Tensions ran high on Laura Kuenssberg’s BBC show as she clashed with Reform UK’s Richard Tice over the suspension of MP Rupert Lowe. The fiery exchange saw Kuenssberg repeatedly challenge Tice on whether the party’s decision to call in the police was politically motivated after Lowe publicly criticised Nigel Farage just a day before.
Lowe, the MP for Great Yarmouth, has been accused of bad behaviour and making verbal threats of violence. He denies the allegations, calling them “a political assassination because I dared to question Nigel Farage”. Reform UK has launched an independent investigation, but many—including Kuenssberg—are questioning the suspicious timing of it all.
Live on air, Tice insisted that Reform “couldn’t ignore” the allegations and had to act decisively. “It’s very sad, it’s unfortunate, but we had to be decisive, it was the responsible thing to do,” he said, according to the Express. But Kuenssberg wasn’t letting him off easy. She pressed him on when exactly he first became aware of Lowe’s alleged behaviour, pointing out the “curious timing” of events.
“Because the timing appears rather curious,” she said. “On Thursday, Mr Lowe was very critical of Nigel Farage, saying Reform was still a protest party run by someone like the messiah. Then the very next day, miraculously, these allegations of bad behaviour—which he denies—were suddenly out in the public domain and you called the cops.”
Tice tried to push back, arguing that concerns about Lowe’s conduct had been “going on for some time”, including “a regrettable incident” in the House of Commons before Christmas. He claimed that bullying allegations also needed to be addressed properly.
Kuenssberg, clearly unimpressed, cut him off. “Was it responsible then, to sit on these allegations for months and then—lo and behold—when he criticises the party, suddenly they come out?”
As Tice fumbled through a response, Kuenssberg continued her grilling, referencing an article by Farage in The Telegraph that also discussed an incident in December. “Do you expect viewers to believe there is no connection between the fact that Rupert Lowe was very rude about the party and Mr Farage on Thursday, and news of these allegations emerged on Friday?” she asked.
Tice stood firm, insisting there was “absolutely no truth” to the idea that Lowe’s comments had anything to do with the timing of his suspension. He admitted Lowe had done “great work” but said his behaviour had “become really challenging”.
Kuenssberg wrapped up the heated segment by warning that this public drama could damage Reform’s credibility. “You’ve been at the top of some recent opinion polls, but isn’t the danger here that all of this makes you look unprofessional? Some people watching this might think you’re more interested in fighting with each other than actually running a proper party. You might not even look like you could run a bath!”
With Reform UK hoping to gain political ground, the messy public fallout over Lowe’s suspension could be doing them more harm than good.
