NewsBeat
Rupert Lowe Challenged By Minister Over Harassment Probe
Restore Britain MP Rupert Lowe was owned by a government minister after calling for a nationwide investigation into the harassment of women in the street.
The right-winger told the Commons that “women all over Britain … feel intimidated, harassed and abused in their own town centre”.
Lowe claimed it was “disproportionately … committed by young foreign men, imported from cultures and religions that treat women like dirt on the bottom of their shoe”.
The Great Yarmouth MP added: “Will the minister today commit to a national audit of street harassment, intimidation and sexual offending by nationality and immigration status so that British people can finally see the scale of the problem?”
But education secretary Bridget Philipson pointed out that a probe by a top lawyer found Lowe and his staff himself had “mistreated” women on their team.
She said: “I note that an investigation by a KC into the honourable member’s conducted concluded that there was ‘credible evidence’ that he had mistreated two female members in a way that ‘seemed to amount to harassment’.
“I don’t want to hear anything from him about violence against women and girls or harassment.”
The report was conducted by Jacqueline Perry KC on behalf of Reform UK after Lowe was suspended by the party.
Following its publication, he was kicked out of the party.
In response, Lowe said: “There was no bullying. There never has been any bullying. Using such claims to damage me through my staff is shameful.”
He added: “Reform has put my team through hell in an attempt to smear my reputation.”
Subscribe to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login