Ex-Reform MP Rupert Lowe doesn’t rule out joining Tories – and could even set up his own party

Published

2 months ago

May 16, 2025

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Ousted Reform MP Rupert Lowe has not ruled out joining the Conservatives or starting his own party to challenge Nigel Farage at the next election.

Mr Lowe, the independent MP for Great Yarmouth, said he spoke to the Tories “all the time” but that the party needed to “reform” in order to become a “powerful force” again in British politics.

He was speaking to Sky News’ political correspondent Ali Fortescue a day after the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed it was not charging him following allegations of making threats towards Reform chair Zia Yusuf.

Mr Lowe, who joined parliament after last July’s general election under Reform, was suspended by the party and reported to police following the accusations, which he denied.

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The party also claimed it had received complaints from two female employees about bullying in his constituency offices, which are now subject to a parliamentary investigation.

Mr Lowe, the former chair of Southampton Football Club, has denied wrongdoing on both accusations and has claimed he is the victim of a witch hunt after speaking out against party leader Nigel Farage in the media.

Mr Lowe told Ali Fortescue he was the victim of a “political assassination attempt which has failed” as he accused Mr Farage of leading “the cult of Nigel”.

Asked whether he felt “vindicated” by the CPS decision not to charge him, he said: ” I knew I hadn’t done anything, so therefore I didn’t worry too much. But, you know, there’s always uncertainty – and as an innocent, law-abiding 67-year-old with a completely clean record, it was all new to me.”

The row between Reform and Mr Lowe broke out in March after the latter gave an interview to the Daily Mail in which he said it was “too early to know” if Mr Farage will become prime minister and warned Reform remains a “protest party led by the Messiah” under the Clacton MP.

Mr Farage then hit back at the ousted MP, claiming that he had dented the unity of Reform by “unloading a barrage of criticisms against our operations and its main actors”.

In an article for the Daily Telegraph in March, the Reform leader wrote: “If the last general election taught us anything, it is that the public does not like political parties that engage in constant infighting.”

In his interview with Sky News, Mr Lowe went on to criticise Reform as a “bunch of rank amateurs who don’t know which way is up” and suggested he could take the party to court if he did not receive an apology.

“It will all come out in the fullness of time, probably in court,” he said.

“I’ve given them a chance to pay my legal costs and apologise if they don’t do that, we’ll be in the High Court, and it’ll cost an awful lot of money. And they will lose.”

Mr Lowe singled out Mr Farage in particular for criticism, saying that although he believed the Reform leader had “a lot of strengths in terms of his ability to communicate”, he questioned the party’s lack of policies.

“Winning the election is only half of the equation,” he said.

“There’s no point in doing a Boris [Johnson], and having an 80-seat majority and doing the square root of diddly squat with it, which is what he did.

“So I said to Nigel, we need a structure – we need a shadow cabinet, we need policy, we need a plan and we need to know and tell the people what we’re going to do. Until we’ve got that, we haven’t got anything. So that’s the ultimate disagreement between us.”

He added: “He wasn’t interested in policy. He’s surrounded by sycophants who arguably are quite lightweight and whose idea… is to make up policy over a pint in the Marquess of Granby [pub], and to have a press conference the following day. That’s not how we’re going to sort Britain out.”

Turning to his future in politics and whether he could join the Conservatives, Mr Lowe said: “Look, I speak to the Tories all the time. There’s some very, very good young Tories, but… I don’t think the structure of the Tory party is right for them.”

On whether he could set up his own party to rival Reform, he said: “I don’t know yet – I may, so I haven’t made my mind up. I’m not going to leave the field. I’m going to finish off what I started.

“Reform is skin deep.”

Reform UK declined to comment when approached by Sky News. Mr Farage has also been approached for comment.

Politics

Another tantrum from the Labour backbenches is inevitable

Published

1 hour ago

July 6, 2025

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Rachel Reeves hints at tax rises in autumn budget after welfare bill U-turn

In common with many parents across the country, here’s a conversation that I have with my young daughter on a semi-regular basis (bear with me, this will take on some political relevance eventually).

Me: “So it’s 15 minutes until your bedtime, you can either have a little bit of TV or do a jigsaw, not both.”

