Reform UK Rupert Lowe row risks leaving working-class voters asking one question

After a surge in support, simmering during the last General Election and continuing since, Reform UK’s MPs appear to be engaging in an act of self-sabotage.

The insurgent right-wing party, famously able to command attention, has now taken things to a new level by referring one of its own MPs, Rupert Lowe, to the police for threatening the party chair, Zia Yusuf.

They have also launched an investigation on allegations of staff bullying.

Lowe, now cast aside into the wilderness as an Independent MP, is furious. Denying the accusations, he has lashed out at the process and hired his own legal team.

This chaotic saga will drag on for months, with Farage’s many enemies gleefully speculating whether the bright flash of Reform UK is already fizzling out.

The suspension of the whip of an MP always makes waves, but for Reform UK, the impact is magnified as it only has five MPs. Each loss is significant.

But beyond simple arithmetic, a major danger lies in Lowe’s influence. With a strong online following of over 300,000 on X, formerly Twitter, he holds sway in Reform’s digital-first community.

As a new movement, Reform’s coalition of support is still bedding in, including with members drawn from ex-UKIP voters, former right-leaning , disillusioned Red Wall Labour voters, and those new to politics.

A common thread is a deep cynicism about the political establishment, convinced that a “mono-party” system exists, an impression only reinforced by what was perceived as government overreach during .

Now, to their dismay, they are watching Reform descend into the kind of internal warfare they despise in mainstream parties. Many members, particularly working-class supporters, may be wondering why their hard-earned cash is being spent on costly lawyer-ledinvestigations rather than campaigning.

For those most frustrated, it reinforces their view that politics is not fit for purpose. Another major danger is its symbolism on free speech, a core part of Reform’s philosophy.

The grassroots take a dim view of any form of censorship and some are suspicious of the timing of Lowe’s suspension, coming soon after he publicly questioned whether would make a good Prime Minister.

This will remind some of the party’s treatment of the former deputy leader, Ben Habib, now an outspoken Farage critic, who accused Reform of being too centralised around its leader.

With less than two months until the local elections, Farage is scrambling to build a grassroots operation, securing volunteers to do the hard graft of knocking on doors, delivering leaflets, and standing as candidates.

Reform’s ground game remains in its infancy and this latest episode will be unwelcome. For ordinary voters who mused about backing Reform, eyebrows are certainly raised.

How can a party with just five MPs manage to have such an explosive internal row less than a year into Parliament?

Until now, Reform has benefited from the still recovering in opposition and Labour’s popularity falling under ’s government.

But as Reform’s divisions explode to the surface, it raises questions on their ability to transition from a loud protest party to one that could be a serious governing party.

Farage has already faced a few tough weeks. He’s had to awkwardly navigate around Trump’s foreign policy towards , and has previously questioned whether he is the right leader for the party.

More alarmingly, the party’s fundraising capabilities may have been overstated. Despite the hype, Reform was heavily behind in fundraising during the last quarter of 2024, with Kemi Badenoch’s impressively raising £1.92 million compared to Reform’s paltry £281,000.

The recent infighting won’t help Farage draw in more donors. Both the and Labour will be relieved to see Reform’s momentum slow. No amount of glossy online campaigning and colourful rallies can mask serious internal issues.

Nevertheless, still maintains an iron grip on the party. Despite Lowe’s protestations, Farage’s personal brand, media influence, and inner circle of loyalists mean he holds most of the cards.

He will be hoping this controversy fades quickly without lasting damage. This crisis shows the difficulty of sustaining a political surge for the more than four years needed until the next likely General Election in the face of increasing scrutiny.

If Farage was hoping to adopt a “Ming vase strategy,” carefully sustaining momentum without dropping it, he may have already slipped. Time will tell if the vase has already cracked.