Rupert Lowe launches new party, restore britain, to unite local right-wing groups
Rupert Lowe, the Member of Parliament for Great Yarmouth who now sits as an independent, formally launched restore britain as a national political party on Friday night ET. The move transforms a previously declared political movement into an umbrella organisation that aims to link locally based parties and councillors on the right of the political spectrum.
From movement to party: structure and immediate aims
Lowe created restore britain initially as a political movement after his suspension from his former party last year. He says the new party will act as a federation of local groups rather than a centralised machine, offering an organisational home for locally rooted formations such as Great Yarmouth First, with which he is expected to stand again in his constituency.
The model being pitched is one where local parties retain their identities while benefiting from national branding, shared campaigning resources and mutual recognition under a single umbrella. Lowe frames the initiative as a response to what he describes as a persistent disconnect between mainstream politicians and local communities, arguing that local leaders should have stronger national reach without sacrificing local autonomy.
Early recruits and political fallout
The launch has already produced tangible gains: seven councillors from a county council group in the south of England have joined restore britain and will sit as an official group on that council. Lowe celebrated their defection in a social media post, saying he was "delighted to announce" the new members and that the day marked an important step for the party.
Not all early backers have stayed on board. Several senior figures who advised the original movement are stepping back following the decision to register as a political party, and some commentators within the centre-right have signalled they will not be part of the campaign going forward. In addition, some of the councillors who have moved to the new party were expelled from their previous group, creating friction with former colleagues and prompting sharp exchanges in local political circles.
Lowe himself brings a checkered track record to the venture. He won his seat in July 2024 as a representative of his previous party but was later suspended amid allegations of threatening behaviour toward a party official. The Crown Prosecution Service concluded there was insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction, and Lowe has denied wrongdoing while describing the episode as vindictive and politically motivated.
What comes next: campaigning and electoral prospects
Political observers describe Lowe as a maverick who believes there is room on the right for a party that emphasises independence of thought and close ties to local communities. Private polling shown to parliamentary actors in the region suggests he retains significant local support in Great Yarmouth, where there have been no elections since his departure from his former party.
The immediate priorities for restore britain will be to recruit more local partners, solidify council groups where possible and build a national profile ahead of any future national contest. Lowe and his backers argue the party can thrive in a crowded political marketplace by offering a distinctive brand that combines localism with right-leaning positions.
Challenges are clear: the new party must convert local momentum into sustained organisation, avoid further damaging splits with potential allies, and persuade voters that it offers more than a personality-focused vehicle. How effectively the party balances its umbrella approach with coherent national messaging will determine whether it remains a regional curiosity or grows into a more influential force.
For now, restore britain is set to test its model on local battlegrounds and county councils, using early council groupings and local partnerships to prove its viability. The next months will show whether Lowe's gamble on federating local groups can translate into electoral wins beyond his own seat.
