Reform's Rupert Lowe suspended

eazybee

Rupert Lowe does not take his Parliamentary salary; it goes to local charities in his constituency.

Ah now that’s a completely different kettle of fish well done him. I cannot support Reform but this guy does seem decent!

I’ve noticed that Richard Tice has been remarkably quiet about this issue, I wonder where his sympathies lie?

I agree. Farage instead of genuine party building in the UK went off to America returning - it seemed at one point - with huge Musk funds. And lining his own pockets at conferences,

All now for what?

Lee Anderson is scarcely a reliable character witness. He has defected from the Labour party to the Conservatives, then to Reform; three political parties in less than ten years.

Farage made a huge mistake in allying himself with Trump, who at present has no use for him. I do not support Reform in any way, but the fallout was inevitable, only rather sooner than predicted. Their supporters need to do some serious political thinking about the future and not be taken in by loud music, turquoise balloons and fireworks.

Rupert Lowe's X this morning ignored the row but went full on about mass deportations.

LBC this morning reports Lowe as saying

"Suspended MP Rupert Lowe says he had been "warned" by leadership figures in Reform UK about being "outspoken on the need for a large number of deportations" - as the row within the party rumbles on"

LBC
www.lbc.co.uk/politics/parties/reform-uk/rupert-lowe-reform-nigel-farage-row/

Lowe seems to be making a bid to occupy the extreme ground that many reform supporters might agree with, but how does this help heal Reform?

I can’t help thinking this is all a lot of small willy-waving from an equally small group of deeply unpleasant man who think they are more significant than they are. The “save the country” hubris from Anderson is straight out of Drawbridge Yusuf’s book of sycophancy. And what is this “no man is bigger than our party” nonsense? Has Anderson even read the Reform constitution which makes it virtually impossible to get rid of Farage? The individual posturing in the Telegraph is pathetic but the comments are interesting. They show how unpopular Reform is. Farage’s worshipping of Agent Orange has done him no favours - and that they are all (bar McMurdock possibly) in the pay of Musk won’t either.

It doesn't sound like they are making it up to me:

Lee Anderson yesterday morning on X

"At Reform UK we have a monumental task on our hands in order to save our country.

There is a huge amount of pressure on Nigel and our team to deliver for the British public. I did not come into politics for personal gain, like my colleagues I stepped forward because I wanted to help save my country.

Joining Reform UK is the best thing I have ever done in politics and this is our last chance to turn things around in our country. But politics is a team game and we must work as a team. I was the first ever Reform UK MP and my first loyalty will always be to my country. I have a great deal of respect for Rupert Lowe and as his Chief Whip I have bent over backwards to be fair with him since he entered Parliament.

But his unwillingness to cooperate in an investigation into his behaviour has meant the Parliamentary party cannot function effectively whilst Rupert is a Reform UK MP.

There is far too much at stake and by not taking decisive action we would risk losing everything we have built up.

I bare no malice towards Rupert and to remove the whip was a deeply painful thing to do, but delivering for our country must come first and no man is bigger than our party.

Lee Anderson

Chief Whip"

Daily Mail yesterday "Rupert Lowe blasts Lee Anderson as a 'pathetic, vindictive' LIAR after chief whip said 'no man is bigger than our party' as Reform UK's civil war explodes"

7 hours ago "Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has defended the decision to suspend one of his MPs, as he warned against "constant infighting" within political parties.

Writing in the Telegraph, Farage acknowledged the row had "dented" the "sense of unity" in Reform but said it would have been "inconceivable" not to take action."

Reports 5 hours ago report on the internal row
www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/mar/09/from-trump-whisperer-to-trouble-angry-reform-uk-mps-turn-on-farage

The interview with Ben Habib hinted that both he and Rupert Lowe were successful and wealthy businessmen. They were motivated to enter politics out of a sense of duty to their country. Unlike some.
It’s time for Farage to democratise Reform and stop it being a private company.

Rupert Lowe does not take his Parliamentary salary; it goes to local charities in his constituency.

Wyllow3

This is an excellent article on that and other issues if you can access.
www.independent.co.uk/voices/nigel-farage-reform-rupert-lowe-keir-starmer-popularity-b2711433.html

basically to paraphrase "this was the week the chickens came home to roost"

Great piece, thanks for sharing

Mt61

You are probably correct Pascal30- think farage should let Rupert take the lead, especially since he’s never around. Last I heard I think they have made up.
Rupert seems a decent bloke, I believe he puts his own money back into his constituency- may have heard wrong though.

