Thanks for your excellent analysis as ever Matt but that is a truly terrifying picture. I’m sorry to attack Rupert Lowe who has many fantastic ideas, but if he and his supporters make the difference (which may be small) between a Reform or Labour win, I will be utterly livid and will never forgive them. This is too important to be banging on about ‘all’s fair in a democratic election’ and ‘the people can choose’. Most people aren’t aware of the danger we are in. Lowe needs to stop sniping from the sidelines and get behind a win for the future of this country.
Particularly as it seems the Greens aren’t going to stand a candidate now. The left are so much better at tactical voting than the right who always let perfect be the enemy of good.
Your Doomsday scenario is very plausible Matt. Lowe is clearly on a huge revenge mission and we will all pay a hefty price for his satisfaction. You really do have to get this message across to the good people of Makerfield and hopefully they will do the right thing and elect Robert Kenyon.
Chilling prediction but as you say it’s 50/50 that Reform wins in Makerfield.
My family are already looking into the possibility of selling up and moving abroad. (We employ over 200 people) The thought of Andy Burnham being in government for the next 5 years would be the final nail in the coffin.
Restore cannot win a general election under any circumstance, because Britain is a Left-wing country where the hard Right has never, ever succeeded; that is a fact. If we had a system of proportional representation that would not matter, but we do not, so the only possible result of people voting Restore is a Labour victory. So, because of Rupert Lowe's ego we are facing another five years of Labour, which will end all hope for the future. The irony of this is that if Lowe had not challenged Nigel for the leadership of Reform, he could have been Home Secretary in a Reform Government, but even though he had no experience of politics, he believed that he could do a better job of leading Reform than Nigel.
Ah, but egos are at stake in the case of Lowe-Restore. In the case of the Tories they cannot get their heads around the idea they are hated and utterly rejected - how could it happen to them, they think, agfter moving left in response to every past problem.
Very likely outcome unless the right unite. Surely there is a way to reach agreement with Rupert to put national interest ahead of personal feelings and ego? If your scenario comes to pass we are doomed. Not a place I want to live!
I find it very difficult to believe that a constituency that voted leave will vote for the Labour Party. I also shake my head at the sheer childishness and unprofessionalism of these politicians who continue to be unable to put the country before themselves or their party. It’s one seat. That’s all we are talking about. If Lowe and badenoch really considered the country their priority they would shelve their grievances valid or not and make way to give the right every chance to win this election. If the left win that’s it for this country probably.
I appreciate that my post is more ‘doomsday’ for the population than yours Matt…..but it is, in a strange and worrying way, almost an answer to ‘what the hell are they doing this for’. I hope and pray that there is some ‘good’ reason that we don’t understand…..but I fear for our country and especially under this current crooked and devious one.
What I still cannot get my head around is exactly what the long term plan is for all of the immigrants coming into the country and all of the prisoners being released early onto the streets. It’s obviously not for the safety of the country and British people. So what the hell is the plan. Do they just want all British people to either leave or be destroyed? If that is the plan…Caliphate or whatever….then how in hells name is that advantageous to politicians?
One plan that has been mentioned briefly in a recent post is the terrifying scenario…….that these people are being brought into the country and into Europe generally to form a European army ready for a war with ?Russia or ?China…who knows who.
Disagree Matt. You make the case for all those on the right to align behind Restore. Because Reform are not strong enough to do what needs to be done. A Reform government would just be the Tories all over again. Only Restore have a fleeting chance of a democratic solution to this.
I think you are deluded. Restore will never get anywhere near power. Most people don’t know who Lowe is. Their policies are too extreme for most of the electorate.
I agree with a lot of what you have said but I will not vote Reform whilst senior ex Tories are in the party. Those Tories were part of or supported a government which oversaw the current mess eg the Boris spike in net migration and the Brexit betrayal.
Reform and the country have a marvellous opportunity to reverse decades of decline but it won't happen if Reform is seen as Tory Party2. Restore isn't to blame for the division on the Right, Reform is.
I share your unhappiness - I will never again vote Tory, either. However, a purity spiral around Reform is self-defeating; what is being demanded of them after only a couple of years dwarfs the standards to which other parties are held. A far greater threat is that Reform get in and then fall flat on their collective face through insufficient experience and political horsepower. That will put paid to them for a long time. No, I will take the lesser of the two evils here.
