Rupert Lowe asks High Court to block watchdog probe over fears it could 'end his career'

Submissions made to the High Court on behalf of the Great Yarmouth MP also warned the investigation could lead to "unjust harm".

The ICGS is responsible for investigating complaints related to bullying, harassment and/or sexual misconduct within the Houses of Parliament.

The complaint was made by a third party who cannot be identified in July 2025.

However, further details of the complaint remain unknown.

Christopher Newman, who is representing Mr Lowe, claimed in written submissions that the "substantive claim to judicial review alleges procedural unfairness in the processes of ICGS, as well as perversity and illegality".

He added: "The scope for unjust harm arising from an adjudicative process, in this case one which has the potential to end the career of a member of parliament, being infected by bias is very significant."

A full hearing of the challenge is expected to be heard next month.

However, Mr Lowe's lawyers have now asked the High Court to temporarily block the watchdog's investigation.

The injunction would come in pending the outcome of next month's hearing.

Mr Newman told the court that there was "already troubling evidence of corruption of process unfairly affecting Mr Lowe".

"There is a powerful inference that [the complainant] leaked information to Reform UK, which led to Reform UK starting its own fact-finding process," Mr Newman added.

Meanwhile, Sarah Hannett KC, who is representing the ICGS, said in written submissions that Mr Lowe is a sitting MP and subject to the rules, procedures and standards of behaviour for members of the House of Commons.

She added: "Most fundamentally, the claimant is answerable to the House [of Commons] about the allegations of misconduct made against him… they are not for the court."

Mr Justice Chamberlain is expected to make his decision on the matter on February 24.

Mr Lowe was elected as Great Yarmouth's MP in the 2024 General Election.

The former Southampton FC chairman received 14,385 votes in the Norfolk constituency, seeing off Labour's Keir Cozens with a majority of 1,426.

Mr Lowe was suspended by Reform UK in March 2025 after the 68-year-old was accused of threatening the party's then-chairman Zia Yusuf.

The ex-Brexit Party MEP has consistently denied the allegations made against him.

The Crown Prosecution Service later said no criminal charges would be brought against him in relation to the alleged threats.

Mr Lowe has spent most of his time sitting as an independent MP in the House of Commons.

However, the Great Yarmouth MP is now looking to build a rival party to Reform UK.

Despite just eight per cent of the British public identifying the Restore Britain leader, Mr Lowe has secured a number of council defections from Reform UK.