Elon Musk's retweet of a post by Rupert Lowe, leader of the far-right Restore Britain party, has highlighted a deepening rift on the British right that could benefit Labour's Andy Burnham in the upcoming Makerfield byelection. Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, is contesting the seat on June 18, and recent polls show him only narrowly ahead of Reform UK's candidate, Robert Kenyon.
The Rise of Restore Britain
Restore Britain, founded by former Reform MP Rupert Lowe after a bitter falling-out with Nigel Farage, is fielding Rebecca Shepherd, a 53-year-old local businesswoman, in Makerfield. A Survation poll of 369 voters, excluding undecideds, placed Restore Britain third with 7%, Reform second with 40%, and Labour leading with 43%. Labour sources report that canvassers have noticed growing support for Restore on the doorstep.
Musk's Intervention
Farage accused Musk of trying to split the right, telling the Telegraph: "Elon Musk has decided he will try to split the right of British politics as best he can. This is supporting a party that's one man with a social media account." Musk's retweet of Lowe's "Restore Britain" post has amplified the party's visibility.
Restore has also gained backing from former Dragons' Den star Duncan Bannatyne, who praised Shepherd's passion for rejuvenating high streets. To run the campaign, Lowe recruited disgraced former Conservative MP Scott Benton, who lost the whip in 2023 over lobbying breaches. A Reform source criticized: "Lowe is constantly attacking us for accepting former Tories, now he is working with a Tory who resigned his seat in disgrace."
Controversial Policies
Restore's manifesto calls for "remigration," described as "the most ambitious programme of mass deportations ever seen in Britain," targeting foreign-born legal residents who use social housing or benefits. Lowe has used offensive language, recently saying at the campaign launch: "They should be deported to a midge-infested island offshore either England or Scotland and let the midges do the rest." Reform figures noted Shepherd's apparent discomfort during these remarks.
Reform's Response
Reform UK is fighting back. Its X account posted: "Vote Restore, get Burnham," and MP Sarah Pochin warned: "If you go Lowe, you get Labour." A Reform source expressed concern: "I think people are quite worried, because as Makerfield shows it only takes a few per cent."
Pollster Luke Tryl of More in Common noted a surge in mentions of Restore in focus groups, particularly among right-leaning participants. "Even if they get 2-3% in a general election, in an era of fragmented politics that could well be enough to make a huge difference in terms of seats," he said.
Raheem Kassam, former chief adviser to Farage, dismissed Restore as a "spite party from all angles," adding: "It's a spite party from all angles. Rupert because he got caught planning a coup against Nigel. And Elon because Farage told him to bugger off." He compared Lowe to Rodney Trotter, calling him Musk's "little pawn piece."
Lowe remains undeterred, dismissing polls as "establishment" and claiming "incredible support." He urged followers to "ignore the noise, keep calm, Restore Britain."
