My instinct was to seriously consider Lowe’s offer even though I don’t trust him. However when I watched him with Dan Wootton he’s a creep and a narcissist. Leave him where he is and try to attract right of centre Tories, blue Labour and non-voters who have given up. We need a Reform government and I’m coming around to the idea that joining Restore will make that more difficult. Try to maintain cordial relations with them despite the abuse that will come from them.
Restore have clearly attracted a lot of crackpots we know that. A lot anti Israel nonsense and ethno nationalism has poisoned their brand. Having said that there are good people in there looking for a hard right alternative and I won't knock them even though I'm not naturally right wing. Some of those at the top of the party have burnt their bridges too especially the Lotus eaters crowd I'm done with them.
So for me no pact maybe a truce and a little Less animosity.
Less animosity and slander would be good. It is neither grown-up nor attractive and does nothing to win back Restore voters who are mistrustful of Reform's vague and see-sawing offering. I think that Restore voters do not just want the Left out. That's no longer enough.
I follow Rupert Lowe across social media on the know thine enemy ( or at least competition ) premise . I find him to be a loose lipped loose cannon . Reminds me of Harry and Meghan, can’t keep anything to himself. Messages sent privately are up for public consumption and he is obsessed with attacking Farage and Reform. He craves adulation from his followers and attention wherever he can get it. Most Restore voters would be welcome but I think Rupert would be trouble. Doesn’t play well with others, feels he has to lead ( hence his overture coming in the form of laying down the law in the shape of red line demands) . It’s a pity I used to like him.
I agree with all that Matt said. I worry that many voters do not understand our electoral system and are not politically sophisticated enough to vote strategically . But that all hinges on how bad things get in the country. Immigration. Law and order. The economy . Letting murderers out on our streets is causing a great deal of fear. Even my town is being overtaken by an influx of HMOs and the fear and anger in the local paper online comments section was there for all to see . Continue along this road and voters will be looking for solutions rather than ideology .
Demographic security is the biggest point that motivates Restore voters. Commit to stopping native Brits becoming a minority in their own country, which will mean remigration of some groups (e.g the Boris wave) and Restore goes away.
I disagree with the idea that we have two elections in which to save the country. The 2029 (or sooner) election is the key. If we fail there, the country is doomed. That 5 year term will need to be used to stabilise the nation, both culturally and economically. A second term will see it grow back to greatness and with any luck, conculusively prove to EU members where their true future lies.
I hold the EU responsible for much of our current pain. Edicts have flowed from Brussels over the last 50 years and the result has been two generations of politicians incapable of independent, critical thought. No wonder so many of them wanted to remain in the EU. If things went well, they took the credit and if things went wrong, they blamed Brussels. In either case, they had little influence on the future of the nation.
Yes we need to win in 2029 or sooner. If there’s a left wing coalition the price will be a PR system that favours the left. That could be game over for the country.
Not in the 2024 manifesto but that wasn’t his manifesto and they changed the mayoral voting system to PR the day before the Makerfield by election. So yes there’s nothing to stop him.
All these problems are happening across all of the West and Anglo-sphere. Australia, New Zealand, America Canada.
It's happening under Liberal Capitalism. Lenin predicted that Capitalism would suck in labour from across the World and America would be the prime example.
In or out of the EU Britain has pushed on with mass replacement migration/ cheap labour for the Capitalist class
Hello again ES. I’m still struggling to figure out why capitalism thinks that lots of immigrants will make Britain more profitable. Global capitalism is certainly making a killing out of student accommodation but that’s a special market. Any ideas?
The problem is we / European Civilisation got captured by the Global American Empire in 1945 and never broke free. Good book on the Americanization of Britain and its economy is Vassal State by Angus Hanton.
Yes, from what I see about me on the streets and at work in public service the country appears to be spiralling demographically downwards by the week. It feels like there is not much time left.
Reform need to be less passive and more aggressive. Every time the media or opposition parties accuse Reform of breaching Parliamentary standards or imply that such funding gives the donors influence, they should immediately and constantly reference a convicted fraudster, Louise Hague, who is serving in the cabinet and can directly influence policy. Every time!
And constantly emphasise the punitive taxes and cost of living, from which working people are suffering, whilst condemning the benefit culture with credible policies to achieve those. I don’t hear enough of that.
And no more gimmicks, which make the Party look non serious.
Someone in a comment in the DT this morning mentioned £500k that (allegedly) Yvette Cooper received from a pharma company. If true, why does that not get mentioned in the same breath as all the supposed bungs that the Reform leaders have had?
