Restore about to give Burnham victory as ‘stubborn’ Rupert Lowe tears into Reform share
Despite being severely weakened by Restore Britain, Reform UK’s candidate said he is in a “win-win situation”.
Restore UK’s Rupert Lowe is dividing the electorate (Image: Getty)
Reform UK has been put in a dangerous position ahead of the Makerfield parliamentary by-election by a rival right-wing party. In what is likely to be Britain’s most important by-election in history, Restore Britain, led by Rupert Lowe, is splitting the vote. Lowe is a former Reform UK MP who was ejected from the party. Times Radio presenter Rod Liddle commented that Restore is dividing the electorate in “an incredibly stubborn manner”.
The by-election on June 18 was triggered when Labour MP Josh Simons stepped down specifically to allow Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to run for Parliament. If he wins the seat, Burnham has confirmed he plans to launch a bid to become the next Labour leader and replace Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Robert Kenyon is around 10% behind Andy Burnham (Image: Getty)
Restore has selected local businesswoman Rebecca Shepherd, 53, as its candidate. Recent polling shows she has so far attracted 8% of voters.
However, a senior Restore source told The i Paper that based on what the party’s supporters are hearing, the number is much higher.
“We think the polling is closer to 20% because of the canvassing returns every day,” the source said, adding that the party is planning a day of campaigning on 13 June when it hopes 1,000 supporters will turn up to campaign.
Meanwhile, Reform UK’s candidate, Robert Kenyon, stands at 39%. This puts him just 10 points behind Labour’s Andy Burnham, who is currently polling at 49%.
Kenyon told BBC that the poll was a “win-win situation” because even if he loses, he will have given “the Labour Party a bloody nose”.
But it would certainly be less of a win for Nigel Farage, who has insisted that the Makerfield vote is a “two-horse race” between his party and Labour.
Indeed, political analysts believe Lowe’s growing appeal among disillusioned right-wing voters could damage Reform’s hopes of securing a breakthrough victory, putting Andy Burnham on a clear path to return to Westminster and mount a challenge against the current Labour leadership.
Scarlett Maguire, founder of Merlin Strategies, told The i Paper: “The Nowak case and Farage’s reaction seem to show that they are spooked by how well Restore is doing.”
