Ex-Reform MP Rupert Lowe cleared by parliamentary watchdog

The ex-Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe was investigated by parliament’s commissioner on standards for an alleged failure to properly register his interests.

Lowe, who has been sitting as an independent backbencher since he lost the party whip in March, was cleared by the commissioner and has claimed the complaint about him was a “malicious attempt to shut me down” and “undermine” an inquiry he has launched into rape gangs.

The Great Yarmouth MP, who counts tech billionaire Elon Musk and far-right activist Tommy Robinson among his supporters because of his strident position on grooming gangs, has amassed more than 20,000 individual donations, including several four-figure sums. He has vowed to “achieve justice for survivors and to hold to account those who failed them”.

Lowe’s crowdfunder says all donations must be made by permissible donors and that any individuals giving more than £1,499.99 will be published on his parliamentary register of interests.

However, under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, Lowe has a legal duty to report any impermissible donations above £500. The Electoral Commission will then publish this.

About 70 of the donations were for £500 or more, of which nearly half came from anonymous donors or those who have not given their name, including several four-figure sums of as much as £5,000. Some appear to have come from outside the UK.

James McMurdock, a fellow former Reform MP who lost the whip last weekend, donated to the cause and joined the inquiry’s panel, alongside former minister Esther McVey. Ben Habib, the ex-deputy leader of Reform, who was ousted by Nigel Farage, has also donated.

On the crowdfunding page, Lowe, says he is using the money to build a team, launch a freedom of information campaign and is seeking “cooperation“ from various figures, including council leaders. Grooming gang survivor Sammy Woodhouse and activist Raja Miah have joined the team.

On the page, Lowe also claims the safeguarding minister, Jess Phillips, has already given her commitment to take part. However, The Observer understands this is not the case.

Lowe’s crowdfunder formally completed on 20 June, after which he had 30 days to register both the permissible donations and record those that failed checks.

In a statement posted on X, Lowe said: “I was informed on Thursday morning that this investigation was happening, and I immediately provided undeniable proof that all was done within the rules - the money arrived in the rape gang inquiry account on June 23rd and I have 28 days from that date to register. It is all in hand, and being done entirely correctly.

“I do not think that it is a coincidence that this complaint has come just a few days before we are welcoming 40 rape gang survivors to Parliament.“

A spokesperson for the Electoral Commission confirmed that “these are donations towards an MP’s political activities”, which should be declared on both systems.

Lowe has also created a potential legal issue in his choice of a community interest company (CIC) to manage the inquiry’s funds. These vehicles are intended to be used by social enterprises that operate for a public benefit.

But, as first highlighted by transparency campaigner Alex May, the rules stipulate: “A CIC cannot be used solely for … political purposes.” Lowe did not respond to previous requests for comment on this issue.

A spokesperson for the CIC regulator’s office said to The Observer that every applicant “signs a declaration stating that it will not be a political party, a political campaigning organisation [or] a subsidiary of a political party or political campaigning organisation … any CIC involved in such activities could cease to satisfy the community interest test and be subject to enforcement action by the regulator”.

Lowe started the project several weeks before Keir Starmer announced a government-backed national inquiry into grooming gangs last month. Lowe has stressed that his investigation will continue.