THE Reform Party was rocked by infighting tonight as Nigel Farage publicly slapped down one of his MPs.
He lashed out after Rupert Lowe called his leadership into question and suggested they currently amounted to a “protest” movement.
Harry Cole grilling Nigel Farage on Talk today
AlamyRupert Lowe said Reform currently amounted to a ‘protest’ party[/caption]
Mr Lowe – one of just five Reform MPs – had swiped: “It’s too early to know whether Nigel will deliver the goods.”
Reacting on Talk drivetime with Harry Cole, Mr Farage shot back: “We are not a protest party in any way at all.
“That is utterly wrong, utterly, completely wrong. We are an entirely positive party.
“Come to any Reform event, and the positivity, the energy, and perhaps you should come to one.”
Mr Farage even suggested that perhaps his outspoken colleague “wants to be Prime Minister” and so was gunning for his job.
Greater Yarmouth MP Mr Lowe has gained a public following for his hardline immigration stance and has been praised by Elon Musk.
Asked if his colleague would still be a Reform MP at the next election, Mr Farage told Harry: “I hope so, he seems to be taking a tone that suggests he won’t accept us.”
The row was sparked by remarks by Mr Lowe today in which he urged Reform to change from “a protest party led by the Messiah” to a “properly structured party with a frontbench”.
The ex-Southampton FC chairman hit out in the Daily Mail at Mr Farage’s ability to delegate and even said he won’t run for the party at the next election unless it changes “from top to bottom”.
Tech tycoon Mr Musk has publicly backed Mr Lowe’s politics, posting on X that his viewpoints make “a lot of sense”.
The billionaire has also backed the MPs calls for Trump-style deportation tactics, including threatening countries who won’t take back criminal with tariffs, to be employed in the UK.
Since its re-launch in 2021, Reform UK, originally the Brexit Party, has surged in popularity, with Mr Farage’s return as leader during the 2024 General Election further boosting support.
After a dramatic six weeks of campaigning, which included the party Leader having a McDonald’s milkshake hurled at him, the challenger party emerged as the third-largest by popular vote.
Alongside Mr Farage’s victory in Clacton, the party secured four additional seats and finished second in 98 constituencies.
Reform’s policies focused on slashing migration, scrapping taxes and ending net zero.
During the election Musk was a vocal supporter of Farage, posting on X in December that Britain “absolutely” needs Reform.
However, the tech tycoon’s stance shifted in January, when he called for Nigel Farage to be replaced as leader, just weeks after reports the multi-billionaire was in talks to donate to the party.
Mr Farage has also maintained close ties to Mr Trump.
After the now infamous White House bust-up between the US President and Volodymyr Zelensky, MPs accused Farage of “licking Trump’s boots” .
The Reform UK leader called the Ukrainian president “rude” and accused Mr Zelensky of “bowling in and showing no respect” for Trump.
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