Nigel Farage is facing competition from the right ahead of the Makerfield by-election after tech billionaire Elon Musk endorsed a rival party, Restore Britain, led by former Reform MP Rupert Lowe. Multiple outlets report that Lowe formed Restore Britain after leaving Reform UK in early 2025, following claims about alleged bullying and threatening behavior tied to his dismissal from the party. Restore Britain is described as taking a tougher line on immigration than Reform and gaining visibility on social media platform X, where Musk’s support is linked to a retweet of Lowe’s posts. Farage has publicly criticized Musk, saying the endorsement could “split the right of British politics” and weaken Reform’s chances of winning the seat from Labour. Polling cited by outlets shows a tight three-way race involving Labour’s Andy Burnham, Reform’s Robert Kenyon, and support for Restore Britain. Several reports say Lowe’s campaign could siphon votes from Reform, potentially altering the by-election outcome. The election is scheduled for 18 June, with coverage framing the contest as a test of unity within far-right and right-leaning politics in the UK.
Musk-backed Restore Britain challenges Nigel Farage in Makerfield by-election
Nigel Farage is facing competition from the right ahead of the Makerfield by-election after tech billionaire Elon Musk endorsed a rival party, Restore Britain, led by former Reform MP Rupert Lowe. Mul...
- The Makerfield by-election takes place on 18 June, with Labour’s Andy Burnham, Reform UK candidate Robert Kenyon, and Rupert Lowe’s Restore Britain in contention.
- Rupert Lowe previously sat as a Reform MP in 2024 before leaving the party in early 2025 after internal allegations involving bullying and threatening behavior.
- Restore Britain is presented as an even more hard-right alternative to Reform, including a tougher anti-immigrant stance.
- Elon Musk publicly signals support for Restore Britain, including via an X retweet of Lowe.
- Nigel Farage criticizes Musk’s endorsement as a move that could split the right and reduce Reform’s prospects of winning the seat.
A new political party called Restore Britain is threatening the rise of Nigel Farage’s hard-right group, with a tougher anti-immigrant stance and the backing of tech trillionaire Elon Musk. Led by businessman and ex-football chairman Rupert Lowe, Restore is tipped to deprive Farage’s Reform UK party of victory over the ruling Labour Party in a crunch special election on Thursday. Lowe, 68, formed Restore as an alternative on the right of British politics in February following his split from...
2 months agoWhen Rupert Lowe was ejected from Reform UK in early 2025 over alleged bullying and threatening behavior, party leader Nigel Farage thought he was cutting loose a liability. Instead, he created one of a different kind.
2 months agoAn irritable Nigel Farage has lashed out at Restore Britain and Elon Musk. And he’s got good reason to be angry, because it looks like the Reform breakaway party could prevent Farage from winning in Makerfield: Let's see what happens next Thursday, shall we? — Rupert Lowe MP (@RupertLowe10) June 10, 2026 Reform, Restore, Retreat […] By Willem Moore
2 months agoThe quixotic support of Rupert Lowe’s Restore Britain risks the very real gains to be had under Farage’s Reform for unclear benefit. The post Elon Musk’s Threat to the British Right appeared first on The American Conservative.
2 months agoEarly poll for Makerfield by-election shows threat posed by Rupert Lowe could make ‘critical difference’ to result
2 months agoFar-right offshoot Restore Britain gains traction on social media platform X ahead of key Makerfield by-election
2 months ago
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