Allegations of "bullying" levelled against Rupert Lowe are "nonsense", a staffer has said, in the latest twist to a furious row inside Reform UK.
The female current staff member has said Lowe is "a good man who does not deserve any of this" and "has done nothing wrong", Sky News reports.
"The allegations aren't against Rupert. I've not seen any evidence of any bullying from anyone in Rupert's office," she said.
"These claims are nonsense. This is wrong what they're doing to Rupert. He's nice to everybody. What they’re putting him through is horrific and unfair. They are vexatious complaints.
Allegations of 'bullying' levelled against Rupert Lowe are 'nonsense', a staffer has said
GETTY"There has never been any bullying in the office."
Her defence has been met with fury by fellow ex-Reform heavyweight Ben Habib, who this afternoon declared that Nigel Farage and chairman Zia Yusuf have "lied through their teeth" in an attempt to "destroy" Lowe.
"Farage is not part of the solution. He's part of the problem," Habib said. "Resign, get out of the way and hand over the party to the people."
Meanwhile, a Reform UK spokesman said the party has "acted on serious allegations by two female members of Lowe's team by appointing an independent KC to investigate".
LATEST ON THE REFORM UK ROW:
Zia Yusuf and Nigel Farage have been accused of 'lying through their teeth' in an attempt to 'destroy' Lowe
PA"We feel we have a duty of care to all our staff, whether employed directly or indirectly," the spokesman added.
"Reform UK stands for the highest standards of conduct in public life, and we will apply these standards without fear nor favour."
The refutation of Lowe's bullying allegations came mere minutes before a report emerged in The Telegraph claiming that Habib has opened the door to forming a rival to Reform UK.
"The only way you can make a difference is electorally," Habib told the newspaper.
'The only way you can make a difference is electorally,' Ben Habib said
GETTY"You've got to be at the ballot box and hold the electoral system to account."
But the newly-independent MP could find himself welcome in the Conservative Party, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said.
"He hasn't applied but obviously we're a broad and welcoming political party," Philp told The Times.
"People have been joining the Conservatives from across the political spectrum and we always welcome new joiners."
