Sort out this spat or the party will be over for Reform

THERE is no question that Nigel Farage is one of the most successful campaigners and politicians of recent years.

- Duncan Barkers

However, the last few days have seen Reform UK, his current political vehicle, in the headlines for the wrong reasons.

A public spat is being played out between the party and Rupert Lowe, its recently suspended MP for Great Yarmouth. Lowe is currently sitting as an independent MP after Reform withdrew the party whip.

He has been accused of bullying and inappropriate behaviour towards staff, as well as threatening Reform UK’s chairman, Zia Yusuf, with physical violence.

Lowe strongly denies these allegations. He has branded his treatment a “witch hunt”. On social media he has offered to meet Farage for dinner so the two of them can talk things over. But the unseemly spat threatens to upset Reform’s meteoric rise.

Its roots appear to lie in an interview Lowe gave last week in which he criticised the party leadership by suggesting Reform needed to change from being a “protest party led by the Messiah”. He also said that Farage needed to “learn to delegate”.

Lowe is a highly successful businessman and has proven himself to be an effective politician in the House of Commons since his arrival last July. But it’s questionable the wisdom behind making such public comments and its damage to party unity.