It was inevitable that Reform UK would fracture
Violent threats, MP suspensions and in-fighting at the 'protest party led by the messiah'.
Last week, Rupert Lowe was suspended from the party following allegations of bullying by staff members. In a joint statement, party leader Nigel Farage and Reform chairman Zia Yusuf also accused Lowe of threatening Yusuf with violence.
This came just a day after Lowe criticised Farage and the party’s leadership in a Daily Mail interview, calling Reform a “protest party led by the messiah.” Lowe strongly denies any wrongdoing, claiming his suspension was driven by Farage feeling threatened by him.
Lowe might not like it, but the party faces an unavoidable truth: it is nothing without Nigel Farage. That’s a hard pill to swallow if you’re in the party — and you’re not Nigel Farage. Since rejoining Reform UK, he has propelled the party’s popularity, thanks to his name recognition and political experience. But that success has also drawn ambitious figures like Lowe, who has aligned himself with Tommy Robinson and gained the backing of Elon Musk. For Lowe and others like him, Farage may now be the only thing standing in the way of their own rise.
Rumours of internal friction had been swirling long before last week’s bombshell. In a YouTube interview with right-wing commentator Dan Wootton, Lowe remarked, “as in the past, a poppy that stood up too tall has been chopped down.” He may be overselling himself. While Lowe is a big name on social media platform X, his public recognition in the UK is nowhere near that of his former leader’s.
Yet Lowe’s break from the party exposes an existential threat for Reform: even Farage may now find himself outflanked on the right. Farage has worked hard to distance Reform from Robinson and the far-right, hoping to mainstream the party.
But figures like Lowe have shown far more openness to flirting with extremism, parroting far-right talking points on mass deportations and asking the government to consider deploying the navy to prevent small boat crossings.
Lowe has also defended Robinson, the former English Defence League leader, who was jailed for 18 months for contempt of court after repeating false allegations against a Syrian refugee in breach of an injunction. Speaking to The Sun’s Never Mind the Ballots YouTube show, Lowe said: “He’s not right for Reform, he doesn’t want to be right for Reform, but he doesn’t deserve not to be given the credit for the things that he’s done.”
Lowe also refused to challenge Musk’s false claim that Robinson is a “political prisoner” targeted for exposing grooming gangs. “I don’t know what he’s done and why he’s in prison,” he said. The significance of Musk’s backing shouldn’t be underestimated — he has publicly declared that Lowe should be Reform's leader and regularly amplifies his posts. That gives Lowe an increasingly powerful platform, promoted by the world’s richest man and a direct line to the US president’s inner circle.
Where does this leave Reform? In a tough spot. The decision to keep the bullying allegations under wraps until now reeks of a hit job — the kind of sixth-form squabbling that Reform voters despise. If there’s one thing that unites Reform’s base, it’s contempt for ego-driven, careerist politicians. The anti-establishment party they backed now looks suspiciously like the establishment.
Farage should tread carefully. Once the mud starts flying, it’s hard to wash it off. Lowe is not only emboldened but well-connected, and Reform is already showing signs of strain. Farage’s personal approval ratings, while still the highest of any UK politician, have dipped slightly as Keir Starmer’s have risen — likely helped by the prime minister’s perceived success in navigating US-Ukraine relations and Reform’s mixed signals on Putin. With traditional Tory voters already questioning Reform’s stance on foreign policy, this is hardly the time for infighting.
But ultimately, this row exposes Reform’s central dilemma - and the thread that could unravel the entire political movement: if you preach extremism, you will inevitably find yourself outflanked by extremists.
Farage may try to steer the party toward a more palatable version of right-wing populism, but he will always face pressure from those pushing for more brutal, hard-line policies. Unlike Labour or the Conservatives — parties that can at least find temporary unity in power — Reform is a long way from governance.
Until then, expect a fierce battle for the party’s soul, driven by increasingly extreme ideas.
We keep a watching brief on the apparent rise of the populist right-wing party, see Zoe’s writing on how Farage’s attacks on education exposed his far-right agenda and Oz Katerji writing from Kyiv on how Reform had responded to Trump and Ukraine. Subscribe below to receive our newsletters with our latest features and insightful writing direct to your inbox, and consider a paid subscription to support our journalism.