Jono Maryono
The landscape of the British far-right has been dramatically reshaped this week with the emergence of a new, hardline anti-immigration party, Restore Britain, led by Rupert Lowe, which is directly challenging the established dominance of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK. This internal schism within the right-wing populist movement is unfolding against the backdrop of a critical by-election in Makerfield, Greater Manchester, a contest that could have significant implications for the future leadership of the Labour Party and the broader trajectory of British politics.
The catalyst for this intensified political maneuvering appears to be the tragic fatal stabbing of 18-year-old Henry Nowak in December 2025. The incident, which involved a Sikh assailant armed with a ceremonial knife, has been seized upon by various political factions seeking to exploit public sentiment. Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, delivered a fiery speech from a field, calling for a response of "pure cold rage." He framed the tragedy as an egregious example of racism directed at a white boy, even drawing parallels to the killing of George Floyd in the United States. This rhetoric, observers suggest, is not only aimed at rallying his base but also at recapturing the loyalty of disillusioned Reform UK supporters who have gravitated towards the even more strident platform of Restore Britain.
Restore Britain, launched less than four months ago by former Reform UK member Rupert Lowe, has rapidly amassed a significant following, boasting over 96,000 members and securing 13 councillors, many of whom have defected from Farage’s party. This rapid growth underscores a growing appetite for more extreme anti-immigration and nationalist sentiment within a segment of the electorate.
The Makerfield By-Election: A Crucible for the Right
The upcoming by-election in Makerfield, scheduled for June 18th, has become a focal point for this internal struggle. The seat, traditionally held by Labour since 1983, is being vacated by current MP Josh Simons to allow for a potential return to Westminster for Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester. Burnham, who previously served as an MP for Leigh until 2017, is seen as a potential contender for the Labour leadership, particularly following recent disappointing local election results for the party.
However, Burnham’s path back to Parliament is far from assured. Reform UK, which secured second place in Makerfield in the 2024 general election, is proving to be a formidable opponent. A recent Survation poll indicates a tight race, with Burnham leading Reform UK candidate Robert Kenyon by a narrow margin of 43% to 40%. Crucially, the poll also reveals that Restore Britain, making its debut in a parliamentary contest, is polling at 7% with candidate Rebecca Shepherd. While seemingly modest, this figure represents a significant "dent" in Reform UK’s support, highlighting the splintering effect of Lowe’s new party.
The Ideological Divide: From "Mainstreaming" to "Neo-Nazism"
The emergence of Restore Britain can be understood as a direct consequence of Reform UK’s perceived shift towards a more "mainstream" political approach, as articulated by Georgios Samaras, assistant professor of public policy at King’s College London. "Reform in the eyes of far-right extremists is too soft," Samaras explained to Al Jazeera. This perceived softening has created a vacuum that Lowe and Restore Britain are actively seeking to fill, appealing to a more radical segment of the far-right electorate.
Samaras further characterized Restore Britain and its leader, Rupert Lowe, as expressions of "neo-Nazism in this country," arguing that Lowe is the politician capable of articulating such ideas, even without overt Nazi symbolism. "Their narratives don’t have to involve Nazi symbolism; they can support Nazi ideas without being openly, symbolically, and stylistically Nazi," he elaborated. This assessment suggests that Restore Britain is tapping into a deeply ingrained, though often unspoken, extremist ideology.
Immigration as the Dominant Narrative: "Restore Britain’s" Radical Agenda
Central to Restore Britain’s platform is an unyielding and uncompromising stance on immigration. Rupert Lowe has positioned himself as the sole leader willing to implement truly decisive actions, a stance that has garnered international attention. Notably, tech billionaire Elon Musk publicly endorsed Lowe this week, tweeting, "Only Restore Britain can save Britain." This endorsement came via a retweet of Lowe’s own assertion that he had been targeted by attempts to "put me in prison because I backed the mass deportation of Pakistani child rapists and their foreign wives/relatives who allowed it to happen."
