A DAMNING report has found “credible evidence” of unlawful harassment of two women by suspended Reform MP Rupert Lowe and male members of his team.
Accusations were lodged by the two females into Mr Lowe which an independent lawyer found that there was “veracity in the complaints”.
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The report states that Lowe may have breached the Equality Act in relation to harassment and discrimination.
Jacqueline Perry KC said the claims of “victimisation, constant criticisms (and) discriminatory behaviour do seem to amount to harassment on the part of both Mr Lowe and his constituency team”.
She added that 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.
Mr Lowe was suspended by the party and referred to the police over accusations he had made threats of violence against the party’s chairman Zia Yusef.
There were also allegations made to the probe of bullying in Lowe’s office which were taken up by the lawyer.
Reform said that one of the women received “threats” that Lowe would take his own legal action against them if she went along with the investigation.
The party also revealed that the women gave sworn statements to the inquiry under the penalty of perjury – and makes the point that Mr Lowe refused to follow this course of action.
The women also lodged their complaints with the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme which is a system in place for for all current and former members of those working at Westminster.
The dossier comes after Lowe said there was “no credible evidence” against him and is part of a “political assassination”.
His suspension came after an interview in which he said Reform under Nigel Farage was “led by the Messiah” adding that Reform was a “protest party”.
Mr Lowe published a statment from his entire team. It read: “These two women have vexatiously complained in an attempt to smear Rupert, and the entire team. And we are a team. We work together well.
“The only issues raised within the office have been from these two individuals, who only did so after they committed serious offences. This whole ordeal has been difficult on all of us.
“We don’t want any of this – we just want to get on with our jobs, and support Rupert who has been a fantastic boss.
“There has never been any bullying – we will all go on the record to say so, and have done so already.”
