Rupert Lowe's decision to relaunch his Restore Britain pressure group as a political party has drew a mixed response to say the least. Some are elated about what they see as an ethno-conservative party that can challenge the multi-cultural establishment, while others have lashed out at what they see as a major split in the right and a gift to Starmer and the left. Some question whether Reform and the Tories are even 'right-wing' parties to begin with, while others on this so-called 'right' have deployed the tactics of the left by labeling Lowe and his new party 'racists'.
Name-calling won't bother Lowe. Since his ejection from Reform, he has steadily built a profile as a no nonsense straight talking guy who appeals to a demographic that has long tired of suave fork-tongued politicians. In years gone by the emergence of a new party would merely be a flash in the pan that would quickly be muted by the Lab-Con protection racket that has destroyed British democracy for decades. Now, with the destruction of the Uniparty in full flow, democracy is booming like never before. The game has changed.
So who should be concerned about the rise of Lowe? A recent poll put Restore Britain on ten per cent, level with the Lib Dems in fifth place. Crucially, this cut Reform's poll lead in half, from ten points to five. Clearly, Farage's decision to eject Lowe could prove catastrophic to his hopes of winning the next general election. However, there is no need for Reformers to panic just yet and they can look to a recent example from the left for potential salvation.
When Zarah Sultana rashly announced she and Jeremy Corbyn were launching a new party on the left, it appeared to be a hammer blow to Starmer and Labour, who were already reeling from a tough (self-inflicted) start to government. It was viewed by many - including BTLP - as a major split in the making. However, what followed was the most disastrous launch and development of a party we care to remember. Eight months on 'Your Party' has no visible leader, has had more ins and outs in Westminster than even Reform and has not fielded a single candidate in an election to date. In that time, the Greens have emerged as the biggest threat to Labour on the left, and they were endorsed by none other than 'Your Party' in the forthcoming Gorton and Denton by-election.
Unlike Corbyn, Rupert Lowe is relatively new to politics. Yes, he's built up a cult following on social media and produced a snazzy video to announce his new party, but can he build an actual root and stem political party and make it a success? Time will tell, but if he wishes to usurp Farage and enter Number Ten in his place, he cannot waste the best part of this year squabbling with colleagues and failing to contest elections. We are already almost half way thought this parliament.
Starmer and Labour will obviously very happy with this development, but it will not rescue them from a pitiful exit from government in three years. Their voters are ditching them in hitherto unseen numbers, many to the Greens, but also to Reform. Both Labour and the Tories are becoming less and less relevant and May's elections will show that.
It's by no means representative of anything other than our own social media following, but we thought we'd test the water with an emoji poll over the weekend.
At the time of writing the results are as follows.
Lowe = 2,519 (57.1%)
Farage = 1,067 (24.2%)
Badenoch = 209 (4.7%)
None = 617 (14.0%)
As ever, we do not endorse any political party at BTLP, regardless of the ebb and flow of the party political leanings of our supporters. A broad church is how we defeat the establishment, not a myriad of ever splintering political parties.
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