An independent investigation has found “credible evidence of unlawful harassment of two women” by MP Rupert Lowe and his team, Reform UK has said.
The probe by Jacqueline Perry KC was launched by the party after they received complaints from two women working in Mr Lowe’s offices, who complained of bullying from the MP himself and male members of staff.
The MP, who has lost the Reform whip, has repeatedly denied the allegations and has claimed it is part of an attempt to smear his reputation.
The investigation found that Mr Lowe contributed to a “toxic” atmosphere in his offices, accusing him of having “failed or been unwilling to address the very real concerns of his own parliamentary secretary”.
The report said there is “veracity in the complaints from both women which amounts ‘credible evidence'”, adding that the complaints of “victimisation, constant criticisms (and) discriminatory behaviour do seem to amount to harassment on the part of both Mr Lowe and his constituency team”.
Ms Perry went on to say Mr Lowe “seems to have failed or been unwilling to address the very real concerns” of the two complainants, or “address the toxic conduct” of male members of his staff.
She added: “The ‘failures’ on the part of the women that have been highlighted by Mr Lowe and resulted in disciplinary procedures being taken against them seem flimsy in the extreme and would have been unlikely, in my opinion, to have warranted disciplinary action, much less dismissal.
“They have the appearance of a defensive stance taken once the complaints had been made as the timings support.”
“At the very least Mr Lowe should have taken seriously the distress and concerns of a seasoned Parliamentary employee and of both women”, the report reads.
Responding to the report on social media, Mr Lowe said: “There was no bullying. There never has been any bullying. Using such claims to damage me through my staff is shameful.”
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