Rupert Lowe & Restore Britain Launch Makerfield By-Election Campaign: A Bold Push for Change

Rupert Lowe, the sitting MP for Great Yarmouth and leader of Restore Britain, has launched his party’s campaign in the upcoming Makerfield by-election. The move marks Restore Britain’s first major Westminster by-election push since its formation, fielding local businesswoman Rebecca Shepherd as the candidate in the June 18th contest.

Who Is Rupert Lowe and What Is Restore Britain?

Rupert Lowe, a businessman, farmer, and former Southampton FC chairman, rose to prominence as an independent voice in British politics. He previously served as an MEP and won Great Yarmouth for Reform UK before founding Restore Britain, a new party focused on reversing what it describes as Britain’s decline through mass immigration, economic challenges and woke policies.

The party positions itself as offering a genuine alternative for voters frustrated with the main parties. Its platform emphasizes stricter border controls, remigration, law and order, and restoring British values.

Today’s Makerfield Campaign Launch

Lowe and Restore Britain activists hit the streets in Makerfield, canvassing door-to-door and rallying supporters. The campaign focuses on key local and national issues: immigration, housing, healthcare, and public safety. Videos from the launch show positive engagement with residents, with many expressing concerns over these topics.

Rebecca Shepherd, the local candidate, is being positioned as a fresh voice capable of challenging Labour’s Andy Burnham and Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon. Lowe has expressed confidence that Restore Britain can secure thousands of votes and potentially cause an upset, despite betting markets favouring the Labour candidate.

Rupert Lowe’s Key Policy: A Referendum on the Death Penalty

One of the most prominent and recurring themes in Lowe’s public statements is his strong advocacy for giving the British people a direct say on reintroducing the death penalty for the most evil and undeniable crimes.

Summary of Lowe’s tweets and statements on the death penalty:

  • Lowe consistently argues that for the “most monstrous” crimes — where guilt is “absolutely undeniable” — the public should decide via a legally binding referendum.
  • He has repeatedly referenced high-profile cases, including the Southport murders by Axel Rudakubana, stating a Restore Britain government would put such individuals to death if the public supports it.

Lowe first raised the referendum idea prominently at Prime Minister’s Questions in late 2025, where Keir Starmer rejected it, arguing it “is not the answer” and citing risks of wrongful convictions. Lowe has continued pushing the policy, framing it as a democratic choice that reflects public anger over lenient sentencing for the worst offenders.

This stance aligns with Restore Britain’s broader “law and order” platform, appealing to voters concerned about violent crime, terrorism, and grooming scandals.