The leader of Restore Britain, Rupert Lowe, has publicly urged Nigel Farage to put “personalities and our past disagreements aside” and consider cooperation between their movements on a programme of hardline reforms.
Offer follows modest electoral showing in Greater Manchester
Lowe made the appeal in a video posted on X after Restore Britain’s candidate, Marlon West, finished fourth in the Greater Manchester mayoral by‑election with 8.7% of the vote. Reform’s candidate, Sian Astley, came second on 21%, behind Labour’s Bev Craig, who succeeded Andy Burnham.
In his address he said the two parties could find “sufficient common ground” to work together to prevent what he described as “the looming leftwing alliance” from consolidating power. He framed the request as a pragmatic move rather than a merger of identities and stressed the urgency of cooperation.
“I truly believe there could be sufficient common ground for our two movements to cooperate collectively,”
Conditions for cooperation
Lowe set out five conditions for any joint effort, as stated in his video. They include radical measures on immigration, social policy and ministerial appointments. The demands, as reported, are:
- Mass deportation of illegal migrants, including children and women;
- Tougher rules on legal migration plus bans on halal and kosher slaughter, the burqa, cousin marriage and sharia courts;
- A referendum on the death penalty;
- Welfare cuts framed as incentives for “self‑sufficiency”;
- Excluding former Conservative ministers from any future cabinet.
Context and controversies
The approach comes against a backdrop of internal difficulties for Lowe and institutional shifts on the right. Lowe founded Restore Britain in February with reported backing from Elon Musk. He was suspended in March 2025 after allegations that he bullied staff and threatened chair Zia Yusuf — allegations he denied. The report also notes that Lowe was among five Reform MPs who entered parliament for the first time at the 2024 general election, representing Great Yarmouth, before founding Restore Britain.
Farage has characterised the next national poll as “an existential fight to save the country” and has emphasised the need for broad support beyond his own party; whether he will accept Lowe’s terms or open talks remains to be seen. Any formal cooperation would test how far parties on the right are prepared to align over contested social and immigration policies, and how voters respond to a pact that includes measures likely to provoke legal and international scrutiny.
| Candidate / Party | Result |
|---|---|
| Marlon West (Restore Britain) | 8.7% |
| Sian Astley (Reform) | 21% |
| Bev Craig (Labour) | Winner |
The proposal is likely to prompt debate within both parties about priorities, electability and the legal feasibility of some of Lowe’s demands. It also raises immediate questions about leadership discipline and alliances as election strategies take shape across the right of the political spectrum.
