Nigel Farage has ruled out Rupert Lowe's return to Reform UK after the pair locked horns over the Great Yarmouth MP's claims about the rape gangs scandal.
The Reform UK leader accused the outspoken former Southampton FC chairman of wanting to "cause maximum destruction and damage" after last week being suspended over allegations of bullying and making verbal threats.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Farage said: “Basically, what is happening here is Rupert Lowe knows there’s no way back.
"And he said to Lee Anderson our whip and MP: ‘I will slit the throat of the Reform Party.’ He’s out to cause maximum destruction and damage."
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage
GETTY
Directly discussing the grooming gangs row, the Clacton MP added: "He’s now out to pretend that he’s the only person who wants to deal with the Pakistani rape gangs.
"My record on this goes back to 2013. I in fact did an exclusive with The Telegraph at the time in 2014 about a couple in Rotherham who had been taken off the foster list for being Ukip members at the same time as all these things were going on.
“I’ve campaigned strongly on this for years and it’s a completely false assertion.
"The idea you can deport whole communities who have British passports is just not possible under British law and never was."
Lowe claimed that Reform's top brass prevented him from making comments about the grooming gangs scandal during an appearance at a rally in Essex.
However, Farage rejected the suggestion and instead argued that he advised Lowe against using "dark and dangerous" words such as "repatriation" and "mass deportations".
Rupert LowePALowe, who is facing separate investigations from the Metropolitan Police and a Reform-appointed KC, responded with yet another defiant statement on social media.
The Great Yarmouth MP said: "Reform should not belong to Farage, it should belong to the members. Let them decide if I am welcome in the party.
"Hold a vote to see if they approve of this malicious witch hunt launched by Reform’s leadership. Farage claims Reform is a democratic party. I say prove it."
Top Tories have opened the door to Lowe joining Kemi Badenoch's Conservatives, with Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp and Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith refusing to rule out supporting a defection.
However, a Conservative source told GB News that Lowe divides opinion inside the Tory family.
"There are many in the Conservative Party that would welcome Lowe but many who would not," the insider told the People's Channel. "Rupert's grassroots activism and strong stance on immigration could be just what the Conservatives need, but his long links to a party that basis its entire identity on 'destroying the Tories' could be off putting for many MPs.
Reform UK leader Nigel FarageGETTYLowe was yesterday tipped to form a rival to Reform UK alongside the populist party's ex-deputy leader Ben Habib.
The pair, who both fell on the wrong side of Farage, were also supposedly gaining attention from tech tycoon Elon Musk.
A new opinion poll conducted by YouGov painted a murky picture following the fall-out of Lowe's suspension.
Farage's net approval rating dropped by 13-points to 73 per cent among 2024 Reform UK voters.
However, the Clacton MP remains the most popular of the five MPs who were elected to the House of Commons in the 2024 General Election.
Richard Tice received a favourable rating from 44 per cent of Reform voters, with Lee Anderson's hitting 40 per cent.
Lowe ended up in fourth spot with just 35 per cent approval and just 10 per cent of Reform UK voters now hold an unfavourable view of Farage and a positive view of the Great Yarmouth MP.