This inflammatory statement appears to allude to long-standing concerns surrounding grooming gangs in the UK. Lowe has unequivocally stated, "Restore Britain will, without apology, deport every last foreign rapist and all foreign accomplices who knew it was happening, yet failed to act." He further accused Reform UK of being "incandescently angry" at his party for offering the public this choice, alleging "desperate smears."
Restore Britain’s manifesto outlines an "ambitious programme of mass deportations," which extends to legal foreign-born migrants who claim benefits or are unable to speak English. The party also subscribes to the "Great Replacement" conspiracy theory, a far-right belief that "native" British people will be outnumbered by "non-native" citizens in the coming decades. Their stated projections include "native British births will account for fewer than 50 percent of total births in Britain" by 2030, and that by 2070, "native Brits will be an absolute minority."
"Britain First" and Economic Fantasies
Beyond its radical immigration policies, Restore Britain’s manifesto champions a starkly nationalist agenda under the banner of "Britain First." This includes a commitment to "ending all forms of foreign aid that do nothing to advance Britain’s national interests." The party also proposes to eliminate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) directives within the British Armed Forces and to "make Britain safe again" through the implementation of widespread stop-and-search powers. Economically, Restore Britain advocates for rebuilding national industries and infrastructure while repealing net-zero targets. However, similar to Reform UK, the party provides scant details on how these ambitious proposals would be funded.
Samaras attributes the appeal of such policies to rising socioeconomic deprivation, which the far-right has consistently blamed on immigration. "Remove the immigrants, they say, and free up all the money they are costing the country," he noted. He contends that many voters are swayed by simplistic narratives that demonize and scapegoat migrants, lacking a nuanced understanding of migration’s complexities and costs. "The percentage [of migrants claiming benefits or unable to speak English] is tiny," Samaras emphasized, "but people don’t know that. So, their appetite derives from vibes and political claims from two dangerous entities that are trying to politicize migration."
A Cycle of Xenophobia and Islamophobia
Experts believe that a new era of multi-party politics, coupled with a growing public appetite for hardline anti-immigration and Islamophobic views, is fueling the rise of the far-right in the UK. Tim Bale, professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London, observed that there is "a market out there for some pretty extreme issue-stances on migration and multiculturalism – one that Reform UK might find difficult to cater to if it also wants to attract more moderate (albeit anti-immigration and sometimes Islamophobic) voters."
Samaras further highlighted the "unprecedented in European standards" scapegoating of Muslims in the UK. Data from Tell MAMA, an organization that monitors anti-Muslim attacks, reveals a stark increase: 6,313 cases of anti-Muslim hate were recorded in 2024, the highest since the project’s inception, representing a 165% rise in verified cases since 2022.
Ironically, this surge in public anger towards immigrants and Muslims coincides with a significant drop in net migration. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported a fall in net migration to 171,000 in the 12 months to December 2025, down from 331,000 the previous year. Samaras described this as a "cycle that cannot be broken unless politicians stop talking about other people’s religions and focus on the economy." He attributes the prevailing "obsession" with Islam to xenophobia and Islamophobia that emerge during periods of socioeconomic hardship.
The Internal Strife: A History of Discord
The current rift between Reform UK and Restore Britain is not entirely new. Tensions have been evident since Lowe, while still a member of Reform UK, had the party whip suspended last year following allegations of bullying and harassment, claims he denied. Nigel Farage has publicly dismissed Elon Musk’s endorsement of Restore Britain, calling it an attempt to "split the right wing in British politics" and criticizing Restore Britain as "one man with a social media account." Farage expressed bewilderment at Musk’s actions, suggesting they would be a cause for celebration for Andy Burnham.
Despite Farage’s dismissiveness, experts like Bale caution against underestimating Restore Britain. With widespread public frustration over immigration, a party like Restore Britain "might have a future," Bale suggested, potentially "snatching a few votes that might otherwise go to Reform, making it more difficult for Farage’s outfit to form a government after the next election." This internal fracturing of the far-right, therefore, could paradoxically weaken its overall impact on the broader political landscape, even as it amplifies more extreme voices. The upcoming by-election in Makerfield will serve as an early indicator of the true strength and divisive impact of this burgeoning political schism.
