By Gill Bikram Singh 
Farage’s Rise and Fall in Recent Weeks
- Nigel Farage’s Reform UK was riding high in the polls, even surpassing the Labour government in some surveys.
- Donors shifted from the Conservative party to Reform, seeing Farage as a stronger voice, especially with his ties to Donald Trump.
- However, Trump’s recent behavior toward Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy has made pro-Trump associations less appealing, leading to internal turmoil within Reform UK.
Internal Conflict and Accusations
- A party dispute erupted when MP Rupert Lowe accused Farage of having a “messianic” leadership style.
- Reform UK responded by alleging Lowe had made physical threats against party chairman Zia Yusuf, with the matter reported to the police.
- Former Reform co-deputy leader Ben Habib dismissed the charges against Lowe as unsubstantiated and part of a strategy to sideline dissenters.
Allegations Against Lowe
- Reform UK claimed Lowe engaged in workplace bullying, particularly targeting female staff.
- Accusations included derogatory and discriminatory remarks, threats of physical violence, and inappropriate behavior.
- Scotland Yard confirmed receiving an allegation about “verbal threats” from December, though questions remain about the delay in reporting.
- Lowe denied all allegations, calling them false and insisting no credible evidence had been presented against him.
Growing Discontent Among Party Members
- Reform UK members, including campaigner Julia Stephenson, expressed shock over the party’s handling of Lowe’s case.
- Some members believe Farage is more focused on running a protest party than building a strong political organization.
- There are concerns over Reform UK’s lack of internal structure and mechanisms to hold leadership accountable.
Farage’s Leadership Under Scrutiny
- Tensions reportedly grew after Elon Musk criticized Farage and praised Lowe, adding fuel to the internal conflict.
- Some defend Farage, arguing that without him, the party wouldn’t have won any seats.
- Lowe attempted to de-escalate the situation, inviting Farage to resolve the conflict privately over dinner.
As Reform UK faces its first major internal crisis, the party’s future—and Farage’s leadership—hangs in the balance.