Reform UK's chief whip Lee Anderson has opened up about the "deeply painful" decision to suspend Rupert Lowe over allegations of "serious bullying" and threats of physical violence.
The Ashfield MP, who penned a statement alongside Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf last night, released an update just hours after the populist party was plunged into a civil war.
Anderson claimed: "I have a great deal of respect for Rupert Lowe and as his Chief Whip I have bent over backwards to be fair with him since he entered Parliament.
"But his unwillingness to cooperate in an investigation into his behaviour has meant the Parliamentary party cannot function effectively whilst Rupert is a Reform UK MP.
The Ashfield MP released an update just hours after the populist party was plunged into a civil war
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"There is far too much at stake and by not taking decisive action we would risk losing everything we have built up.
"I bare no malice towards Rupert and to remove the whip was a deeply painful thing to do, but delivering for our country must come first and no man is bigger than our party."
The populist party has reported Lowe to the Metropolitan Police for the alleged threats to Yusuf.
In response to his statement, the allegation-ridden MP said: "Lee. What you have said is simply not true. I have spoken to the KC multiple times over the last week.
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"She has confirmed again and again that no credible evidence against me has been provided to her by you or the party. I must have had 10 different conversations with her."
He also said that the allegations made by Yusuf and Anderson that he refused co-operate with the investigation were "false" and an "outright lie", adding: "Launching this vindictive assault before an investigation has even started is quite frankly pathetic."
Earlier this week, as the fiery internal party row was starting to simmer, Lowe said: "We have to change from being a protest party led by the Messiah into being a properly structured party with a front bench."
He further criticised Farage's leadership abilities, publicly pondering the Clacton MP's suitability for No10 saying that it was "too early to know" whether he would be a "good Prime Minister".
The Great Yarmouth MP has urged Nigel Farage to have dinner with him
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In response, Anderson rebuked Lowe, declaring: "Politics is a team game and we must work as a team."
Soon after, in a desperate bid to extend an olive branch to Farage, the 67-year-old Great Yarmouth MP requested for the Reform leader to attend a conciliatory dinner.
"I am going to now repeat publicly an invitation that I have extended to Nigel Farage in private multiple times over many months. Every offer has been refused or ignored," Lowe said.
"Please, let’s have dinner and resolve this in a manner that our members, and the country, would expect. Any time, any place. You’ve got my number."