If this is true, (his own money back into his constituency) I don’t think this is a good thing personally.

IMO all it does is cause an “imbalance” between how constituencies are treated. Public money to support them, yes, private money? I’m not so sure, smacks a bit of “buying votes”

You are probably correct Pascal30- think farage should let Rupert take the lead, especially since he’s never around. Last I heard I think they have made up.
Rupert seems a decent bloke, I believe he puts his own money back into his constituency- may have heard wrong though.

This is an excellent article on that and other issues if you can access.
www.independent.co.uk/voices/nigel-farage-reform-rupert-lowe-keir-starmer-popularity-b2711433.html

basically to paraphrase "this was the week the chickens came home to roost"

Cossy

eazybee

Why is anybody surprised?
Farage cannot work with anyone but himself. This was inevitable, although sooner than I expected.

Indeed. Farage also isn’t a stayer, once he’s bored or losing support, off he trots. Don’t forget he wasn’t even going to stand as an MP and then de-chaired Tice!

Yes, how many parties is that? As well as being an MEP.
No sooner did he get elected as an MP he got bored with that and went off to pursue other interests.

I agree Cossy about the LP .. and continue being a member of the Lib Dems

Mt61

Ben Habib was the best by far. I won’t be voting any for party next time as I don’t think there are any good politicians, labour just chop & change their minds on just about everything. Tories wasted fourteen years doing nothing much. As for Reform well they just keep fighting each other for attention.

You do make a very good point here!

I’m still holding out for the LP to
come right in the end, and the LibDems to strengthen

Ilovecheese

I am thinking about Starmer's attitude towards immigration. The bragging about how many people are being deported and the videos of people being deported.

The problem here is if this isn’t done then no one believes the LP is doing anything about immigration.

Damned if they do, damned if they don’t.

Someone on here used to absolutely relish publishing the figures of the number of Aslyum Seekers arriving on small boats. (Completing ignoring the facts that there were deportations and that refugees still only represent a very small % of our overall population. )

As an aside, I have noticed a distinct lack of Farage and Trump supporters posting on here of late? 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

eazybee

Why is anybody surprised?
Farage cannot work with anyone but himself. This was inevitable, although sooner than I expected.

Indeed. Farage also isn’t a stayer, once he’s bored or losing support, off he trots. Don’t forget he wasn’t even going to stand as an MP and then de-chaired Tice!

Ilovecheese

I am thinking about Starmer's attitude towards immigration. The bragging about how many people are being deported and the videos of people being deported.

It's informing a public who would otherwise not know - yet still grumble/mock that this government is doing nothing.

The people being deported have gone through the asylum seeker process properly.

Ilovecheese

I am thinking about Starmer's attitude towards immigration. The bragging about how many people are being deported and the videos of people being deported.

What is wrong with informing the electorate that they are doing something about illegal immigration? At least they aren’t lying ( I’m thinking about Farages disgusting pre referendum poster ).

I am thinking about Starmer's attitude towards immigration. The bragging about how many people are being deported and the videos of people being deported.

Mt61

Ben Habib was the best by far. I won’t be voting any for party next time as I don’t think there are any good politicians, labour just chop & change their minds on just about everything. Tories wasted fourteen years doing nothing much. As for Reform well they just keep fighting each other for attention.

I think that's the problem with them being multi millionaires Mt61

There are ongoing threads on International Women's day and Andrew Tate atm so its worth reminding ourselves that although there was basically a political "coup" going on, as far as women go Rupert Lowe is a pretty nasty piece of work - and he's not the only one in Reform.

And this is unfortunately backed up as Farage has made a big play, like /trump/Vance/musk in the States,

for young male voters. Also, often tying it in with perceived "white racism"

What a gruesome quintette they make sitting in parliament - although their attendance at parliament and their constituencies doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.

I notice that Farage in particular did not attend the immigration debate. 😮

Ben Habib was the best by far. I won’t be voting any for party next time as I don’t think there are any good politicians, labour just chop & change their minds on just about everything. Tories wasted fourteen years doing nothing much. As for Reform well they just keep fighting each other for attention.