The Metropolitan Police has launched an investigation into suspended Reform MP Rupert Lowe.
It comes after the party revealed they had referred him to police and stripped him of the whip on Friday, alleging he made “verbal threats” against chairman Zia Yousaf – something Mr Lowe denies.
A spokesperson from the Met told Sky News they have now launched an investigation “into an allegation of a series of verbal threats made by a 67-year-old man”.
They added: “Our original statement referred to alleged threats made in December 2024. We would like to clarify that when this matter was reported to us it referred to a series of alleged threats made between December 2024 and February 2025.
“Further enquiries are ongoing at this stage.”
In a statement on Friday, Reform claimed it had received evidence from staff of “derogatory and discriminating remarks made about women” by Mr Lowe, 67, who was elected to his Great Yarmouth seat last year.
The statement also claimed Mr Lowe had “on at least two occasions made threats of physical violence against” Mr Yusuf and “accordingly, this matter is with the police”.
“Reform stands for the highest standards of conduct in public life, and we will apply these standards without fear nor favour, including within our own party,” the statement said.
Mr Lowe denied the claims, describing the statement as “vexatious” and said it was “no surprise” that it had come a day after he raised “reasonable and constructive questions” about Reform leader Nigel Farage.
A war of words broke out on Thursday after Mr Lowe told the Daily Mail that Reform remains a “protest party led by the Messiah” under Mr Farage.
Asked whether he thought the former Ukip leader had the potential to become prime minister, as his supporters have suggested, Mr Lowe said: “It’s too early to know whether Nigel will deliver the goods. He can only deliver if he surrounds himself with the right people.”
He also claimed that he was “barely six months into being an MP” and “in the betting to be the next prime minister.”
During Mr Farage’s online falling out with Elon Musk, in which the Tesla businessman said Reform needed a new leader, Mr Lowe drew praise from Mr Musk.
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