‘Scrap diversity roles!’ Rupert Lowe laments woke ideology as Reform UK celebrate ‘paucity’ of rainbow lanyards

In a speech which also contained criticisms of devolution and legal migration levels, the former Referendum Party candidate said: “Let’s scrap every diversity related role in a vastly reduced public sector and judge people on merit.”

Lowe’s speech was met with a raucous round of applause as the atmosphere continued to grow ahead of Nigel Farage’s speech.

In his attack against LGBT-supporting lanyards, Lowe said: “Conference, what a pleasure it is to be here today surrounded by so many like-minded people concerned about the state of our nation, with a refreshing paucity of rainbow lanyards in evidence.”

Lowe proceeded to claim that terms such as “hate speech, transphobia and Islamophobia” obstruct “dissent”.

“The Equality Act of 2010, for which there was no need, has given legal force and backing to minorities to impose their will and views on the majority,” he added.

“This has fostered the rise of the rule of lawyers, not the rule of law, created unnecessary division in the country and suppressed free speech across society."

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However, Lowe's decision to donate his salary to charity came under fire recently following an attack by an unnamed Labour MP.

They said: “It’s all very well for him to do this, but of course, there are some people who think MPs shouldn’t be paid and that we should do the same.”

A neighbouring Tory MP in Norfolk added: “He’s a multi-millionaire and he’s not really an MP in the way that most of us are.”

Despite the backlash, Lowe’s reception today suggests the 66-year-old remains in good standing with grassroots Reform UK activists.