. The pair have spent the last few days taking shots at each other.
Mr Farage accused Mr Lowe of spreading “demoralisation” just before nominations close for local elections. Mr Lowe retorted: “It is incredible to hear Farage say these words… I raised reasonable concerns about Reform, and Farage’s leadership style.
“The day after that interview was published, they smeared my name and kicked me out. We all know what is really going on, including Farage.”
Is there a way back?
It would take a massive climbdown from Mr Farage, which doesn’t look likely. He told The Telegraph: “Basically, what is happening here is Rupert Lowe knows there’s no way back. And he said to Lee Anderson our whip and MP: ‘I will slit the throat of the Reform Party.’ He’s out to cause maximum destruction and damage.”
He went on to accuse Mr Lowe of “openly lying”. Mr Lowe was having none of it, hitting back: “Reform should not belong to Farage, it should belong to the members.
“Let them decide if I am welcome in the party. Hold a vote to see if they approve of this malicious witch hunt launched by Reform’s leadership. Farage claims Reform is a democratic party. I say prove it.”
So… how does Elon Musk fit into all of this?
Things may have become more fraught between the duo after Tesla tycoon Musk appeared to back Mr Lowe to lead Reform.
In January the billionaire said Mr Farage “doesn’t have what it takes” and went on to say he liked what he had seen of Mr Lowe. It immediately sparked talk of a leadership challenge.
Earlier this year Musk was claimed to be on the cusp of making a mega donation to Reform – but spectacularly appeared to have changed his mind. Following the fallout with Mr Lowe, The Telegraph has reported that he is now weighing up backing a rival hard-right party if the ousted MP decides to form one.
It looks like it, yes. If Mr Farage is the “Messiah” figure he is claimed to be, he has some work to do on his flock.
Polling by YouGov found that a third of Reform voters now think the party would do better under a different leader. Given he’s bragged about the party winning seats because of his return to frontline politics, that will be a bitter blow to Mr Farage.
However he can point to an equally devoted section of devotees, with 34% saying the party would be doing worse if he was not in charge. And a quarter say changing leader would make no impact at all.
What are police doing?
Police have launched a probe into allegations of “verbal threats” by the suspended Reform UK MP.
The party reported the Great Yarmouth MP to the Metropolitan Police on March 6 over alleged threats of physical violence against Zia Yusuf.
A Met Police spokesperson said: “The Metropolitan Police have now launched an investigation into an allegation of a series of verbal threats made by a 67 year old man.
“Our original statement referred to alleged threats made in December 2024. We would like to clarify that when this matter was reported to us it referred to a series of alleged threats made between December 2024 and February 2025. Further enquiries are ongoing at this stage.”
Mr Lowe said in a statement: “I have instructed lawyers to represent me in this matter. My lawyers have made contact with the Met Police, and have made them aware of my willingness to co-operate in any necessary 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 remain unaware of the specific allegations, but in any event, I deny any wrongdoing. The allegations are entirely untrue.”