This is important. I want to break down the Reform statement about me in full, and show you how it is maliciously concocted to drag my name through the mud with zero credible evidence against me. All because I dared to pose a few reasonable questions of Reformโs leadership.
โIt is with regret that we feel obligated to disclose that the party received complaints from two female employees about serious bullying in the offices of the Member of Parliament for Great Yarmouth, Rupert Lowe.โ
These allegations are not against me personally, but the โofficeโ. Both of these employees only raised their complaints once disciplinary proceedings had started against both of them for serious offences. They both admitted to these offences. No complaints whatsoever before. Parliamentary HR were involved in every step of the way, and full parliamentary process was followed. One of the individuals later dropped her appeal. They were Parliamentary employees, not Reform employees.
โOne worked in his Parliamentary office, the other in his Constituency office, we understand complaints have been made to Parliamentary authorities.โ
I have heard nothing from the Parliamentary authorities. Again, HR have been fully supportive every step of the way. I have a huge amount of evidence to prove it.
โEvidence 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.โ
I did NOT make these remarks. The comments mentioned refer to a different member of staff's remarks, vindictively leaked in private WhatsApp messages by one of the individuals who was going through the disciplinary process. She resigned before that process could finish.
Are MPs now responsible for mildly inappropriate comments that their staff make in private conversations?
Reform has deliberately conflated these accusations to make me look guilty.
Again, there is NO credible evidence against me of any bullying whatsoever.
โWe feel we have a duty of care to all our staff, whether employed directly or indirectly. Accordingly, we appointed an independent Kingโs Counsel to conduct an investigation into the veracity of these complaints. To date, Mr. Lowe has yet to cooperate with this investigation.โ
False. I have spoken with the KC at length, on multiple occasions. I have asked for credible evidence against me, none has been provided. To say I have not cooperated is an outright lie, and my legal team are on this.
โIn 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.โ
This is total nonsense. In December, Zia and I had a robust debate. We moved on, or so I thought.
This was then reported to the police the day after I raised concerns about the party leadership, months after the event. What a disgraceful waste of police time. Weaponising the process to blacken my name.
โReform stands for the highest standards of conduct in public life, and we will apply these standards without fear nor favour, including within our own party.โ
So we are clear - it is now Reform policy to remove MPs if staff members make vexatious complaints? Even whilst they are going through a disciplinary procedure following serious offences? Before any investigation is even allowed to start?
Do they want to go down this path? Really?
All of this, and more, is with my legal team. I will not tolerate these falsehoods.
It is a vindictive witch hunt, all because I asked awkward questions of Nigel.
If a migrant wants to come to our country - not work, not speak our language, not even attempt to integrate?
Then they should not be welcome, and a visa should not be issued. The answer is no. You come, you contribute, you integrate. End of story.
We have plenty of our own problems, without taking in hundreds of thousands every year who have no intention of pulling their weight. Only a fifth of those coming are actually working - this is just madness.
Why is it being tolerated?
Integration, integration, integration. I support incredibly limited and targeted immigration, with those arriving coming to work, contribute and integrate. Speak the language, get a skilled job, be a net benefit for our country - in areas where we are lacking.
That works, the current mess does not.
Go to some parts of England, there are streets and streets where you won't hear a word of English. It's just not acceptable. Brits have watched their communities transform in front of their eyes over the last decade or two. They raise issues, and they're smeared as racists.
It's not on.
The immigration system has to work for the British people above ALL else. To be brutally honest, whether migrants benefit or not is entirely unimportant compared to the impact on the British public.
This is THE root cause of almost every issue facing the UK. We get this properly sorted, everything else follows.
Throw liquid all over a leading politician during an election campaign = not a day in jail.
Send an Facebook or X post about the horror of the Southport Massacre = prison for two years.
Two Tier Justice in Britain is truly fucked up.
Oh no, Gary Lineker. How ever am I going to educate myself about the Middle East, domestic politics, the history of the 1930s-40s and which crisps to eat now?
Just think of what's happened on channels like the BBC and Channel 4.
In 2019 Jo Brand joked about throwing acid over Nigel Farage on the BBC - No further action.
In 2020 Sophie Dukes joked about killing white people on Frankie Boyle's New World Order - No further action.
In 2020 Miriam Margolyes said she wanted Boris Johnson to die on live TV while he was seriously ill with COVID - No further action.
Did the same people calling for GB News to be shut down call for the BBC and Channel 4 to be shut down?
Of course they didn't. The double standards are utterly staggering.
Stunned to read this. I fondly remember interviewing Maddy on an episode of the Womenโs Football Podcast on @switchsport. To say she was a character would be an understatement.
May God bless her, her friends, her family, and all those at the club ๐๐ฝ
Sheffield United Football Club is devastated to report the sad news of the passing of Maddy Cusack.
The Club and Maddyโs family would appreciate a period of privacy and will not comment further at this sad time.
"Shores distant shores,
There's where I'm headed for,
I got the stars to guide my way,
Sail into the light of day..." #BoatsToBuild
RIP my friend, @jimmybuffett.
The homecoming, made official.
After eight years away, Jonny Evans is back where it all started โค๏ธ
#MUFThe homecoming, made official.
After eight years away, Jonny Evans is back where it all started โค๏ธ
#MUFC