I agree. I’m as angry with the Tories as anyone but this is far too important to hold petty grudges. Hold your nose if necessary but vote Reform. It’s our only hope.
I take your point. My view is that these ex Tories will bring the wrong (eg business as usual) experience to government. We need people with experience of running things in the real world, capable of dealing with out of control civil servants, able to make unpopular decisions etc. I supported Farage for years partly because I thought he had those qualities.
Generally, I see a lot of comments criticising Lowe and accusing him of spite. I agree he isn't perfect but, correct me if I am wrong, didn't Reform put the police on him? Which is worse?
I agree, they treated him badly but for the sake of the country he needs to swallow his hurt pride. The fact that he’s hell bent on destroying Reform when we are facing a horrific future, just tells me a lot about the sort of man he is.
We can none of us know their real motives. I read a lot of Lowe's stuff. From that I believe his motives are not a personal desire to destroy Reform, rather that he thinks that Reform won't save this country and he wants it saved for his children and grandchildren. I just wish that Farage and Lowe would talk together on their own. I think that they are each big enough to put aside personal differences and put country first. But that does not mean Lowe leaving the stage, Reform has to acknowledge that it has done some things wrong and change and Lowe has to acknowledge that Reform has changed.
Someone posted that I should vote Reform even if I held my nose whilst doing so. I did at the recent council elections. But I really don't know how I would have voted if I had a Restore candidate.
This is what you get when 80%-90% of the UK population don’t make an effort about understanding the political landscape and end up not voting or voting like their family has always done. How can you have one party with only one real member and another party who might next advocate growing a boob on your head and painting it blue to increase the number of police? Superficial MSM on television and even worse most social media.
Matt, If reform are going to be serious about winning then they need to be serious about policy and proper review by experts. The recent tax free overtime is a great signal in principle but is an absolute disaster in waiting regarding implementation and unwanted consequences. Julian Jessop posted on X a very in depth analysis from here https://taxpolicy.org.uk/2026/05/25/reform-uk-overtime-tax-cut/
Need to stop complicating the tax sytem and making new cliff edges. The artcle lists 10 far better alternatives.
Reform have themselves opened up space for Lowe and Labour will frame Reform as just a recycling bin for failed Torys.
Reform have to have a positive economic message for the Working Class. Levelling up the North, a strategy for re-industrialisation and talking about our massive Trade Deficit ect.
The one thing that encourages me about Reform is the number of business people that are joining them. Government has to take a businesslike approach. In the long distant past the Conservatives had that. Labour haven't and, I believe never will, alongside the Greens. The Civil Service is full of Pro EU left wingers Andy the same is true of the Quangos - it needs total reform but if the employees are incentivised to change tack it could be done. Labour will never do it, so I pray that Restore realign and rejoin Reform and win. It's a huge ask but this is the last chance.
My worry is Reform understands the needs of small biz but not how the state needs to be active to solve deep structural economic problems like de-industrialisation or move the UK to more nuclear energy. We need a industrial policy/ strategy.
The Right are usually useless at using State power and think free markets are everything unfortunately
The sad thing is Matt, is that your doomsday scenario is likely to happen given a percentage will vote for Rupert Lowe and the Conservatives. That ‘percentage’ is likely to lose Reform the race…and they must know this. So why give Labour another 10 yrs? The labour voters must be convinced to vote reform…. At least 10% of those whose intention it is to vote for Burnham. The thing is Reform took the local elections so the support is there.
The ultimate goal is for Reform to win the next election. To that end they need to broaden their appeal .. sometimes its hard for some very principal led Restore voters to understand that but a working majority in parliament is a better thing than a right wing principled movement having 100 seats. Reform is the only way.
Thanks for your excellent analysis as ever Matt but that is a truly terrifying picture. I’m sorry to attack Rupert Lowe who has many fantastic ideas, but if he and his supporters make the difference (which may be small) between a Reform or Labour win, I will be utterly livid and will never forgive them. This is too important to be banging on about ‘all’s fair in a democratic election’ and ‘the people can choose’. Most people aren’t aware of the danger we are in. Lowe needs to stop sniping from the sidelines and get behind a win for the future of this country.
Particularly as it seems the Greens aren’t going to stand a candidate now. The left are so much better at tactical voting than the right who always let perfect be the enemy of good.
