Reform UK has been drawn deeper into internal strife after being served with legal papers from staff members of suspended MP Rupert Lowe, who claim they were defamed in the party’s internal report on workplace bullying.
Four employees from Lowe’s team are pursuing a libel case following the publication of the report, which publicly named them in connection with bullying complaints without, they argue, a legal basis for doing so.
Legal representatives confirmed on Wednesday that proceedings have been initiated, with one of the named individuals understood to have been pregnant at the time of the report’s release.
This legal challenge is separate from another action launched by Lowe himself earlier this month.
The former Reform UK MP for Great Yarmouth—who now sits as an independent—announced he is suing party figurehead Nigel Farage, chief whip Lee Anderson, and party chair Zia Yusuf over what he described as damaging and defamatory allegations.
Lowe accuses the three of falsely accusing him of bullying staff and making verbal threats, allegations he says have inflicted “serious harm to my reputation”.
Staff Deny Claims as Legal Battle Escalates
In a statement issued by their legal counsel, the four staff members strongly denied the accusations levelled against them in Reform UK’s report and said they were taking action “to correct the public record and seek appropriate redress for the impact of the publication”.
“Our clients strenuously deny the allegations and are fully prepared to bring this matter before the courts,” the statement added.
The latest development follows a joint declaration in March by Anderson and Yusuf, who stated that Reform had received “serious complaints” from two female staff members alleging bullying within Lowe’s parliamentary office. The statement further claimed Lowe had twice issued threats of violence against Yusuf.
Lowe has firmly rejected the accusations, suggesting that his outspoken criticism of Reform UK’s internal culture and its perceived over-reliance on Nigel Farage’s “messianic” leadership made him a target within the party.
Police Investigation and Legal Fallout
The Metropolitan Police confirmed in March that they are investigating the alleged threats, said to have occurred between December 2024 and February 2025.
Later that month, Reform UK published the findings of a report by a barrister commissioned to assess the internal complaints.
The report concluded that two women had provided “credible” accounts of bullying or harassment involving Lowe and his team.
The escalating legal disputes mark a turbulent chapter for Reform UK as it grapples with internal divisions, leadership challenges, and mounting public scrutiny in the run-up to the next general election.
