Overview
- Polls published in the final week before the June 18 by‑election show Restore Britain on about 7–8% support, a share larger than Labour’s lead over Reform and enough to change the outcome under first‑past‑the‑post.
- Rupert Lowe, leader of Restore and a former Reform MP, told the Sunday Times that Tommy Robinson could join Restore and said he 'gave Yaxley‑Lennon credit' on some issues, prompting strong criticism from other parties.
- The Mail on Sunday reported that some people campaigning for Restore in Makerfield attended a far‑right 'Remigration' summit in Portugal, a development Restore called irrelevant and opponents condemned as evidence the party is attracting extremists.
- If Restore's voters would otherwise back Reform, analysts say a Restore vote could hand victory to Labour’s Andy Burnham and potentially revive his bid to return to Parliament and press for a Labour leadership contest.
- Restore was founded after Lowe split from Reform UK last year and sits to the right of Reform on immigration; Nigel Farage has urged right‑wing unity while publicly rejecting Tommy Robinson and warning the split risks losing the seat.