I watched Rupert Lowe’s video, and my first thought was that it takes a bigger person to make the gesture that Lowe made. However, after letting what I had just watched sink in, reality was restored (no pun intended), and the scales fell from my eyes. After watching a second time and listening more closely to what was being said, and the context of Lowe’s words, it became clear that the entire thing was an extremely and very carefully crafted piece of work designed to set Nigel up to fail. I still would not trust Rupert Lowe to run my local village fete, let alone the country. Narcissistic through and through. No thanks.
I think you'll find that there are a lot more people out there who lean more towards Restore. Reform have become establishment almost overnight and have watered down their p[olicies to such an extent that Margaret Thatcher would likely call them Tory "Wets". I sense a hardening of attitudes amongst the public, wanting a more radical overhaul of politics than Reform can give. If you don't want a pact, take Restore's ideas and build on them, make them credible. Farage is not the man to lead Britain, Lowe at least appears to be more in touch with the common man and Reform's mistreatment of him has played out badly for them. The British people love an underdog.
Nothing shows how anti-establishment Reform are than the entire establishment including the MSM, Unions, other poltical parties, even the police and government organisations all attacking them relentlessly to prevent them getting power.
Unfortunately, the British public has been so indoctrinated by the Fabians that they are not yet ready to vote for the measures that would save their culture and their country. Their best hope for the moment is Reform.
Excellent article and analysis. Thank you for sharing the hopes and prayers of many people in this country. We are being miss managed at this time and the situation is not good. The cost of electricity and power is holding back the growth of the industrialised income and jobs.
The preoccupation of net zero and its timescale is wrong and our infrastructure is failing for the lack of investment. The poor record of securing our borders is making life difficult for everyone as the money wasted on ILLEGALS is really bad and culturally unacceptable as its is going to create a growth of no go areas . Our young girls are already struggling to find safe areas to walk and sit undisturbed by young men who have already demonstrated their depraved behaviour over the past few years.
Strong leadership and a removal of illegal migration is needed , no excuses , no free legal advice, and no adherence to EU laws. We need Good Governance. Sooner rather than later.
Restore are soul searching. 9% of the 25% turnout in Greater Manchester is not the sign of a party on the up. It is decent, but no cigar. Labour are bouncing but like the ball, what goes up will find it difficult to stay there. Badenoch is giving the Tories a bit of PMQ star appeal but their previous will still be a ball and chain come the next election. Lib Dems and Greens are cabaret.
I agree with Matt. Reform has a brand, it is two years out if the womb, it is where it is through direct, straight talking about key issues that attract public support. This is not to be foresaken by publicly endorsing and accomodating views and policies advanced by fringe movements, despite some of them bordering on softer versions of the same from Reform. I am anti-net zero but I am not extremely anti.
Reform has enough problems of its own to deal with. It does not need to import somebody else’s.
Reform UK must resist the temptation to chase every fringe voice on the Right. Elections aren't won by preaching to the converted—they're won by convincing millions of ordinary voters that you're ready to govern. Nigel Farage understands that. Rupert Lowe's call for a pact may generate headlines, but headlines don't win Westminster majorities. Restore has yet to prove it has the candidates, organisation or policies to run a national government. Reform does. As a former Conservative of 54 years, I didn't leave one divided party to join another driven by personalities and purity tests. Serious politics demands discipline, credible policies and a broad coalition stretching from disillusioned Conservatives to patriotic Labour voters and millions who've given up on politics altogether. Britain needs a government, not another protest movement. If Reform keeps its focus on competence, secure borders, lower taxes and restoring public confidence, it has a genuine chance of changing the country's direction. Chasing smaller parties would only distract from that mission and hand an advantage back to Labour.
I so agree Matt. When I heard of Lowe's proposal and 'conditions' for doing a deal with Farage, my immediate reactions were a) Lowe is a dangerous man, these conditions are on the highway to a very authoritarian government and more important b) if Farage does a deal with Lowe along these lines, I would leave Reform. And so almost certainly as you suggest would many others.
My instinct was to seriously consider Lowe’s offer even though I don’t trust him. However when I watched him with Dan Wootton he’s a creep and a narcissist. Leave him where he is and try to attract right of centre Tories, blue Labour and non-voters who have given up. We need a Reform government and I’m coming around to the idea that joining Restore will make that more difficult. Try to maintain cordial relations with them despite the abuse that will come from them.
