The Metropolitan Police has launched an investigation into suspended Reform MP Rupert Lowe.
It comes after the social gathering revealed they had referred him to police and stripped him of the whip on Friday, alleging he made “verbal threats” towards chairman Zia Yousaf – which Mr Lowe denies.
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A spokesperson for the Met instructed Sky Information they’ve now launched an investigation “into an allegation of a sequence of verbal threats made by a 67-year-old man”.
They added: “Our unique assertion referred to alleged threats made in December 2024. We wish to make clear that when this matter was reported to us, it referred to a sequence of alleged threats made between December 2024 and February 2025.
“Additional enquiries are ongoing at this stage.”
In response to the replace, Mr Lowe mentioned he was unaware of the precise allegations however denied wrongdoing.
“I’ve instructed attorneys to symbolize me on this matter,” he mentioned.
“My attorneys have made contact with the Met Police, and have made them conscious of my willingness to co-operate in any obligatory investigation.
“My attorneys haven’t but acquired any contact from the police. It’s extremely uncommon for the police to reveal something to the media at this stage of an investigation.
“I stay unaware of the precise allegations, however in any occasion, I deny any wrongdoing.
“The allegations are totally unfaithful.”
Why was Rupert Lowe suspended?
In a press release on Friday, Reform claimed it had acquired proof from employees of “derogatory and discriminating remarks made about girls” by Mr Lowe, 67, who was elected to his Nice Yarmouth seat final yr.
The assertion additionally claimed Mr Lowe had “on at the least two events made threats of bodily violence” towards Mr Yusuf and “accordingly, this matter is with the police”.
Mr Lowe denied the claims, describing them as “vexatious” and mentioned it was “no shock” that it had come a day after he raised “affordable and constructive questions” about Reform chief Nigel Farage.
In an interview with the Each day Mail on Thursday, Mr Lowe had mentioned Reform stays a “protest social gathering led by the Messiah” underneath the Clacton MP.
Requested whether or not he thought the previous UKIP chief had the potential to turn out to be prime minister, as his supporters have urged, Mr Lowe mentioned: “It is too early to know whether or not Nigel will ship the products. He can solely ship if he surrounds himself with the suitable folks.”
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He additionally claimed that he was “barely six months into being an MP” himself and “within the betting to be the subsequent prime minister”.
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These phrases may have struck a nerve with Mr Farage after Elon Musk, the Tesla and Area X billionaire who has turn out to be one among Donald Trump’s closest allies, urged the Reform chief “doesn’t have what it takes” and that Mr Lowe ought to take over.
The pair launched bitter private assaults on one another in articles for the Sunday Telegraph, with Mr Farage accusing Mr Lowe of falling out with all his fellow Reform MPs attributable to “outbursts” and “inappropriate” language.
He additionally quoted Labour minister Mike Kane, who mentioned after a confrontation with Mr Lowe within the Commons that his anger “confirmed a person not accountable for his personal schools”.
In his article, Mr Lowe repeated his declare there isn’t any credible proof towards him, mentioned he was the sufferer of a “witch hunt” and the Reform UK management was unable even to simply accept probably the most gentle constructive criticism.