Rupert Lowe launches restore britain as new national party with local partners and council defectors
Rupert Lowe, the MP for Great Yarmouth who was elected in July 2024 but now sits as an independent, formally unveiled restore britain on Friday night (ET) as a national political party. Initially founded as a political movement after his suspension from his former party, the new vehicle is being pitched as an umbrella organisation that will work alongside local outfits, beginning with the Great Yarmouth First group in Lowe’s home constituency.
Umbrella model aims to bind local groups into a national force
The party is being rolled out as a federated project: locally based parties will partner with restore britain while retaining distinct local identities. Lowe has framed the approach as a way to build from grassroots organisations upwards, arguing there is space on the right for a body that markets itself on independence of mind and local accountability.
He plans to stand again in Great Yarmouth under the local Great Yarmouth First banner, which will partner with the new national structure. Lowe has said the move stems from what he perceives as a disconnect between mainstream politicians and parts of the public, citing his constituency as proof of the appetite for a different kind of political vehicle. He had hoped his local formation would contest recent local elections, but those contests were cancelled, leaving the new party to pursue a wider footprint instead.
Councillors defect and senior advisers step back
Restore britain has already drawn elected officials away from a rival right-wing grouping: seven county councillors in Kent have joined the new party and will form its group on the council. Lowe framed the defections as an early sign of momentum, saying the joiners mark an important day for the organisation and hint at more to come.
At the same time, some high-profile political figures who had been associated with the movement in its earlier phase are stepping away from formal roles following the transition to a political party. Two senior conservatives who had been linked to an advisory board have indicated they will end their involvement now that restore britain is an active party. One has publicly signalled an end to his engagement, while another is also understood to be leaving the board.
The mix of fresh recruits and departing advisers underscores the unsettled nature of the launch: supporters point to local backing and private polling that suggests strong performance in some areas, while critics characterise the early membership as a grab-bag of expelled or suspended councillors from other groups. The party’s ability to broaden appeal beyond a handful of local strongholds will be a key test.
Past controversies shadow the launch but legal review cleared MP
Lowe’s move to found restore britain follows a period of conflict with his former party that culminated in suspension after allegations of threats against a then party chairman. Lowe denied the allegations, which he described as vexatious. A subsequent legal review concluded there was insufficient evidence to bring charges.
Observers note Lowe’s reputation as a maverick who is not especially collegiate in party structures, a trait that contributed to his split from his former grouping. That insurgent streak is central to restore britain’s pitch: an independent-minded right-of-centre party that prioritises local concerns and distance from established party hierarchies. Whether that positioning will attract enough nationwide support to register as a major force remains uncertain, but the immediate organisational gains — local partners and a county council group — give Lowe an operational base from which to build.
As the new party seeks to recruit more local partners and contest seats, attention will fall on whether it can translate local momentum into broader electoral success and whether the departure of early advisers will hamper or liberate its strategy. For now, restore britain offers a fresh, if contested, option on the right of the political spectrum.