Restore have clearly attracted a lot of crackpots we know that. A lot anti Israel nonsense and ethno nationalism has poisoned their brand. Having said that there are good people in there looking for a hard right alternative and I won't knock them even though I'm not naturally right wing. Some of those at the top of the party have burnt their bridges too especially the Lotus eaters crowd I'm done with them.
So for me no pact maybe a truce and a little Less animosity.
Less animosity and slander would be good. It is neither grown-up nor attractive and does nothing to win back Restore voters who are mistrustful of Reform's vague and see-sawing offering. I think that Restore voters do not just want the Left out. That's no longer enough.
Israel is an ethnostate.
I follow Rupert Lowe across social media on the know thine enemy ( or at least competition ) premise . I find him to be a loose lipped loose cannon . Reminds me of Harry and Meghan, can’t keep anything to himself. Messages sent privately are up for public consumption and he is obsessed with attacking Farage and Reform. He craves adulation from his followers and attention wherever he can get it. Most Restore voters would be welcome but I think Rupert would be trouble. Doesn’t play well with others, feels he has to lead ( hence his overture coming in the form of laying down the law in the shape of red line demands) . It’s a pity I used to like him.
I agree with all that Matt said. I worry that many voters do not understand our electoral system and are not politically sophisticated enough to vote strategically . But that all hinges on how bad things get in the country. Immigration. Law and order. The economy . Letting murderers out on our streets is causing a great deal of fear. Even my town is being overtaken by an influx of HMOs and the fear and anger in the local paper online comments section was there for all to see . Continue along this road and voters will be looking for solutions rather than ideology .
Thanks for the observations about Lowe.
What about his Rape Gang Enquiry? That was pretty darn amazing. And it was real action. Shame it appears not to have been covered on this Substack.
Demographic security is the biggest point that motivates Restore voters. Commit to stopping native Brits becoming a minority in their own country, which will mean remigration of some groups (e.g the Boris wave) and Restore goes away.
Will Reform do this?
I disagree with the idea that we have two elections in which to save the country. The 2029 (or sooner) election is the key. If we fail there, the country is doomed. That 5 year term will need to be used to stabilise the nation, both culturally and economically. A second term will see it grow back to greatness and with any luck, conculusively prove to EU members where their true future lies.
I hold the EU responsible for much of our current pain. Edicts have flowed from Brussels over the last 50 years and the result has been two generations of politicians incapable of independent, critical thought. No wonder so many of them wanted to remain in the EU. If things went well, they took the credit and if things went wrong, they blamed Brussels. In either case, they had little influence on the future of the nation.
Yes we need to win in 2029 or sooner. If there’s a left wing coalition the price will be a PR system that favours the left. That could be game over for the country.
Agreed. I'm worried that Burnham is planning on doing this now, in this Parliament.
Not in the 2024 manifesto but that wasn’t his manifesto and they changed the mayoral voting system to PR the day before the Makerfield by election. So yes there’s nothing to stop him.
As if that lying sack gives a damn about any manifesto.
All these problems are happening across all of the West and Anglo-sphere. Australia, New Zealand, America Canada.
It's happening under Liberal Capitalism. Lenin predicted that Capitalism would suck in labour from across the World and America would be the prime example.
In or out of the EU Britain has pushed on with mass replacement migration/ cheap labour for the Capitalist class
Hello again ES. I’m still struggling to figure out why capitalism thinks that lots of immigrants will make Britain more profitable. Global capitalism is certainly making a killing out of student accommodation but that’s a special market. Any ideas?
The problem is we / European Civilisation got captured by the Global American Empire in 1945 and never broke free. Good book on the Americanization of Britain and its economy is Vassal State by Angus Hanton.
Yes, from what I see about me on the streets and at work in public service the country appears to be spiralling demographically downwards by the week. It feels like there is not much time left.
Reform need to be less passive and more aggressive. Every time the media or opposition parties accuse Reform of breaching Parliamentary standards or imply that such funding gives the donors influence, they should immediately and constantly reference a convicted fraudster, Louise Hague, who is serving in the cabinet and can directly influence policy. Every time!
And constantly emphasise the punitive taxes and cost of living, from which working people are suffering, whilst condemning the benefit culture with credible policies to achieve those. I don’t hear enough of that.
And no more gimmicks, which make the Party look non serious.
Someone in a comment in the DT this morning mentioned £500k that (allegedly) Yvette Cooper received from a pharma company. If true, why does that not get mentioned in the same breath as all the supposed bungs that the Reform leaders have had?
