Key facts
- Rupert Lowe, leader of Restore Britain, offered to unite with Nigel Farage's Reform UK.
- Farage rejected the offer, accusing Lowe of bad faith and past disruptive behavior.
- Restore Britain has achieved notable results in recent local elections.
- Restore Britain holds explicitly far-right policy positions, making a deal difficult for Reform.
- Lowe's overture aims to counter accusations of vote-splitting on the right.
Rupert Lowe, leader of the newly formed Restore Britain party, has extended an offer of unity to Nigel Farage and his Reform UK party, but the overture was quickly met with rejection and further recriminations.
Lowe initiated the outreach with a video suggesting that the two parties should set aside their differences and work together, despite Lowe having been suspended by Reform in March 2025 and subsequently forming his own party. Farage, however, responded at a press conference by accusing Lowe of bad faith and questioning the sincerity of his offer, referencing past disagreements.
The exchanges highlight the growing rivalry between Lowe and Farage, with Restore Britain emerging as a potential obstacle to Farage's political ambitions. Lowe's party has shown promising electoral results for a new entity, finishing fourth in the Greater Manchester mayoral election and third in the Makerfield byelection, outperforming established parties in some instances.
Restore Britain's policy platform, which includes explicitly far-right positions such as a referendum on the death penalty and ethnonationalist views on British identity, makes a formal alliance with Reform UK challenging if Reform aims to broaden its appeal. Additionally, Lowe has demanded that former Conservative ministers within Reform's ranks be excluded from any future Reform government.
Despite the policy chasm, Lowe's popularity among a segment of right-wing voters means Farage must acknowledge his overtures. Restore's vote share, while not yet translating into winning seats, could split the right-wing vote in a general election. Some within Reform, like MP Andrew Rosindell, have spoken more warmly of Lowe's message, advocating for unity on the centre-right.
At the grassroots level, the relationship is complex, with some disillusioned Reform councillors joining Restore and local canvassers encountering voters who admire both parties. Analysts suggest Lowe's move strategically positions him as not splitting the vote on the right, even if a genuine merger is unlikely due to Farage's need to court more centrist voters. The ongoing friction is expected to continue, particularly with Reform's annual conference approaching.