On the evening of February 13, 2026, the British political landscape witnessed a dramatic shakeup as Independent MP Rupert Lowe, representing Great Yarmouth, formally launched a new national political party: Restore Britain. The announcement, made across social media and quickly amassing 2.4 million views on X (formerly Twitter), signals not just the arrival of another player in UK politics, but also the latest chapter in a turbulent saga involving accusations, suspensions, and shifting allegiances at the heart of the country’s right-wing movements.
Restore Britain, as unveiled by Lowe, is more than just a traditional party. According to The Independent, it is designed to function as an umbrella organisation, partnering with locally based political groups across the United Kingdom. Lowe himself plans to contest the Great Yarmouth seat under the banner of the local party Great Yarmouth First, which will now align with Restore Britain. This approach, Lowe hopes, will allow grassroots movements to retain their local character while benefiting from the resources and national profile of a larger party structure.
The party’s launch was accompanied by a seven-minute video in which Lowe did not mince words about the challenges ahead. "What is necessary will be incredibly painful," he declared, setting a tone of urgency and resolve. He took aim at Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, the party from which he had been suspended less than a year prior, vowing that Restore Britain would not include "failed ministers" or those "tainted by failures of the past." The message was clear: Lowe wants his new party to stand apart from the controversies and leadership struggles that have dogged other right-wing groups in recent years.
Lowe’s own exit from Reform UK was anything but smooth. As reported by BBC and The Independent, he was suspended in March 2025 following allegations of threatening violence toward party chairman Zia Yusuf. Scotland Yard confirmed it was assessing a complaint of "verbal threats" related to an incident in December 2024. Reform UK issued a statement saying it had received evidence of "serious bullying" and "derogatory" remarks about women in Lowe’s offices, with two separate staffers making allegations. The party appointed a King’s Counsel to investigate the complaints, according to Nigel Farage in a WhatsApp conversation with a member of Lowe’s staff, as reported by the BBC.
Lowe has consistently denied the allegations, describing the police complaint as "vexatious" and suggesting it was filed "just after I asked reasonable questions of Reform’s leadership." The timing, he argued, was suspicious and politically motivated. In a pointed rebuke, he stated, "Nigel Farage must never become prime minister," after leaked messages revealed Farage had labeled Lowe’s behavior as "disgusting" and "contemptible." Farage, in turn, accused Lowe of "damaging the party just before elections," highlighting the deep rifts that had developed between the two men and their respective supporters.
Despite the acrimonious split, Lowe’s new party is not without connections to the wider Conservative movement. Senior Conservative figures Susan Hall and Sir Gavin Williamson were previously involved in an advisory capacity when Restore Britain was still operating as a political movement. Their ongoing involvement, however, remains unclear following the party’s formal establishment; both have been contacted for comment but have not yet clarified their positions. This ambiguity leaves open the question of whether Restore Britain will attract further support from disaffected Conservatives or remain more isolated on the political spectrum.
As for policy, Lowe’s launch video laid out a platform that is unambiguously hardline. The party’s "first priority," he said, is to "control who comes to our country – and more importantly who stays in our country." He promised not only to "stop mass migration" but to "reverse it," pledging that "every single illegal migrant will be detained and deported." This uncompromising stance on immigration is paired with commitments to benefit reform, business creation, tackling energy bills, cutting regulation and tax, and upholding Christian values. Lowe’s rhetoric suggests a party that sees itself as a corrective to what he perceives as the failings of both the Conservative Party and Reform UK.
Restore Britain’s structure as an umbrella party is a novel twist in UK politics. By partnering with local parties, such as Great Yarmouth First, the party aims to harness local energy and concerns while providing a national platform for issues that resonate more broadly. This hybrid model could allow Lowe and his allies to sidestep some of the pitfalls that have hampered other insurgent parties, which often struggle to balance national cohesion with local autonomy.
The timing of the launch is significant. With the next general election looming and the right-of-centre vote increasingly fragmented, Lowe is betting that there is room for a new force that can appeal to voters disillusioned with both the Conservatives and Reform UK. The party’s focus on immigration and traditional values is likely to attract attention from voters who feel that mainstream parties have moved too far from their concerns. At the same time, the unresolved questions about the involvement of senior Conservatives and the lingering shadow of the bullying allegations could pose challenges as Restore Britain seeks to build credibility and momentum.
Political observers are watching closely to see whether Restore Britain can carve out a meaningful space in a crowded field. The party’s success will depend not only on Lowe’s personal appeal and the resonance of his message but also on its ability to build alliances and avoid the infighting that has plagued similar ventures. The presence of experienced figures like Hall and Williamson, should they choose to remain involved, could lend the party additional gravitas and strategic know-how.
For now, Rupert Lowe’s move has injected a fresh dose of unpredictability into British politics. His willingness to challenge former allies, embrace controversial positions, and experiment with new organisational models marks him as a figure to watch in the months ahead. Whether Restore Britain will become a lasting force or simply another footnote in the ongoing realignment of the UK’s right remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: the debate over the future direction of British conservatism has just become a little more interesting.
With the dust still settling from his acrimonious departure from Reform UK, Lowe’s bold new venture stands at a crossroads—its fate to be determined by the voters of Great Yarmouth and beyond.