Ousted Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe has told Sky News he has not ruled out joining the Conservatives or a new political party, declaring: “I’m keeping my options open.”
Mr Lowe answered a series of questions from Sky News after the latest twist in his feud with Nigel Farage, with a police investigation launched into claims he threatened party chairman Zia Yusuf.
Responding to the police statement, Mr Lowe said he had instructed lawyers, who had made contact with the Met and made them aware of his willingness to co-operate in any necessary investigation.
“My lawyers have not yet received any contact from the police,” he said.
“It is highly unusual for the police to disclose anything to the media at this stage of an investigation.
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“I remain unaware of the specific allegations, but in any event, I deny any wrongdoing. The allegations are entirely untrue.”
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Reform UK row explained
Could Lowe join Tories?
Later, Sky News asked the Great Yarmouth MP if he thought there was a way back into Reform UK for him or was this the end – and if he might join the Tories or a new political party.
“This has all happened over a few days,” Mr Lowe replied.
“I have been focused on debunking these false and damaging allegations. Who knows what will happen? I’m keeping my options open.”
In an interview on Monday, Mr Lowe said: “I was a Tory years ago. I think the Tories have got a lot of work to do. I think there’s some extremely good Tory MPs. I get on with a lot of them.”
For the Conservatives, the shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: “He hasn’t applied but obviously we’re a broad and welcoming political party.”
He told Times Radio: “People have been joining the Conservatives from across the political spectrum and we always welcome new joiners.”
Image: Mr Lowe is a former chair of Southampton Football Club. File pic: PA
New splinter group?
And in a move seen as a hint of a new splinter group, another ousted Reform UK politician, former deputy leader Ben Habib, told The Daily Telegraph that Mr Lowe was a “good friend” and he was “constantly in touch with” him.
Sky News also asked Mr Lowe who he blamed for the party’s treatment of him, including throwing him out of the party after he criticised Mr Farage. Was Mr Farage or Mr Yusuf to blame?
“Honestly, all of them,” he said.
“This was a team effort to blacken my name. If it wasn’t for my presence on X, I would have been buried under the false allegations. For that, I have to thank Elon Musk.”
He was asked about Mr Farage quoting Labour minister Mike Kane claiming after a heated Commons clash with Mr Lowe in December: “The anger displayed towards me clearly showed a man not in charge of his own faculties.”
Image: Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said the door was open. Pic: Reuters
In a Sunday Telegraph article, Mr Farage added: “I never saw anything like it in the European Parliament in 2019 when I was the leader of the Brexit Party and Mr Lowe was an MEP colleague.”
In response, Mr Lowe told Sky News: “Reform sources have been briefing that I have dementia. This is the single most appalling thing I have ever seen in politics.
“Anyone who has known someone who has suffered so hideously from dementia will understand just how offensive it is. It shows the type of people we are dealing with.”
In the same article, Mr Farage claimed there had been “too many similar outbursts from Mr Lowe, often involving the use of inappropriate language to the despair of our chief whip, Lee Anderson”.
Mr Lowe hit back, telling Sky News: “More baseless nonsense, spouted out to tarnish my reputation. Their malicious witch-hunt has fallen apart.”
Last year, when Mr Anderson was Conservative Party deputy chairman, he apologised after parliament’s watchdog on bullying and harassment found he told a security guard to “f*** off, everyone opens the door to me”.
He was found to have twice sworn at the security officer and acted in a way that “constituted bullying and also harassment” in breach of parliament’s behaviour policy, an independent expert panel concluded.
Sir Keir Starmer is reshuffling his cabinet following Angela Rayner’s resignation after admitting she had not paid enough stamp duty on the purchase of a new home.
She paid standard stamp duty on a flat she bought in Hove, East Sussex, in May after taking advice that it counted as her only home due to her disabled son’s trust owning the family home in Ashton-under-Lyne – but it was established she should have paid more.
Her resignation has left a hole around the cabinet table, which Sir Keir is now filling.
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2:59
The rise and fall of Angela Rayner
It was stressed early on Chancellor Rachel Reeves would remain as chancellor, in an attempt to stop the markets moving.
David Lammy – foreign secretary to justice secretary and deputy PM
After flexing his diplomatic muscles with Donald Trump and his deputy JD Vance over the past year, Mr Lammywill now move to the justice brief.
The move is likely to be a blow as the PM had promised, most recently in November, he would be foreign secretary for the whole parliament until 2029.
