Restore Britain launches as a movement
Rupert Lowe MP launches Restore Britain as a non-party, issue-based membership organisation, with membership set at £20 a year.
From movement to party
Restore Britain Timeline: Key Events 2025–2026
How Restore Britain grew from a membership movement launched in June 2025 into a registered national party, told in order, with a source for every entry.
Last updated
Figures announced by the party and not independently verified are tagged Party claim.
The pace
Timeline entries per month
| Month | Entries |
|---|---|
| June 2025 | 1 |
| July 2025 | 0 |
| August 2025 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 0 |
| October 2025 | 1 |
| November 2025 | 0 |
| December 2025 | 1 |
| January 2026 | 1 |
| February 2026 | 7 |
| March 2026 | 4 |
| April 2026 | 1 |
| May 2026 | 3 |
| June 2026 | 3 |
| July 2026 | 4 |
| August 2026 | 4 |
| September 2026 | 12 |
| October 2026 | 3 |
Busiest month: September 2026, with 12 entries.
2025A movement
Mass deportations policy paper
The movement publishes "Mass Deportations: Legitimacy, Legality and Logistics", setting out the case and the practical plan for large-scale removals.
Great Yarmouth First founded
A local party for Great Yarmouth is founded with Rupert Lowe as chairman. It later becomes Restore Britain's partner party on the ballot.
2026A party
"Restoring the British Pub" paper
A policy paper on protecting and reviving the British pub as a pillar of community life.
Restore Britain becomes a political party
The movement converts into a national political party and publishes its 10 Objectives.
Elon Musk backs the new party
Elon Musk urges his followers on X to "Join Rupert Lowe in Restore Britain", bringing international attention to the launch.
First councillor joins
Maria Bowtell of East Riding of Yorkshire Council becomes the party's first councillor.
50,000 members
Rupert Lowe announces that membership has passed 50,000, two days after the party launch.
Eight councillors join, seven in Kent
Seven Kent County Council members join in one day, making Restore Britain the third-largest group on the council.
"Retaking the English Castle" paper
A self-defence paper proposing to legalise pepper spray, protect householders who defend their homes and keep juries in self-defence cases.
100,000 members
The party announces it has passed 100,000 members, fifteen days after launching.
Branches in 100+ constituencies
Local branches are reported in more than 100 constituencies within four weeks of launch.
"Abolish Inheritance Tax" paper
A policy paper setting out the case for abolishing inheritance tax outright.
Registered with the Electoral Commission
Restore Britain is entered on the Great Britain register of political parties (PP18382), able to field candidates in England, Scotland and Wales.
Rupert Lowe sits as a Restore Britain MP
The MP for Great Yarmouth, an independent since March 2025, is recorded by Parliament as Restore Britain's first MP from the day the party was registered.
Added to YouGov voting-intention polls
4%YouGov, April 2026
YouGov begins prompting for Restore Britain by name in its voting-intention polls, recording 4% in April.
Clean sweep in Great Yarmouth
10 / 10seats won
Great Yarmouth First wins all 10 seats it contests: nine Norfolk County Council divisions and a borough by-election.
First parliamentary candidate
Rebecca Shepherd is confirmed as the party's candidate for the Makerfield by-election.
Energy policy paper
A 42-page paper proposing to expand oil, gas and nuclear power and repeal the Climate Change Act.
Advance UK winds up
Advance UK announces it is winding up. Rupert Lowe says its supporters are welcome in the Restore Britain family.
130,000 paying members
The Times reports that Restore Britain has around 130,000 paying members.
Makerfield by-election
6.8%3rd of 14
In its first parliamentary contest the party takes 6.8% of the vote, finishing third of 14 candidates and ahead of the Conservatives.
Policing policy paper
Proposes a Police Restoration Act to restore operational independence and set a standard of impartial policing.
Norfolk police commissioner by-election
10.9%13,319 votes, 6th of 7
Mark Rhoades Buckton wins 13,319 votes (10.9%) for Restore Britain, finishing sixth of seven. Reform UK's Colin Sutton is elected.
