Bold headline: The UK’s far right converges behind Rupert Lowe to challenge Reform—and the stakes could redefine the right wing.
On a chilly night inside a weathered theatre at the end of Great Yarmouth’s Britannia Pier, Rupert Lowe announced something provocative: a far-right transformation in motion. He proclaimed mass deportations and declared that millions would have to go, drawing raucous applause from hundreds gathered for what had been billed as the launch of a local “Great Yarmouth First” party. After introducing five councillors set to vie for the next Norfolk county council elections under this banner, Lowe pushed further, revealing that his Restore Britain movement would evolve into a national party.
For now, Lowe’s initiative exists in a crowded field of political startups, and it’s largely a pebble in the shoe of Nigel Farage’s Reform, with whom Lowe broke last year amid a bitter rift. Yet over the weekend, a chorus of right-of-Reform groups and figures quickly rallied to Lowe’s cause. Advance UK, led by former Reform deputy Ben Habib and supported by the far-right activist known as Tommy Robinson, signaled openness to a merger. A formal alliance could siphon seats from Reform and, in a tightly split electoral landscape, potentially threaten Reform’s grip on power by fracturing support among supporters of hard-right, anti-immigration populism.
A veteran Conservative strategist noted how fragile margins can be in a close election. He pointed to the last general election, where Labour won big but many Labour MPs had slender margins, suggesting small, right-leaning challengers could disrupt Reform’s path. In 2024, nearly half of all seats were won by margins under 2%, illustrating how marginal contests can swing control.
Reform has staked a heavy claim on social media, while Habib and Lowe wield substantial followings on X (formerly Twitter), amplified by high-profile figures. Elon Musk, who has taken a disliking to Farage in favor of Lowe, boosted Lowe’s profile by retweeting his message, urging followers to “Join Rupert Lowe in Restore Britain, because he is the only one who will actually do it!”
A younger cadre of right-wing influencers promoting a more exclusive, ethnically defined British identity has gravitated toward Lowe, who has developed a cult-like appeal among many Reform supporters. In Great Yarmouth, attendees included Lucy White, a activist and former GB News contributor who faced criticism over alleged racist tweets, and Steve Laws, a prominent activist and “ethnonationalist” influencer who publicly declared, “Rupert Lowe is our leader. GET IN LINE.” Other notable names, such as businessman Duncan Bannatyne and actor John Cleese, offered favorable signals.
Meanwhile, Advance UK has pursued street-level activism, with large flags appearing at protests in Crowborough against asylum-seeker housing plans at a former military base. Habib framed the moment as Reform’s departure from its roots, saying, “We’re the old Reform, and Reform is becoming the Tories 2.0,” as Advance rolled out its early policies at a Westminster venue run by an evangelical church. Habib claims to have invested £100,000 into the party with about £600,000 raised from other sources, and he argues that many members are disillusioned with Reform’s leadership and message shifts.
An early test for the movement arrives with the Gorton and Denton by-election, where Advance is backing Nick Buckley, a charity figure who has, more recently, earned notoriety for his extreme language on race and Islam. Lowe’s own party is built on a decentralized structure, a deliberate contrast to what supporters view as Reform’s hierarchical approach. Great Yarmouth First aims to win all nine borough seats when county council elections resume, serving as a test case for Restore Britain as an umbrella for like-minded groups.
Despite parting ways, Lowe remains a magnet for support. He previously led a self-styled inquiry into grooming gangs that drew involvement from Conservative MPs such as Nick Timothy, Esther McVey, and Gavin Williamson. In Great Yarmouth—an English coastal town grappling with deprivation—Reform’s past success there looms large in the upcoming general election, with Reform insiders insisting they will win again.
Lowe’s emergence continues to attract attention from activists across the political spectrum, including supporters who travelled from far afield. Maria Bowtell, an East Riding of Yorkshire councillor and mother who once rose within Reform, described Reform as offering “hope,” but said the party had failed to provide adequate support and now sees independents as a better path forward. She noted her appearance on national programs exposed the limitations of Reform, and she expressed openness to collaboration among independents aligned with shared goals.
Would you support a broader right-wing realignment if it fragments existing reformist parties, or do you fear it could undermine governance and stability? Share your thoughts in the comments.