Spot on, TT. Pulling down the temple may be emotionally satisfying for the perpetrator but it does nothing for the country.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sq-BovEwUvA&ra=m
This is about the US but it’s a must watch, we are in a much more dire situation.
Your Doomsday scenario is very plausible Matt. Lowe is clearly on a huge revenge mission and we will all pay a hefty price for his satisfaction. You really do have to get this message across to the good people of Makerfield and hopefully they will do the right thing and elect Robert Kenyon.
What "racist stuff" is Lowe coming out with?
Chilling prediction but as you say it’s 50/50 that Reform wins in Makerfield.
My family are already looking into the possibility of selling up and moving abroad. (We employ over 200 people) The thought of Andy Burnham being in government for the next 5 years would be the final nail in the coffin.
Restore cannot win a general election under any circumstance, because Britain is a Left-wing country where the hard Right has never, ever succeeded; that is a fact. If we had a system of proportional representation that would not matter, but we do not, so the only possible result of people voting Restore is a Labour victory. So, because of Rupert Lowe's ego we are facing another five years of Labour, which will end all hope for the future. The irony of this is that if Lowe had not challenged Nigel for the leadership of Reform, he could have been Home Secretary in a Reform Government, but even though he had no experience of politics, he believed that he could do a better job of leading Reform than Nigel.
Every single Restore policy just gets us back to every day reality pre-Blair. Anything less is just a slower route to a Caliphate.
I agree. Rupert Lowe is admirable in many ways but he should have stayed with Reform.
Ah, but egos are at stake in the case of Lowe-Restore. In the case of the Tories they cannot get their heads around the idea they are hated and utterly rejected - how could it happen to them, they think, agfter moving left in response to every past problem.
But egos weren't involved in Farages treatment of Lowe and Habib, or the many, many people he has shafted in the past?
The fact is Reform is the only possible winner other than continuation of Uniparty.
Very likely outcome unless the right unite. Surely there is a way to reach agreement with Rupert to put national interest ahead of personal feelings and ego? If your scenario comes to pass we are doomed. Not a place I want to live!
This is a v likely outcome.
And why?
Because the Right are split!!!
Because Restore by running against Reform will wreck their chances.
I can’t believe the stupidity of this!!!
I find it very difficult to believe that a constituency that voted leave will vote for the Labour Party. I also shake my head at the sheer childishness and unprofessionalism of these politicians who continue to be unable to put the country before themselves or their party. It’s one seat. That’s all we are talking about. If Lowe and badenoch really considered the country their priority they would shelve their grievances valid or not and make way to give the right every chance to win this election. If the left win that’s it for this country probably.
I appreciate that my post is more ‘doomsday’ for the population than yours Matt…..but it is, in a strange and worrying way, almost an answer to ‘what the hell are they doing this for’. I hope and pray that there is some ‘good’ reason that we don’t understand…..but I fear for our country and especially under this current crooked and devious one.
What I still cannot get my head around is exactly what the long term plan is for all of the immigrants coming into the country and all of the prisoners being released early onto the streets. It’s obviously not for the safety of the country and British people. So what the hell is the plan. Do they just want all British people to either leave or be destroyed? If that is the plan…Caliphate or whatever….then how in hells name is that advantageous to politicians?
One plan that has been mentioned briefly in a recent post is the terrifying scenario…….that these people are being brought into the country and into Europe generally to form a European army ready for a war with ?Russia or ?China…who knows who.
The young men being brought across the Channel are intended to be used against us while our soldiers are dying in Ukraine.
Disagree Matt. You make the case for all those on the right to align behind Restore. Because Reform are not strong enough to do what needs to be done. A Reform government would just be the Tories all over again. Only Restore have a fleeting chance of a democratic solution to this.
They’ll never get in. Vote Restore, get Labour and the rapid destruction of this country.
I think you are deluded. Restore will never get anywhere near power. Most people don’t know who Lowe is. Their policies are too extreme for most of the electorate.
I agree with a lot of what you have said but I will not vote Reform whilst senior ex Tories are in the party. Those Tories were part of or supported a government which oversaw the current mess eg the Boris spike in net migration and the Brexit betrayal.
