High Court dismisses Norfolk MP's legal challenge against watchdog
Complaint against Great Yarmouth MP remains under investigation
Restore Britain MP for Great Yarmouth, Rupert Lowe, encountered a setback after a High Court judge dismissed his attempt to halt an inquiry by the parliamentary watchdog.
Mr Lowe pursued legal action against the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS), which is responsible for examining allegations of inappropriate conduct by MPs, after a complaint against him was lodged in January 2025.
The ICGS opted to investigate this complaint in July, raising concerns from Mr Lowe. At a hearing in March, the ICGS argued the High Court lacked authority to hear the claim due to parliamentary privilege. Mr Lowe’s legal team contended his challenge should proceed.
On Friday, Mr Justice Chamberlain ruled this challenge was "barred by parliamentary privilege" and "not justiciable," asserting that he made "no conclusion" regarding Mr Lowe’s claims.
Mr Justice Chamberlain explained in his judgment that the duties of the ICGS are under the exclusive jurisdiction of the House of Commons. He stated that entertaining Mr Lowe's claim would require determining the motivations behind the complaint submission to the ICGS, a matter Parliament handles within its own framework due to constitutional separation of powers.
Following the ruling, Mr Lowe criticised the decision on social media, claiming the decision empowers "unelected civil servants to weaponise parliamentary privilege" and criticised their special legal status.
Mr Lowe, initially elected as a Reform UK MP in 2024, faced suspension in March 2024 after allegations of threats towards former party chairman Zia Yusuf. With no criminal charges pursued by the Crown Prosecution Service, Mr Lowe established his new party, Restore Britain, in February, where he remains its sole MP.
The ruling marks Mr Lowe's second defeat, after previously failing to temporarily prevent the watchdog’s investigation until a resolution of his broader claim in February.