I watched Rupert Lowe’s video, and my first thought was that it takes a bigger person to make the gesture that Lowe made. However, after letting what I had just watched sink in, reality was restored (no pun intended), and the scales fell from my eyes. After watching a second time and listening more closely to what was being said, and the context of Lowe’s words, it became clear that the entire thing was an extremely and very carefully crafted piece of work designed to set Nigel up to fail. I still would not trust Rupert Lowe to run my local village fete, let alone the country. Narcissistic through and through. No thanks.
Even at 3% Restore can damage Reform. Its madness not to have talks and try.
I think you'll find that there are a lot more people out there who lean more towards Restore. Reform have become establishment almost overnight and have watered down their p[olicies to such an extent that Margaret Thatcher would likely call them Tory "Wets". I sense a hardening of attitudes amongst the public, wanting a more radical overhaul of politics than Reform can give. If you don't want a pact, take Restore's ideas and build on them, make them credible. Farage is not the man to lead Britain, Lowe at least appears to be more in touch with the common man and Reform's mistreatment of him has played out badly for them. The British people love an underdog.
Nothing shows how anti-establishment Reform are than the entire establishment including the MSM, Unions, other poltical parties, even the police and government organisations all attacking them relentlessly to prevent them getting power.
Unfortunately, the British public has been so indoctrinated by the Fabians that they are not yet ready to vote for the measures that would save their culture and their country. Their best hope for the moment is Reform.
The post 1945 Liberal paradigm has brainwashed all of the West.
In group preference is completely normal around the World. Mankind is tribal. Europeans are finding this out the hard way.
Very well put, Matt.
Spot on.
Excellent article and analysis. Thank you for sharing the hopes and prayers of many people in this country. We are being miss managed at this time and the situation is not good. The cost of electricity and power is holding back the growth of the industrialised income and jobs.
The preoccupation of net zero and its timescale is wrong and our infrastructure is failing for the lack of investment. The poor record of securing our borders is making life difficult for everyone as the money wasted on ILLEGALS is really bad and culturally unacceptable as its is going to create a growth of no go areas . Our young girls are already struggling to find safe areas to walk and sit undisturbed by young men who have already demonstrated their depraved behaviour over the past few years.
Strong leadership and a removal of illegal migration is needed , no excuses , no free legal advice, and no adherence to EU laws. We need Good Governance. Sooner rather than later.
Don’t make camp while the elephants are herding.
Restore are soul searching. 9% of the 25% turnout in Greater Manchester is not the sign of a party on the up. It is decent, but no cigar. Labour are bouncing but like the ball, what goes up will find it difficult to stay there. Badenoch is giving the Tories a bit of PMQ star appeal but their previous will still be a ball and chain come the next election. Lib Dems and Greens are cabaret.
I agree with Matt. Reform has a brand, it is two years out if the womb, it is where it is through direct, straight talking about key issues that attract public support. This is not to be foresaken by publicly endorsing and accomodating views and policies advanced by fringe movements, despite some of them bordering on softer versions of the same from Reform. I am anti-net zero but I am not extremely anti.
Reform has enough problems of its own to deal with. It does not need to import somebody else’s.
As sver, to win a majority, it's the arithmetic plus good arguments plus credibility plus rapport. How else?
Reform UK must resist the temptation to chase every fringe voice on the Right. Elections aren't won by preaching to the converted—they're won by convincing millions of ordinary voters that you're ready to govern. Nigel Farage understands that. Rupert Lowe's call for a pact may generate headlines, but headlines don't win Westminster majorities. Restore has yet to prove it has the candidates, organisation or policies to run a national government. Reform does. As a former Conservative of 54 years, I didn't leave one divided party to join another driven by personalities and purity tests. Serious politics demands discipline, credible policies and a broad coalition stretching from disillusioned Conservatives to patriotic Labour voters and millions who've given up on politics altogether. Britain needs a government, not another protest movement. If Reform keeps its focus on competence, secure borders, lower taxes and restoring public confidence, it has a genuine chance of changing the country's direction. Chasing smaller parties would only distract from that mission and hand an advantage back to Labour.
Elections are won particularly as our civilisation is in deep crisis by being bold and inspiring people.
Reform has lost its populist energy and is being framed as just more Tories.
I so agree Matt. When I heard of Lowe's proposal and 'conditions' for doing a deal with Farage, my immediate reactions were a) Lowe is a dangerous man, these conditions are on the highway to a very authoritarian government and more important b) if Farage does a deal with Lowe along these lines, I would leave Reform. And so almost certainly as you suggest would many others.