Nigel Farage should “get a grip or get out” of Reform UK, Ben Habib has warned as the party finds itself in a state of turmoil.
Rupert Lowe MP was suspended and referred to the police after being alleged to have made “threats of physical violence” against party chairman Zia Yusuf.
Speaking on GB News, the party’s former co-chair Ben Habib hit out at the leadership, claiming Lowe’s suspension was due to concerns about Reform not democratising.
“It’s an accident that has been waiting to happen”, Habib said on the People’s Channel.
Ben Habib hit out at the party leadership
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“Nigel put my disagreements with how the party is run down to me being bitter and twisted, it has nothing to do with that. It has everything to do with having a proper constitution and structure within the party by which members and senior members can give their views to the leader.
“Democratising the party was a key component of Reform UK going from being an insurgency to being a party of government.
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Ben Habib joined Michelle Dewberry on GB News
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“Rupert has obviously been fighting internally to achieve this and Nigel hasn’t done it. Notwithstanding all the public statements, Nigel still controls Reform UK and it’s only his word that goes.
“If you have any dissent whatsoever, Reform cuts up like an adolescent, prickly teenager that hasn’t got the confidence to deal with that criticism in a grown up way.
“It has come back to Rupert and they have sought to rubbish him. There is not one iota of truth in any of the allegations. Rupert Lowe is an upstanding member of the public and he is in politics because he fears for the future of this country.
“He has given up his MP salary to sit in Parliament, he speaks unadulterated, good, common sense and he is pro-British in a way Nigel Farage is not. Rupert is by far one of the best MPs in Parliament.
Nigel Farage is in a sticky situation after Rupert Lowe was suspended by Reform UKPA“Reform rubbishing him shows Reform is not up to the job. Nigel Farage needs to get a grip or frankly, get out of the party. Get out of the way and let a party that is going to rescue the United Kingdom do the job.
“Right now, Reform is not doing it.”
The Great Yarmouth MP faces serious accusations from the party's leadership.
In a joint statement, Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf and chief whip Lee Anderson said they felt "obligated to disclose" the situation.
Rupert LowePAThe statement revealed that complaints had also been made about "serious bullying" in Lowe's parliamentary and constituency offices.
The party said it had received complaints from two female employees, one from Lowe's Parliamentary office and another from his Constituency office.
"Evidence was provided to us of workplace bullying, the targeting of female staff who raised concerns, and evidence of derogatory and discriminatory remarks made about women, including reference to a perceived disability," the statement said.
The party leaders added they understood complaints had also been made to Parliamentary authorities.
Reform UK said it had appointed an independent King's Counsel to investigate the complaints.
"We feel we have a duty of care to all our staff, whether employed directly or indirectly," the statement from Yusuf and Anderson explained.
The party leaders claimed that Lowe has not cooperated with the investigation.
"To date, Mr Lowe has yet to cooperate with this investigation," they said.
The party leaders made a more serious allegation regarding Lowe's conduct towards the chairman.