Daughter: “Ummmm, I want to watch TV.”

Me: “That’s fine, but it’s bed after that, you can’t do a jigsaw as well.”

Fast-forward 15 minutes.

Me: “Right, TV off now please, bedtime.”

(Pause)

Daughter: “I want to do a jigsaw.”

Now replace me with the government, the TV and jigsaw options with axing welfare cuts and scrapping the two-child cap, and my daughter with rebellious backbenchers.

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That is the tension currently present between Downing Street and Labour MPs. And my initial ultimatum is the messaging being pumped out from the government this weekend.

In essence: you’ve had your welfare U-turn, so there’s no money left for the two-child cap to go as well.

As an aside – and before my inbox fills with angry emails lambasting me for using such a crude metaphor for policies that fundamentally alter the lives of some of the most vulnerable in society – yes, I hear you, and that’s part of my point.

For many in Labour, this approach feels like the lives of their constituents are being used in a childish game of horse-trading.

So what can be done?

Well, the government could change the rules.

Altering the fiscal rules is – and will likely remain – an extremely unlikely solution. But as it happens, one of Labour’s proverbial grandparents has just popped round with a different suggestion.

A wealth tax, Lord Neil Kinnock says, is the necessary outcome of the economic restrictions the party has placed on itself.

Ever the Labour storyteller, Lord Kinnock believes this would allow the government to craft a more compelling narrative about whose side this administration is on.

That could be valuable, given one of the big gripes from many backbench critics is that they still don’t really understand what this prime minister stands for – and by extension, what all these “difficult decisions” are in aid of.

The downside is whether it will actually raise much money.

The super-rich may have lots of assets to take a slice from, but they also have expensive lawyers ready to find novel ways to keep their client’s cash away from the prying eyes of the state.

Or, of course, they could just leave – as many are doing already.

In the short term, the future is a bit easier to predict.

If Downing Street is indeed now saying there is no money to scrap the two-child cap (after heavy briefing in the opposite direction just weeks ago), an almighty tantrum from the backbenches is inevitable.

And as every parent knows, the more you give in, the harder it becomes to hold the line.

Politics

UK restores diplomatic ties with Syria

Published

7 hours ago

July 6, 2025

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The UK has re-established diplomatic ties with Syria, David Lammy has said, as he made the first visit to the country by a British minister for 14 years.

The foreign secretary visited Damascus and met with interim president Ahmed al Sharaa, also the leader of the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), and foreign minister Asaad al Shaibani.

It marks the latest diplomatic move since Bashar al Assad’s regime was toppled by rebel groups led by HTS in December.

In a statement, Mr Lammy said a “stable Syria is in the UK’s interests” and added: “I’ve seen first-hand the remarkable progress Syrians have made in rebuilding their lives and their country.

“After over a decade of conflict, there is renewed hope for the Syrian people.

“The UK is re-establishing diplomatic relations because it is in our interests to support the new government to deliver their commitment to build a stable, more secure and prosperous future for all Syrians.”

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has also announced a £94.5m support package for urgent humanitarian aid and to support the country’s long-term recovery, after a number of British sanctions against the country were lifted in April.

While HTS is still classified as a proscribed terror group, Sir Keir Starmer said last year that it could be removed from the list.

The Syrian president’s office also said on Saturday that the president and Mr Lammy discussed co-operation, as well as the latest developments in the Middle East.

Since Assad fled Syria in December, a transitional government headed by Mr al Sharaa was announced in March and a number of western countries have restored ties.

In May, US President Donald Trump said the United States would lift long-standing sanctions on Syria and normalise relations during a speech at the US-Saudi investment conference.

He said he wanted to give the country “a chance at peace” and added: “There is a new government that will hopefully succeed.

“I say good luck, Syria. Show us something special.”

Politics

Secret Service seizes $400M in crypto, cold wallet among world’s largest

Published

10 hours ago

July 6, 2025

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Secret Service seizes 0M in crypto, cold wallet among world’s largest

Secret Service quietly amasses one of the world’s largest crypto cold wallets with $400 million seized, exposing scams through blockchain sleuthing and VPN missteps.