FILE PHOTO: Reform lawmaker Rupert Lowe speaks to the media, in London, Britain July 5, 2024. REUTERS/Belinda Jiao/File Photo
LONDON (Reuters) - Right-wing populist party Reform UK, which has been leading in some British opinion polls, said on Friday it had referred one of its lawmakers to the police over allegations of threats of physical violence against the party's chairman.
Reform, led by Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage, said Rupert Lowe had shown a "disturbing pattern of behaviour", including threats made against Reform UK Chairman Zia Yusuf and complaints from two female employees about serious bullying in his parliamentary office.
"Evidence was provided to us of workplace bullying, the targeting of female staff who raised concerns, and evidence of derogatory and discriminatory remarks made about women, including reference to a perceived disability," a statement from the party said.
"In addition to these allegations of a disturbing pattern of behaviour, Mr Lowe has on at least two occasions made threats of physical violence against our party chairman. Accordingly, this matter is with the police."
Lowe said the allegations were "untrue and false".
"Let me be abundantly clear - this investigation is based on zero credible evidence against me, as has been repeatedly stated by the neutral investigator," he said in a statement.
Reform UK, which only has five members of parliament, overtook Britain's governing Labour Party last month as the country's most popular political party in opinion polls reflecting public discontent with Prime Minister Keir Starmer less than a year into his term.
But the party is showing signs of divisions and has seen support dip with Starmer's party enjoying a boost after his high-profile role in discussions over Ukraine.
Lowe, who the billionaire Elon Musk recently said should be the Reform leader, said this week that it was "too early" to know if Farage would deliver as leader, and accused him of having "messianic" tendencies.
"It is no surprise that this vexatious statement has been issued the day after my reasonable and constructive questions of Nigel and the Reform structure," his latest statement said.
(Reporting by Andrew MacAskill; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
