Lawyer queries Reform UK investigation into Rupert Lowe

A lawyer hired by former Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe has questioned whether the investigation into his behaviour was conducted "independently of the influence" of the party.

The Great Yarmouth MP strongly denies accusations of bullying and harassment made by two female team members, which an investigation by Jacqueline Perry, a KC hired by Reform UK, suggested was "credible" last week.

Now Lowe says his KC's review of the investigation has shown the original investigation conducted on behalf of the party was "fundamentally flawed, unfair, and influenced by political motivations".

The BBC understands Ms Perry KC stands by her report and how it was compiled. Reform UK declined to comment.

Lowe, who was one of five MPs elected for Reform in last year's election, was also reported to the police over allegations of verbal threats towards party chairman Zia Yusuf at the same time.

He strongly denies all the claims, saying "there is no credible evidence against me", and says he is the victim of "a political assassination because I dared to question Nigel Farage".

The original investigation by Ms Perry concluded there was "credible evidence" Lowe and his staff mistreated in ways that "seem to amount to harassment".

The latest review, by Irwin Mitchell KC Gemma White, states she only had access to information provided by Lowe or in the public domain and, without access to internal party communications, she does not know "precisely how the investigation was set up or how it was conducted".

However, Ms White claimed Ms Perry had "produced" witness statements on behalf of the complainants following lengthy telephone interviews and claimed it was not apparent that Ms Perry had "recent experience" conducting independent investigations into allegations of bullying and harassment.

She added "no terms of reference were ever set by the party" for the investigation, which was provided to Reform UK before the expiry of the deadline set for Lowe to respond to allegations made against him.

In her report, Ms White stated: "In addition to being unfair to Mr Lowe, the sequence of events which led up to provision of the report to the party gives rise to real questions as to the extent to which the KC conducted the investigation independently of the influence of the party."

Following the publication of the review on Friday, Lowe condemned Reform UK for "publicly shaming my staff" and suggested the party was "not only unfit to govern but unfit to sit in the House of Commons".

Explaining he had "asked reasonable questions" about party leader Nigel Farage after months of "pushing behind the scenes", he said: "My punishment for bruising his ego? A concerted smear campaign to ruin my name and reputation.

"Nigel Farage must never be prime minister."