A KC’s report finds ‘credible’ bullying allegations against Rupert Lowe—he calls it a ‘smear job’

Reform UK has been rocked by scandal as a KC’s report finds “credible” allegations of bullying and harassment against suspended MP Rupert Lowe. The damning inquiry, led by senior barrister Jacqueline Perry KC, outlines accusations from two female staff members who claim Lowe fostered a toxic work environment. The MP has furiously denied the findings, branding them “outright lies” and accusing his own party of launching a “wicked” smear campaign against him.

The report follows a bitter internal feud between Lowe and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. Earlier this month, Lowe was stripped of the party whip—an act he insists was politically motivated after he publicly criticised Farage. However, the inquiry paints a different picture, one in which staff suffered under relentless intimidation.

Two women, one working in Lowe’s Westminster office and the other a case worker in his Great Yarmouth constituency, described an oppressive and degrading workplace. The Westminster aide alleged she was subjected to “constant criticism meted out unpleasantly and harshly” by a senior staffer. When she raised concerns with Lowe in December 2024, he allegedly dismissed her outright. A second attempt to address the issue was met with “hostility and disdain”. The report states that Lowe made it clear he had no intention of intervening, telling the staffer that the person she accused was “his man” and that she could “make other arrangements” if she was unhappy.

The case worker in Great Yarmouth faced inappropriate comments from another staffer. The report reveals WhatsApp messages where she was called “weird” and subjected to remarks referencing autism. Perry KC, after reviewing the messages, stated they “do not make for comfortable reading”. Both women described “considerable stress and suffering” due to their treatment. The KC concluded their testimonies were “credible” and that Lowe had “failed to act on their concerns.”

Lowe refused to engage with the inquiry and has responded with a blistering attack on Reform UK. In a series of lengthy tweets, he rejected the findings as “filled with hearsay and outright lies”. He insists the investigation was a “politically motivated hit job”, designed to punish him for his interview with the Daily Mail, in which he criticised Farage. Lowe claims Farage’s team knew about the article days before the inquiry was launched, implying that his removal was premeditated.

Beyond denying the allegations, Lowe has accused Reform UK of “deploying woke HR lawfare” to smear him and his staff. He condemned the party’s handling of the affair as “truly despicable”, adding: “I am ashamed to have been part of such a rotten organisation.”

Lowe’s suspension was initially linked to a separate issue—threats he allegedly made against Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf, which remain under police investigation. That matter was outside the scope of Perry KC’s report, but its existence further fuels the perception of a party in chaos.

With allegations of bullying, internal feuds, and police scrutiny all circling Reform UK, Farage now faces a major test of his leadership. Lowe, meanwhile, shows no sign of backing down, setting the stage for an even uglier confrontation in the weeks ahead.