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Rupert Lowe to sue Reform leadership for defamation

(Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)

Back to the Reform fallout, which has escalated this afternoon. Now the party’s former MP Rupert Lowe has said he will sue his old party for defamation over what he claims is a ‘concerted smear campaign’ against him. He was suspended in March after party chairman Zia Yusuf and the chief whip Lee Anderson released a joint statement in which said they had referred Rupert Lowe to the police, alleging their ex-colleague had made ‘threats of physical violence’ against Yusuf. The Metropolitan Police has since launched an investigation into the now-independent MP – and Lowe’s gun collection was seized at the start of the month. Crikey!

Lowe has been taking to social media to tweet furiously about the complaint timeline – pointing out that his now-infamous Daily Mail interview in which he criticised the party leadership had been published two days prior. Now he’s gone a step further – and has revealed he is taking legal action against the leadership of his former party.

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Steerpike
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Steerpike

Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

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