Policy on school fines
Parents would be able to authorise up to five days of term-time leave per pupil each year.
Greater Manchester mayoral by-election
8.7%46,289 votes
Marlon West wins 46,289 first-preference votes (8.7%), finishing ahead of the Conservatives, with over 12% in Tameside, Rochdale and Oldham.
Alliance offer to Reform UK
Rupert Lowe offers Nigel Farage an electoral alliance on five conditions, including deporting every illegal migrant and a referendum on the death penalty.
"The Wealth of Our Nation" economic plan
A 64-page plan to cut spending by £35bn a year and use it to fund tax cuts, including abolishing inheritance tax and stamp duty.
Penistone East council by-election
David Wood wins 218 votes (6.5%) for Restore Britain, finishing fourth of eight candidates in Barnsley. Labour's John Roberts wins the seat.
Dover council by-election
Jez Hermer wins 284 votes (10.7%) for Restore Britain, fifth of six, in Guston, Kingsdown and St Margaret's-at-Cliffe. The Green Party wins.
"Philosophy of National Belonging"
A paper on citizenship, national identity and immigration control.
Plymouth councillors join
Two Plymouth City councillors, for St Budeaux and Moor View, move to Restore Britain.
"The Return of Caveat Emptor" paper
Financial-regulation proposals to replace the FCA and PRA in their current form and restore London as a financial centre.
Candidate in Holborn and St Pancras
Rupert Lowe names lawyer Tyler Johnson as the party's candidate in the by-election for Sir Keir Starmer's former seat. Johnson is one of 15 candidates on the ballot, and polling day is 8 October 2026.
Lowestoft named first "Tier One" target seat
Rupert Lowe names Lowestoft, which neighbours Great Yarmouth, as the party's first "Tier One" target seat, with a candidate to be announced.
MRP poll: 7% and a seat
7%party-commissioned MRP
An MRP of 5,549 adults by Electoral Calculus and Find Out Now, commissioned by Restore Britain, puts the party on 7% and projects it winning Great Yarmouth.
"Restoring Britain's Maritime Domain"
Proposes a new UK Borders and Coastal Command to patrol Britain's maritime borders.
"Abolish Student Loan Interest"
Proposes removing past and future student loan interest for British citizens living in the UK.
Great Yarmouth's deputy mayor joins
Borough councillor James Bensly leaves the Conservatives for Great Yarmouth First and Restore Britain. Labour becomes the largest group on Great Yarmouth Borough Council.
Independent MRP: one seat
3%More in Common MRP
More in Common's MRP, not commissioned by the party, puts Restore Britain on 3% nationally and projects it narrowly winning Great Yarmouth. YouGov's MRP two days earlier projected no seats.
First Gloucestershire county councillor
The Local Democracy Reporting Service reports that Cam Valley councillor Michael Rees has left Reform UK for Restore Britain. The county council now lists him under the party.
First election in Scotland
Rupert Lowe announces that the party will stand in the Mid Argyll ward by-election on Argyll and Bute Council on 29 October, which he calls its first election in Scotland. Its candidate is George Love.
South West Norfolk candidate
Stuart Pembery, vice-chair of Stoke Ferry Parish Council, is named the party's prospective parliamentary candidate for South West Norfolk at the next general election.
Four council by-election results
Restore Britain wins no seats in Claremont, Hirst, Amble and Long Whatton & Diseworth. Its shares of valid votes range from 5.3% to 10.3%, according to the councils' results.
Conference citizenship proposal
Lowe proposes an Office for Citizenship Standards in the party's conference recording. It is a proposal, not an existing office.
Latest entry:
Keep reading
The party
About Restore Britain
How the movement became a party, what it stands for and how its policy is made.
The leader
Rupert Lowe MP
The founder and leader's career, from the City and Southampton FC to the Commons.
The programme
Restore Britain policies
Each policy area explained, with links to the party's own objectives and papers.
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