As many of you may know, I'm a big fan of Reform MP Rupert Lowe. In just a few months, he's become my go-to voice to find out what's going on in the country, and more importantly, the truth of what's being said.
But many people would be mystified if you mentioned him or his views. So, who is he, and why has his opinion, become such a listened-to one, in the cauldron, that is politics in Britain today?
Well, he's a man of many talents, from taking fairground rides with Anne Widdecombe, to upsetting Labour spokeswomen with 'his language'. From causing Southampton football fans apoplexy, to being one of the most important voices against marauding rape gangs in Great Britain today. From successful businessman to Brexit party MEP, and finally Member of Parliament, which he calls the 'proudest moment in his professional career'
That proud moment has finally brought to fruition a long path of nearly 30 years of getting involved in politics because of wanting to support this country and change things that were detrimental to it. It was brought about by his wife who, listening to his constant complaints about the way England was being run, said to him "Well instead of just moaning about it, do something yourself"
Rupert James Graham Lowe is a British Reform UK politician and businessman, who has served as Member of Parliament for Great Yarmouth since 2024 and as Reform UK's Business and Agriculture spokesman since 2023.
Born on 31st October 1957 (now aged 67 years), Rupert Lowe was educated at the all-boys private school Radley College and then attended the University of Reading. He is married to Nicky Lowe, and they have four children.
Lowe owns Ravenswell Farm in Withington, near Cheltenham in Gloucestershire. The operations of racehorse trainer Fergal O'Brien are based at the farm.
Lowe preceded his career in business by taking a 'farmer's' degree in estate management at Reading University.
He joined Phillips and Drew, a pioneering firm of Investment Analysts in 1981, and was also actively involved in the development of London International Financial Futures and Options Exchange’s Strategy and Education. He then spent time in the City with Deutsche Bank and Morgan Grenfell, and was credited with helping to design the FTSE 100 Index.
In 1987 he became the Chairman of Southampton football club, more by accident than design as his company, specialising in retirement homes, had acquired a Premiership club and Lowe happened to be the figurehead.
Lowe, 46, watched his first football match only six months before his Bristol-based Secure Retirement company bought out Southampton FC in January 1997 in a reverse takeover, whereby a smaller company buys a bigger one.
Until the dismissal of their last manager, which angered the fans, and brought about a campaign for him to go, the Southampton public had a grudging admiration for Lowe because he had delivered on all his promises. The club's turnover in 1999, two years after Lowe took over, was £15.9 million. In 2004, the figures to the end of May showed an increase to just under fifty million. Moreover, Southampton had moved away from the 15,200 capacity Dell to a plush new stadium at St Mary's which holds 32,000.
He was a fierce critic of the Maastricht Treaty and joined James Goldsmith’s Referendum Party. Then in 1997 he stood for them in the Cotswolds, in that year's GE. He came fourth with 6.6% of the vote.
He played a high-profile role in the 2016 referendum on leaving the EU. The machinations of the Remain side, and the failure of the UK to actually leave the EU, motivated him to join the fledgling Brexit Party, which was canvassing for the EU elections. He was named as their lead candidate for the West Midlands in 2019, Martin Daubney, now a GBNews commentator, was among the candidates.
Lowe duly won his seat in the EU Parliament, and in his six months as an MEP he repeatedly spoke out against 'Environmental Activism' and described those who believed in man-made climate change, as a 'Cult'
In February 2018, Lowe was one of several people who received undisclosed damage payouts from Mirror Group Newspapers in the phone hacking scandal. Reportedly a six figure sum, he donated it to the campaigning group Hacked Off.
When The Brexit Party morphed into Reform, he became their Business and Agriculture Spokesman, and contested the Kingswood By-Election for them. He came third, with over 10% of the vote, the first time the party had surpassed that figure.
Finally, in the GE of July 2024 he won Great Yarmouth with 35.3% of the vote, a win that was considered one of the most significant of the night, coming in the middle of a Labour landslide. Rupert Lowe and Reform, took the seat from the Conservatives Brandon Lewis, who had been the sitting MP since 2010.
Mr Lowe has used his time in Parliament to speak out against quantitative easing. The British state has become a “self-serving, greedy master of the people” he said, as he called for a stop to the practice.
Presenting his Quantitative Easing (Prohibition) Bill through a 10-minute rule motion, Lowe said MPs should be able to block new cash being pumped into the money supply by the Bank of England, saying that “The purpose of this draft legislation is to ensure that the state is as economically accountable to the people as the people are to the state. “To do this means terminating the state’s ability to debase the value of money through practices such as quantitative easing, which are not an option for the individual.”
The local 'Pride' activists in Yarmouth, accused him of 'hate speech' when he said Pride flags should NOT be flown on public buildings, and arranged a protest against him with a mock-up of the MP in drag, with Lowe’s head, to use in their march. He responded in his usual polite way, and diffused the fanatic’s hate language, saying “I unequivocally support free speech and the right to peaceful protest, even when it’s against my own comments. "Photoshop is an incredibly powerful tool, but no amount of digital manipulation can make me look good in heels and a wig. I’ll stick to the suit.”
His Maiden speech, with references to Anne Widdecombe, snails, herrings and public loos, was very good and entertaining and well worth listening to.
He has caused great consternation at the the BBC and FT by his announcement that he will not take his salary as an MP but will instead give it to a charity in his constituency each month. Daily, he is making statements about the state of Great Britain and is demanding answers, and facts and figures, from this Labour Government. As Reform promised to be before the election, he is a constant thorn in their side, and they are not being allowed to enjoy their GE 'victory'. He is passionate about this country, and is determined to help the people of Great Yarmouth become more visible to the powers that be.
This attitude and belief go hand and hand with the man he calls his hero, Oliver Cromwell "He was a great guy, a great leader – he stood up for what he believed in".
His quote about the situation our country finds itself in, at this turbulent time, was added to recently "But we fight on, we are Great Britain." His voting record is exemplary as shown here. He gets my vote.
Jacqui Derriman