Reform feud escalates as Nigel Farage and Rupert Lowe trade public barbs

Farage, Lowe and Tice outside the House of Commons after their election to parliament last year. Photograph: Maja Smiejkowska/PA

The fierce clash at the top of Reform UK has escalated as Nigel Farage and Rupert Lowe launched fresh attacks against each other and the party denied its suspension of Lowe was politically motivated.

Richard Tice, Reform’s deputy leader, was dispatched to the Sunday media studios to try to calm the row that has engulfed the party less than two months before a pivotal set of local elections.