Seven ex-Reform councillors join Rupert Lowe’s new rival party Restore
Seven former Reform UK councilors have joined Rupert Lowe’s new political party, Restore Britain, and will form a new group on Kent County Council.
Six of these councilors previously expelled from Reform have now joined the party which Independent MP Mr Lowe launched last Friday.
A source from Restore UK reacted to the move, stating that Restore was “welcoming our leftovers”.
They added: “Let’s not forget that six of these councilors were expelled from Reformation. If this is Restore’s bar for councilors then it must be very low indeed.”
The new members of the Restore Britain group include Paul Thomas, Oliver Bradshaw and Brian Black from the Independent Group, Robert Ford and Isabella Kemp from the existing Independent Reformers Group, and independent councilors Maxine Fothergill and Dean Burns.
Mr Lowe, who is also a former Reform UK MP, posted his departure announcement on X, writing “there will be so much more to come”.
“I am delighted to announce that seven Kent Borough Councilors have joined Restore Britain today and will form a formal Restore Britain group on the council,” he said.
“This is a very important day for our party.
Restore Britain was founded as a “political movement” by Mr Lowe following his ill-tempered split from Reform UK.
It is now expected to act as an umbrella political party with locally based political parties as partners.
On Wednesday, Mr. Lowe reported on X that his party had published its deportation policy, which “details exactly how we can remove millions of illegal immigrants.”
Mr Lowe also told X that Restore Britain councilors would not receive a national whipping on local issues.
Reacting to the move, former Reform UK councilor Bill Barrett, former leader of the Independent Reformers Group, said he wished his colleagues the best but added that Restore Britain was “too right-wing for me”.
“I sit at the center of British politics where large churches are built, and that’s where I will remain,” the independent councilor said.
Liberal Democrat Antony Hook, leader of the opposition Kent County Council, said: “It is difficult to keep track of the ever-changing factions that have left the reform.
“The Lib Dems will continue to work hard for local people and argue for council policies that will benefit all people living in our great borough.”
Reform took control of Kent County Council in May, taking 57 out of 81 seats.
After removing nine people, there are now 48 councillors, many of whom appear to have appeared in a video of council leader Linden Kemkaran yelling and swearing at members.
