Nigel Farage nemesis Rupert Lowe could join Tories in bombshell move

Suspended Reform MP Rupert Lowe could join the Tory party, a senior Conservative has indicated. Tory chairman Nigel Huddlestone signalled that the door is always open to Nigel Farage's nemesis.

It comes after reports that the Great Yarmouth MP has secret talks about joining the party since his explosive fallout with the Reform UK leader. Speaking to the Daily Express, Mr Huddlestone said he would welcome anyone into the Tory party as long as they "sign up to Conservative values and principles" and genuinely want the party to succeed. Asked if this would include Mr Lowe, who is facing allegations that he harassed two women and that he threatened Reform chairman Zia Yusuf, he said it would, in the "long term".

"I try not to talk about individuals when it comes to who should or should not be a member of the party as a point of principle," Mr Huddlestone said.

"Anybody who signs up to Conservative values and principles and genuinely wants the Conservative Party to succeed and be the next government is welcome to be part of our base, whether it's a member and activist or if somebody wants to defect from another party.

"The particular situation with Rupert Lowe, let's be honest, he did stand on an election manifesto and has been a member of a party whose single main goal is the destruction of the Conservative Party.

"So that's a difficult thing to square, and he's also under investigation at the moment, but long term, you know, things do change, and the reality is, as I said, we always welcome people who support Conservative values and principles."

Mr Lowe, the former chair of Southampton Football Club, fiercely denies all the allegations that have been made against him.

He has been contacted for a comment but is understood to be "not ruling anything out".

Mr Lowe has joined forces with Tory MP Esther McVey in pressing Sir Keir Starmer to hold a national inquiry into the rape gangs scandal.

Last month he praised Tory shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick who called for an end to mass immigration.

Mr Lowe's fallout with Reform kicked off when he called Mr Farage "messianic" in an interview.

Reform UK announced they had referred Mr Lowe to police and suspended him over claims he threatened Mr Yusuf with "physical violence".

The Met launched an investigation into these claims, which Mr Lowe vehemently denies.

He also faces claims of bullying against two female staff.

Mr Farage has said there is "no way back" into Reform for the suspended MP.