Reform Releases KC Investigation Attacking Rupert Lowe – Guido Fawkes

Reform Releases KC Investigation Attacking Rupert Lowe

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Reform says it is in the interest of transparency releasing the full KC report into the Rupert Lowe bullying allegations. See it below…

The party summarises the findings:

1. The independent King’s Counsel has found there to be credible evidence of unlawful harassment of two women by both Mr Lowe and male members of his team.

2. Contrary to Mr Lowe’s public statements, one of the women’s allegations were made against Mr Lowe himself.

3. One of the women received threats that Mr. Lowe would take legal action against her if she cooperated with the investigation.

4. Both women gave their statements to the KC as sworn statements under penalty of perjury. Mr Lowe has refused to do the same.

Reform also makes three additional points:

• To quote the KC: “Any suggestion from Mr. Lowe, as he has made in the media, that these women complained following the instigation of disciplinary proceedings against either of them is incorrect and in the case of (COMPLAINANT 1), demonstrably so.”
• Both women each wrote to the Party Chairman on 27 Feb 25, detailing their complaints of harassment and bullying against Mr Lowe and his team. The Party wrote to Mr Lowe within 24 hours asking for his co-operation in an independent investigation.
• Mr Lowe knew of these serious allegations against him prior to him giving the interview to the Daily Mail.

It also publishes a chronology of events:

• 18 December 24 – Complainant 1 made a complaint to Mr Lowe about bullying
• 17 Jan 25 – Complainant 1 made initial contact with the Parliamentary Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) about bullying and harassment claims.
• 28 Jan 25 – Complainant 1 submitted formal complaint to ICGS.
• 2 Feb 25 – Complainant 2 submitted formal complaint to ICGS.
• 27 Feb 25 – Both women each emailed Reform’s Chairman detailing their complaints of harassment and bullying against Mr Lowe and his team, requesting action be taken. The Party wrote to Mr Lowe within 24 hours asking for his co-operation in an independent investigation.

The first part of the KC’s conclusion is as below:

“There is veracity in the complaints from both women which amounts ‘credible evidence’ – to use Mr. Lowe’s own words and these complaints of victimisation; constant criticisms; discriminatory behaviour do seem to amount to harassment on the part of both Mr. Lowe and his constituency team – especially Mr. Wedon and Mr. Harrison. Mr. Lowe seems to have failed or been unwilling to address the very real concerns of his own Parliamentary Secretary as well as failing to address the alleged toxic conduct of both Wedon and Harrison when this became known to him. Moreover, he seems to have failed to understand that it was his duty and responsibility to ensure systems were in place to avoid junior members of staff being treated in any unfair and discriminatory way.

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. If he felt that either did fall short of what was expected of them by him or his senior staff, then a careful and full meeting to discuss by way of appraisal what may have gone wrong and how it could be improved could have been undertaken before immediate disciplinary action was sought. This contrasts with a failure to take action or indeed investigate complaints against two men in the constituency office (Wedon and Porter) and against Mr. Harrison who formed part of this team.”

Lowe has issued his own report. Rats and sacks…

Read the full report below: