Farage is running a cult, says ex-Reform MP Lowe

Former Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe has accused Nigel Farage's party of being "the cult of Nigel" and says he was the victim of a "political assassination attempt".

Speaking to Victoria Derbyshire on BBC Newsnight, Lowe suggested his relationship with Reform UK changed when "Elon Musk came out and was complimentary about me and less complimentary about Nigel".

The Great Yarmouth MP made the comments in his first broadcast interview since the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to press charges over threats he was alleged to have made.

Reform UK declined to comment on Lowe's latest attack on Farage, who has previously dismissed the row as irrelevant to the continued advance of the party.

Sarah Pochin, who earlier this month won the Runcorn and Helsby by-election for Reform, described herself as Lowe's "replacement" on the party's benches in Parliament and also played down the Lowe spat.

"I really think it is white noise around what is a huge, energetic movement now, Reform, coming across the country and coming for the other two parties," she told the BBC.

Lowe was elected as a Reform MP in last year's general election but was suspended by the party in March, amid claims of threats towards its chairman Zia Yusuf.

In his Newsnight interview, Lowe said of Farage's "brutal" leadership style "If people become, if you like, too tall a poppy, he tends to lop off the head of the poppy".

On Reform UK's leadership, Lowe said Farage has "a team of what I call, very long-term lightweight sort of servants, which is what you tend to find in a cult."

The independent MP added that he didn't think Farage is "fit to be leader".

"I think he's ultimately a very good, what I would call, ballroom entertainer. And he stands up and he entertains, and he's extremely good at that."

On Wednesday, Malcolm McHaffie, head of the CPS, said it made the decision not to press charges on Mr Lowe "following a thorough and detailed review of the evidence".

Although the CPS statement does not name Lowe, the case relates to an incident at the Palace of Westminster in December 2024.

Lowe maintains that the claims made against him are untrue. "Why did they do it? I think it was a political assassination attempt."

"I think Nigel is running a cult. That's what I concluded, and I think it's the cult of Nigel. And anyone who basically has a different opinion, is effectively expunged from, being a threat to, to the cult."

Lowe also revealed that his firearms were confiscated from his home by police, following his row with Reform.

"We had an unannounced visitation from four armed police officers in three cars", he said.

"They came and they took all my guns away."

Lowe declined to say if he would launch a new political party, suggesting instead that "the most powerful instrument for change probably would be reformed Tory party".

"I could join the Tories tomorrow if I wanted to. I don't have an issue with the Tories," he added.

However, Lowe also suggested he would "make sure there's an alternative" to the existing political offerings, adding "if people think I'm going to pack up my tent to leave the field, they're very wrong."

When asked about what support this "alternative" might gain, Lowe suggested Elon Musk "broadly, would consider supporting us" in a future political venture.

"I can't speak for him, but would I be grateful and would I feel good about his verbal support? Yes. Financial support? Yes. If he chose to do that, it would be fantastic."

Watch Rupert Lowe's interview on Newsnight on BBC Two at 22:30 BST.