In Reform UK’s power struggle, Farage takes on unusual role of moderate voice

Rupert Lowe row highlights split over direction of party, and threatens Farage's ambition to be UK's main rightwing force

On the face of it, the clash at the top of Nigel Farage's Reform UK is a battle of egos. When Rupert Lowe, the MP touted by Elon Musk as a potential Reform leader, had the temerity to criticise Farage in an interview, the party's machinery quickly moved against him.

Lowe complained to the Daily Mail last week that Reform remained a protest party led by the Messiah" and that it was too early to know whether Nigel will deliver the goods" by winning power.