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Nigel Farage has introduced 29 councillors who have joined Reform UK as he attempts to steer his party past a damaging rift following the suspension of MP Rupert Lowe.
At the same time, the Reform UK leader condemned what he called “online abuse” and “outright racism” directed at the party’s chair, Zia Yusuf, amid growing internal tensions over Lowe’s suspension.
The newly joined councillors were unveiled at an event where Farage emphasized the need for experienced figures, including 15 former Conservative councillors, one ex-Liberal Democrat, and several independents. Among them was a Cheshire councillor who had previously left Labour over a dispute regarding transgender policy.
Addressing the controversy surrounding Lowe, Farage acknowledged it had caused “some consternation” but downplayed its significance, calling it a minor issue. He also indicated that a barrister’s report on the allegations against Lowe could be completed within the week.
“You may have noticed we’ve experienced some turbulence over the past couple of weeks,” said Nigel Farage, who grew visibly impatient when questioned about Rupert Lowe.
“We had growing concerns about the behavior of one of our MPs. When we learned of serious complaints, we decided to suspend the whip and get to the truth. We’ll wait for the independent King’s Counsel report,” he added.
When asked about the backlash against Reform UK chair Zia Yusuf, who has faced criticism from disillusioned members, Farage insisted there was a clear distinction between the abuse directed at Yusuf and the remarks made by Reform MP Lee Anderson about London Mayor Sadiq Khan.
Anderson, who joined Reform UK in 2024 after losing the Conservative whip over comments about Khan that were widely condemned as Islamophobic, has remained a controversial figure.
The Guardian has reviewed posts in Facebook groups run by Reform UK members where some criticism of Yusuf referenced his Muslim faith.
When asked whether Reform UK members were responsible for the attacks, Farage dismissed the idea: “I don’t think those comments necessarily come from our members. I believe there’s a deliberate effort to be as nasty as possible. And I don’t like it.”
He reiterated his stance: “I have always led non-racist, non-sectarian parties, and I will continue to be firm on that.”
Reform UK has been in turmoil for two weeks due to a feud between Farage and Lowe, who was expelled from the party over bullying allegations and referred to the police. Lowe had criticized Farage in a Daily Mail interview and claimed the party had censored him on immigration issues.
Lowe, 67, has denied the allegations, calling them baseless, and suggested his suspension was politically motivated due to his criticism of Farage.
His supporters have been leaving the party, including Maria Bowtell, a Yorkshire councillor who announced on Sunday that she would complete her term as an independent.
