“What we’re doing is seeking to unite the right around these ideas, these principles, these policies,” says Downes. “We want issues to be the center of gravity … rather than personalities and parties.”
Despite just a minority of the U.K. population using X, Downes argues that the presence of politicians, journalists and activists on the platform — where Restore is racking up views — mean it’s not to be ignored. “You’ll see a trickle down effect where eventually our talking points inevitably end up entering mainstream discourse,” he predicts.
Musk, the tech mogul who owns X, appeared to endorse Restore Britain by responding to the launch tweet with two Union Jack flag emojis — a big social media boost for such a small outfit.
Some see Restore as a part of a general rightward trend typified by Donald Trump’s MAGA takeover of the Republican Party in the United States and the success of nationalist parties in key parts of continental Europe.
In this view, Farage’s success may have opened the door to even more radical forces. “We’ve observed a normalization of politics that are no longer part of a conservative right-wing realm,” says King’s College London professor Georgios Samaras, who specializes in researching right-wing politics. “It’s trying to capitalize on the hype that Reform UK has achieved and try to fit in somewhere in the far-right realm.”
Samaras highlighted how Brexit began as a policy before consuming a mainstream party — and warns Restore Britain could follow that model. “Lowe is testing the waters right now,” says Samaras. “He has the voice and also a very powerful far-right audience that is following him on Twitter.”
“What they’re trying to do is grab Westminster’s attention,” says Hopkins.
But he says it is still hard to see how Lowe could really overshadow Reform. “You can’t out Farage-Farage.”
