Reform's uncivil war: claims of bullying 'nothing to do with Lowe' says ex-Tory MP

Rupert Lowe has seized on new claims that the allegations of inappropriate behaviour made by female members of staff "had nothing to do with him".

- ARCHIE MITCHELL, DAVID MADDOX

Mr Lowe has suggested he has been stitched up by the party leadership, including Nigel Farage, with the Great Yarmouth MP telling The Independent that he is a victim of “total lies” against him. But it came after the top lawyer brought in to investigate the allegations denied his claims that she said there was “zero credible evidence” against him in a bullying probe.

The King’s Counsel KC hired to examine allegations against Mr Lowe denied telling the MP she had expressed “shock and dismay” over the investigation. Mr Lowe has had the Reform whip removed after the party said it was investigating him over claims of “serious bullying” and “targeting of female staff”. It said it had also reported him to police over alleged threats made towards the party’s chair.

However, former Tory and Reclaim Party MP Andrew Bridgen, who previously employed one of the members of staff who made the complaint and recommended her to Mr Lowe, claimed yesterday he had received her permission to say that the MP had “nothing to do with” the complaint personally.

He said: “The plot thickens. One of my former parliamentary aides went on to work for Rupert Lowe – she is one of the staff involved in these allegations against him. She has told me that her original complaint had nothing to do with Rupert personally and was related to the actions of another member of his staff. I have her permission to post this tweet.”

Mr Lowe responded: “Finally. The main staff member involved has confirmed that her allegations are NOT about me. The second staff member’s allegations are also NOT about me. Reform must now retract and apologise.”