On 20 March 2026 the Electoral Commission entered Restore Britain on its register of political parties. The party's registration number is PP18382.
Registration came five weeks after Rupert Lowe announced, on 13 February 2026, that the movement he founded in June 2025 was becoming a national political party. Announcing a party and registering one are separate steps. Registration is the legal one.
Before registration
In the weeks between the two dates, Reform UK pointed to the gap. When Leicestershire county councillor Charles Whitford switched to Restore Britain on 19 February, a Reform UK spokesperson criticised him for joining "a movement that is not even registered with the Electoral Commission".
Great Yarmouth First, the local party chaired by Lowe, had its own delay. According to Wikipedia, its first application was rejected in February 2026 as incomplete, and it was registered on 4 March 2026.
What the register shows
The Commission's public register lists the following details for Restore Britain:
- Name: Restore Britain
- Register: Great Britain
- Date registered: 20 March 2026
- Where it can stand: England, Scotland and Wales
- Leader: Rupert Lowe
- Nominating officer: Rupert Lowe
- Treasurer: Liam Porter
- Headquarters: Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
- Emblem: approved on 20 March 2026
- Financial year end: 31 December
Why registration matters
The Commission keeps two registers of political parties, one for Great Britain and one for Northern Ireland. It says that once a party is registered, "a party's name, description and emblem can appear on the ballot paper alongside the name of its candidate."
Without registration, candidates can still stand, but only as independents. Restore Britain's emblem was approved on the same day as its registration, so its candidates can also show the party's logo on the ballot paper. Registration also brings legal duties. A registered party must follow the political finance rules and report financial information to the Commission.
Registration is not automatic. To register, a party must supply a constitution and a financial scheme, and name officers to fill the roles of leader, treasurer and nominating officer. The Commission tests each application against the law. Among other things, it checks that the party's name is not offensive, misleading or likely to confuse voters.
The officers
- Leader: Rupert Lowe, the MP for Great Yarmouth.
- Nominating officer: also Rupert Lowe. According to the Commission, the nominating officer has overall responsibility for arranging the nomination of candidates. They also approve the party's identity marks (its name, descriptions and emblem) used on nomination forms and ballot papers.
- Treasurer: Liam Porter.
What followed
Registration opened the way for the party's first electoral steps:
- 23 March 2026: Rupert Lowe formally became a Restore Britain member of the House of Commons. He had sat as an independent since March 2025.
- 18 June 2026: the party fought its first parliamentary contest, the Makerfield by-election, where it finished third.
- 30 July 2026: it finished fourth, with 8.7% of first preferences, in the Greater Manchester mayoral by-election.
See the timeline for every milestone.
Update (September 2026): On 29 April 2026 the Commission approved a joint description, "Restore Britain – Great Yarmouth First". It is shared with Great Yarmouth First, the local party chaired by Rupert Lowe. Under Commission rules, two or more registered parties can share a description for use on the ballot paper. A candidate using it needs authorisation from each party's nominating officer. On 7 May 2026 Great Yarmouth First won all 10 seats it contested (our report).
For a full overview of the party, read What is Restore Britain? or see how to join.
Sources
- Electoral Commission: registration PP18382, Restore Britain (opens in a new tab)
- Electoral Commission: How political parties are registered (opens in a new tab)
- Electoral Commission: Joint party descriptions (opens in a new tab)
- Electoral Commission: Use of party names and party descriptions (opens in a new tab)
- Rupert Lowe on X: party launch, 13 February 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- Leicester News: Reform councillor defects to Restore Britain, 20 February 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- Wikipedia: Great Yarmouth First (opens in a new tab)
- Wikipedia: Restore Britain (opens in a new tab)
- Wikipedia: Rupert Lowe (opens in a new tab)
- Wikipedia: 2026 Makerfield by-election (opens in a new tab)