Rupert Lowe, leader of Restore Britain, has firmly refused to withdraw his party’s candidate from the highly contested Makerfield by-election scheduled for June 18, delivering a combative public message that rejects calls for unity from rival Reform UK and launches fresh attacks on the Labour Party. In a newly released video, Lowe pushed back aggressively against pressure to stand aside, dismissed recent polling suggesting limited support for his party, and announced an upcoming independent inquiry report that he claims will expose long-standing failures over grooming gangs.
The move significantly intensifies divisions within the right-wing political spectrum just weeks before voters head to the polls in the Greater Manchester constituency. What began as a local by-election, triggered by the resignation of Labour MP Josh Simons to allow Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to stand, has rapidly transformed into a national flashpoint.
Lowe directly confronted the growing calls from conservative and Reform UK supporters urging Restore Britain to step down in order to avoid splitting the right-wing vote and potentially handing victory to Labour. He categorically rejected this “vote splitting” argument. Lowe described a recent Times poll, which reportedly placed his party at around 7%, as a “relatively small” and outdated “establishment poll” that fails to reflect the real momentum his campaign is experiencing on the ground through internal canvassing efforts.
More fundamentally, Lowe argued that such tactical considerations are irrelevant because he sees little meaningful difference between the major parties. “I don’t see there’s any difference whether Burnham gets in… whether Starmer remains… whether Wes Streeting gets in. They’re all the same,” he stated. He characterised the Labour Party as a “deeply malign” force pursuing a “Fabian agenda” that undermines traditional British values. Lowe accused Labour of disrespecting the outcome of the 2016 Brexit referendum and secretly working towards rejoining what he called a “protectionist” European Union.
The most explosive part of Lowe’s address focused on the issue of grooming gangs. He revealed that Restore Britain is spearheading an independent inquiry, with a report due for release in early June. Lowe described the scandal as “the most pervasive evil in British history” — the systematic grooming and abuse of underage, predominantly white, working-class girls by groups of largely Pakistani Muslim men. According to Lowe, the forthcoming report will highlight Labour’s alleged complicity in a “mass hiding” of this abuse spanning potentially “40 or 50 years” across the country.
He singled out Andy Burnham, Labour’s candidate in Makerfield, claiming the prominent figure has “Pontius Pilate-like hands” on the matter — implying Burnham has washed his hands of responsibility despite holding positions of power. “They’ve put power ahead of right and wrong, and they deserve to be punished for it,” Lowe declared. He went further, suggesting that once the report is published, “I don’t see how any self-respecting person can ever vote for the Labour Party again.”
Lowe also used the opportunity to criticise Nigel Farage and Reform UK. He claimed that Farage had previously promised action on grooming gangs but ultimately “didn’t give us an inquiry,” positioning Restore Britain as the only genuine voice willing to follow through on hardline populist commitments. This swipe highlights the deepening rift between the two parties since Lowe’s departure from Reform UK and the launch of his own outfit.
By framing the Makerfield contest as a “Battle of Britain” against the political establishment, Lowe is making clear that Restore Britain will not bow to calls for electoral pragmatism. He noted the symbolic significance of the by-election date falling on June 18 — Waterloo Day — and expressed hope that it could herald “another great victory for this country.”
The strategy carries considerable risk. With polling indicating that Restore Britain’s candidate, local businesswoman Rebecca Shepherd, is currently polling in the single digits, a poor performance could lead to accusations from the broader right that Lowe acted as a spoiler, ultimately helping Labour retain the seat. However, by threatening to release a highly charged report on grooming gangs in the final stretch of the campaign, Lowe has ensured his party remains firmly in the media spotlight, forcing both Labour and Reform UK onto the defensive.
The grooming gangs issue has long been one of the most sensitive and emotionally charged topics in British politics. Successive inquiries in places like Rotherham, Rochdale, and Oldham have exposed systemic failures by police, councils, and social services, often attributed to fears of being labelled racist. Lowe’s independent inquiry, which he has crowdfunded, aims to go further than official efforts, promising to name names and hold those in power accountable.
For Reform UK, the situation is delicate. The party had been gaining ground in traditional Labour areas like Makerfield, coming close in the 2024 general election. Now facing a split in the right-wing vote, Reform is urging supporters to consolidate behind their candidate to stop Burnham and, by extension, what they see as a failing Labour government. Lowe’s refusal to yield has turned a local contest into a proxy battle for dominance on the populist right.
As the campaign enters its final weeks, all eyes are on Makerfield. Andy Burnham, a heavyweight Labour figure with national ambitions, is the clear favourite but must navigate the intense scrutiny Lowe’s allegations will bring. Reform UK hopes to capitalise on dissatisfaction with the government, while Restore Britain is betting that its uncompromising stance will resonate with voters disillusioned by mainstream politics.
Lowe’s defiant video has already generated significant attention online and in right-wing circles. Supporters praise his willingness to tackle difficult issues head-on, while critics accuse him of inflaming divisions and prioritising personal or party prominence over practical electoral outcomes. Whether this high-stakes gamble pays off remains to be seen on June 18, but one thing is certain: Rupert Lowe has ensured that Restore Britain cannot be ignored in the evolving story of British politics.