Key Takeaways
- Rupert Lowe, a former football chairman and Reform UK defector, launched Restore Britain in February 2025 as a more explicitly ethno‑nationalist alternative on the right of UK politics.
- Restore’s flagship policy calls for mass deportations of irregular migrants, foreign nationals who commit crimes, cannot speak English, or claim benefits, alongside bans on the burqa and a referendum to restore the death penalty.
- Elon Musk has amplified Lowe’s message on X (formerly Twitter), reposting inflammatory content and publicly declaring that “only Restore Britain can save Britain,” while Lowe has earned over £57,000 from the platform since December 2024.
- In the Makerfield by‑election (Thursday), Restore’s candidate Rebecca Shepherd is projected to capture 5‑8 % of the vote—enough to potentially siphon support from Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon and hinder his bid to unseat Labour’s Andy Burnham.
- Political analysts warn that a repeat loss for Reform UK could erode its momentum, increase internal fractures, and push disaffected voters toward more extreme parties like Restore.
- Hope Not Hate labels Lowe “Britain’s most extreme MP,” and far‑right figures have publicly endorsed Restore, underscoring the party’s positioning beyond the mainstream right.
Background on Restore Britain’s Formation
Restore Britain emerged in February 2025 after businessman and former football chairman Rupert Lowe split from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK. Lowe, who had been a Reform MP since July 2024, said the party’s direction no longer matched his vision for a harder‑line stance on immigration and national identity. He positioned Restore as an alternative on the right that would be “more blatant” than Farage’s “nudge and a wink” approach to Euroscepticism and right‑wing rhetoric. The party’s inaugural platform emphasized mass deportations, cultural conservatism, and a confrontational stance toward what Lowe describes as the “importation of savage third‑world actors.”
Core Policy Proposals
Restore’s headline policy is a sweeping deportation scheme: all irregular migrants would be removed, as would any foreign national convicted of a crime, unable to speak English, or reliant on state benefits. The party also advocates banning the burqa in public spaces and holding a referendum to restore the death penalty for the most serious offences. Lowe argues these measures are necessary to “clean out the Augean Stables” of perceived corruption and to protect British workers and small businesses from unfair competition and cultural dilution.
Elon Musk’s Amplification
Since its launch, Restore has gained significant visibility through Elon Musk’s activity on X. Musk has repeatedly reposted Lowe’s posts, including a provocative image of a knife attack in Northern Ireland accompanied by the caption “Millions must go.” He has also told his 240 million followers that “only Restore Britain can save Britain.” Lowe disclosed to Parliament that he has earned more than £57,000 from X since December 2024, underscoring the financial incentive behind the partnership. Musk’s endorsement has drawn both praise from sympathizers and condemnation from anti‑extremism watchdogs.
The Makerfield By‑Election Context
The upcoming special election in Makerfield, a northwestern constituency, is framed as a two‑horse race between Labour’s Andy Burnham—seeking a return to Parliament to challenge Prime Minister Keir Starmer—and Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon, a local plumber. However, Restore’s candidate, Rebecca Shepherd, a local businesswoman, is projected to secure between five and eight percent of the vote. Pollsters suggest that this share could exceed the margin separating Burnham and Kenyon, potentially denying Reform a victory and preserving Labour’s hold on the seat.
Strategic Implications for Reform UK
Political scientist John Curtice warned that Restore’s intervention could stand between Kenyon and his ability to defeat Burnham. Daniel Trilling, author of If We Tolerate This: How the British Establishment Made the Far Right Respectable, added that a repeat loss for Reform UK might sap its momentum, frustrate its base, and trigger further splits—similar to the estrangement between Lowe and Farage. Trilling noted that Restore’s more overt ethno‑nationalist stance pulls voters who feel Reform is insufficiently radical, thereby threatening Reform’s electoral cohesion.
Responses from the Electorate
In Hindley, a predominantly white, working‑class area of Makerfield, some Reform voters indicated a willingness to switch allegiance. Fifty‑four‑year‑old Reform supporter Darren told AFP he plans to back Restore in future elections, praising Lowe’s advocacy for small businesses. A sixty‑seven‑year‑old former Reform voter, who requested anonymity, was seen distributing leaflets for Restore, claiming that “the establishment underestimate just how pissed off people are.” These sentiments reflect a segment of the electorate disillusioned with mainstream parties and attracted to Restore’s hard‑line rhetoric.
Accusations of Extremism
Hope Not Hate has labelled Rupert Lowe “Britain’s most extreme MP,” and The Times reported in April that two prominent neo‑fascist leaders have publicly endorsed Restore. Lowe’s own social media activity reinforces this perception: he has shared graphic footage of violent incidents with captions calling for mass expulsions, and he has described migrants as “savage third world animals.” Such rhetoric has prompted concerns that Restore is moving beyond legitimate political discourse into overt xenophobia and hate‑filled agitation.
Broader Political Landscape
Nigel Farage, while still a leading figure on the right, has distanced himself from far‑right agitators like Tommy Robinson (Stephen Yaxley‑Lennon), whom Musk has praised. Farage has sought to broaden Reform’s appeal by recruiting defectors from the Conservative Party ahead of the anticipated 2029 general election. Yet this strategy risks alienating the more radical base that Lowe now courts, potentially pushing those voters toward Restore and further fragmenting the right‑wing vote.
Conclusion: A Pivotal Moment for British Right‑Wing Politics
The Makerfield by‑election serves as a litmus test for the viability of a more explicit ethno‑nationalist platform within UK politics. If Restore’s projected vote share materializes, it could deny Reform a win, signal growing voter appetite for hard‑line immigration policies, and underscore the influence of social‑media moguls like Musk in shaping electoral outcomes. Conversely, a weak showing for Restore might reaffirm the limits of extremist rhetoric in a polarized but still moderate electorate. Either result will have lasting repercussions for the balance of power among Labour, Reform UK, and emerging right‑wing challengers as the country moves toward the next general election.