Although he is no longer holding one of the four great offices of state, he has also been made deputy prime minister, presumably to soften the blow.
Mr Lammy is close to Sir Keir, both as a friend and in his next door constituency, and was seen grinning as he went into Number 10 after being appointed.
Image: David Lammy is now justice secretary and deputy PM. Pic: Reuters
Yvette Cooper – home secretary to foreign secretary
The Labour stalwart had made tackling illegal migration a priority, so the move could be seen as a disappointment for her.
However, she remains in one of the four great offices of state – PM, chancellor, foreign and home.
Image: Yvette Cooper is now foreign secretary
Shabana Mahmood – justice secretary to home secretary
A big promotion, the straight-talking Labour MP will be tasked with tackling the small boats crisis and asylum seeker hotel protests.
She is no stranger to making difficult decisions, deciding to free criminals early to reduce prison overcrowding as justice secretary.
Her move makes it the first time all three great offices of state, after the prime minister, are held by women.
Image: Shabana Mahmood is now home secretary. Pic: PA
Pat McFadden – chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and intergovernmental minister to work and pensions secretary and head of “super ministry”
Often seen as Sir Keir’s “number two”, Mr McFadden will take over a newly formed “super ministry”.
It will include the department for work and pensions and the skills remit of the department for education – taking a large part of Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson’s brief and taking over from Liz Kendall as work and pensions secretary.
While it is not a promotion at first glance, it is a much wider role than he has had as chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster – the highest-ranking Cabinet Office minister after the PM.
Image: Pat McFadden is work and pensions secretary and head of the ‘super ministry’. Pic: PA
Darren Jones – chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
It is the second new job in the space of one week for the new chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. The close ally of the prime minister was promoted from chief secretary to the Treasury on Monday to chief secretary to the prime minister. And now he gets another new job.
Image: Darren Jones is the new chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Steve Reed – environment secretary to housing secretary
A promotion for the man who has consistently defended the government lifting inheritance tax relief on farmers.
He takes over one of the two major vacancies left by Ms Rayner and will have the massive task of building 1.5 million new homes during this parliament, as promised by the government.
Image: Steve Reed is now housing secretary
Jonathan Reynolds – business and trade secretary to chief whip
A slightly odd move for the MP seen as a steady pair of hands in his business secretary role.
He takes over from Sir Alan Campbell and will now have to hustle Labour MPs to vote with the government – something that has sometimes proved difficult with the current cohort.
Mr Reynolds will also attend cabinet, as is necessary so he can liaise between the party and No 10.
Image: Jonathan Reynolds is the new chief whip
Peter Kyle – science secretary to business and trade secretary
A promotion for Mr Kyle, who is taking over from Jonathan Reynolds.
He is seen as a rising star and impressed Labour MPs when he refused to stand down after suggesting Nigel Farage was on the side of people like Jimmy Savile by opposing the government’s online safety law.
Mr Kyle will be in charge of getting trade deals with other countries over the line.
Image: Peter Kyle is now business and trade secretary
Emma Reynolds – economic secretary to the Treasury to environment secretary
Probably the biggest promotion of the reshuffle, Ms Reynolds is taking on Mr Reed’s role after serving as a junior minister in the Treasury.
She will have to take on farmers and deal with the water companies – a big undertaking.
Image: Emma Reynolds is now environment secretary
Liz Kendall – work and pensions secretary to science, innovation and technology secretary
Pat McFadden has taken her role as work and pensions secretary, while Ms Kendall takes over Peter Kyle’s brief.
He has made AI a major facet of his role so we will wait to see which direction Ms Kendall takes the job in.
Image: Liz Kendall is the new science secretary. Pic: PA
Douglas Alexander – trade policy minister to Scotland secretary
A promotion for the Blair/Brown minister who returned to politics last year after being ousted in 2015 by then 20-year-old SNP MP Mhairi Black.
He takes over from Ian Murray, who has been removed from the cabinet.
Image: Douglas Alexander is the new Scotland secretary
Sir Alan Campbell – Chief whip to Lord President of the Council and leader of the House of Commons
An MP since 1997 and part of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown’s frontbench, Sir Alan is taking over Lucy Powell’s role.
He will be in charge of organising government business in the Commons – a sizeable job.
Who is out?
Lucy Powell has been sacked as leader of the House of Commons.
Ian Murray has been sacked as Scotland secretary.
Bridget Phillipson remains as education secretary but her brief has narrowed as Mr McFadden has taken over the skills part of her job.