Reform and the country have a marvellous opportunity to reverse decades of decline but it won't happen if Reform is seen as Tory Party2. Restore isn't to blame for the division on the Right, Reform is.
I share your unhappiness - I will never again vote Tory, either. However, a purity spiral around Reform is self-defeating; what is being demanded of them after only a couple of years dwarfs the standards to which other parties are held. A far greater threat is that Reform get in and then fall flat on their collective face through insufficient experience and political horsepower. That will put paid to them for a long time. No, I will take the lesser of the two evils here.
I agree. I’m as angry with the Tories as anyone but this is far too important to hold petty grudges. Hold your nose if necessary but vote Reform. It’s our only hope.
I take your point. My view is that these ex Tories will bring the wrong (eg business as usual) experience to government. We need people with experience of running things in the real world, capable of dealing with out of control civil servants, able to make unpopular decisions etc. I supported Farage for years partly because I thought he had those qualities.
Generally, I see a lot of comments criticising Lowe and accusing him of spite. I agree he isn't perfect but, correct me if I am wrong, didn't Reform put the police on him? Which is worse?
I agree, they treated him badly but for the sake of the country he needs to swallow his hurt pride. The fact that he’s hell bent on destroying Reform when we are facing a horrific future, just tells me a lot about the sort of man he is.
We can none of us know their real motives. I read a lot of Lowe's stuff. From that I believe his motives are not a personal desire to destroy Reform, rather that he thinks that Reform won't save this country and he wants it saved for his children and grandchildren. I just wish that Farage and Lowe would talk together on their own. I think that they are each big enough to put aside personal differences and put country first. But that does not mean Lowe leaving the stage, Reform has to acknowledge that it has done some things wrong and change and Lowe has to acknowledge that Reform has changed.
Someone posted that I should vote Reform even if I held my nose whilst doing so. I did at the recent council elections. But I really don't know how I would have voted if I had a Restore candidate.
This is what you get when 80%-90% of the UK population don’t make an effort about understanding the political landscape and end up not voting or voting like their family has always done. How can you have one party with only one real member and another party who might next advocate growing a boob on your head and painting it blue to increase the number of police? Superficial MSM on television and even worse most social media.
Matt, If reform are going to be serious about winning then they need to be serious about policy and proper review by experts. The recent tax free overtime is a great signal in principle but is an absolute disaster in waiting regarding implementation and unwanted consequences. Julian Jessop posted on X a very in depth analysis from here https://taxpolicy.org.uk/2026/05/25/reform-uk-overtime-tax-cut/
Need to stop complicating the tax sytem and making new cliff edges. The artcle lists 10 far better alternatives.
Reform have themselves opened up space for Lowe and Labour will frame Reform as just a recycling bin for failed Torys.
Reform have to have a positive economic message for the Working Class. Levelling up the North, a strategy for re-industrialisation and talking about our massive Trade Deficit ect.
The one thing that encourages me about Reform is the number of business people that are joining them. Government has to take a businesslike approach. In the long distant past the Conservatives had that. Labour haven't and, I believe never will, alongside the Greens. The Civil Service is full of Pro EU left wingers Andy the same is true of the Quangos - it needs total reform but if the employees are incentivised to change tack it could be done. Labour will never do it, so I pray that Restore realign and rejoin Reform and win. It's a huge ask but this is the last chance.
On Restore, I think it's good people are trying to build something genuine now and not leave it 4 years when/ if Farage let's us down.
Time will tell.
Agree with a lot there.
My worry is Reform understands the needs of small biz but not how the state needs to be active to solve deep structural economic problems like de-industrialisation or move the UK to more nuclear energy. We need a industrial policy/ strategy.
The Right are usually useless at using State power and think free markets are everything unfortunately
The sad thing is Matt, is that your doomsday scenario is likely to happen given a percentage will vote for Rupert Lowe and the Conservatives. That ‘percentage’ is likely to lose Reform the race…and they must know this. So why give Labour another 10 yrs? The labour voters must be convinced to vote reform…. At least 10% of those whose intention it is to vote for Burnham. The thing is Reform took the local elections so the support is there.
The ultimate goal is for Reform to win the next election. To that end they need to broaden their appeal .. sometimes its hard for some very principal led Restore voters to understand that but a working majority in parliament is a better thing than a right wing principled movement having 100 seats. Reform is the only way.