Versuchen GOLD - Frei

Is Restore Britain anything new – or more of the same?

The Independent

|

July 01, 2025

Just when you thought politics couldn’t fragment any further, along come two new political movements on the far right, both spawned from Reform UK like replicating amoebae.

- SEAN O'GRADY

Is Restore Britain anything new – or more of the same?

The very newest is “Restore Britain”, which proclaims it is not a party but a “movement”. That one is led by former Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe. The other is the creation of former Reform UK deputy leader Ben Habib, and is a party, albeit a slightly peculiar one. Habib was sacked from his Reform role by Nigel Farage after the general election last year, and left what he called “the cult” soon afterwards.

Although Reform UK is still arguably the main force on the right of British politics, with a comfortable polling lead over the Conservatives, it has many smaller competitors, and has itself — including in its previous incarnations (Ukip, Brexit Party) - shown a distinct tendency to splinter at the first sign of success. After all, its chair, Zia Yusuf, recently resigned and un-resigned in one day. They’re a volatile lot.

Hasn’t Habib got a party already?

Well, he did have. “Integrity” was its name. It actually never registered with the Electoral Commission, and as a corporate entity it has now been renamed Advance UK Party Limited, according to the records at Companies House.

Integrity Party Limited was originally incorporated on 19 November 2024. Its directors were Habib himself; Christian Russell (resigned 11 April 2025); Richard Shaw (also resigned on 11 April); and Mohammad Sohail (resigned 13 December 2024). So Habib is apparently now its sole director, and he is the only “person with significant control”, holding, directly or indirectly, 75 per cent or more of the shares in the company.

So is it democratic?

WEITERE GESCHICHTEN VON The Independent

The Independent

The Independent

Thatcher and Farage high on Tory conference agenda

Having been virtually invisible during recent fierce arguments between Labour and Reform UK, the Conservatives have an opportunity to remind voters of their existence as their annual conference takes place in Manchester from Sunday.

time to read

4 mins

October 03, 2025

The Independent

The Independent

Mother 'influenced' dying daughter to reject chemo

A University of Cambridge graduate who died after refusing chemotherapy was “adversely influenced” by her mother’s conspiracy theory views, an inquest has concluded.

time to read

4 mins

October 03, 2025

The Independent

The Independent

Two dead, three hurt after terror attack at Manchester synagogue on Yom Kippur

Knifeman named as Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, was fatally shot within seven minutes of rampage starting on Jewish holy day

time to read

3 mins

October 03, 2025

The Independent

The Independent

Nirvana album cover child abuse case dismissed again

The man who appeared as a naked baby on a Nirvana album cover has had his lawsuit against the grunge rock band thrown out for a second time.

time to read

1 mins

October 03, 2025

The Independent

The Independent

Praying mantises ‘may have blown over from Europe’

Praying mantises have been spotted in the wild in England, with experts suggesting they may have been “blown over” from mainland Europe.

time to read

1 mins

October 03, 2025

The Independent

The Independent

Goodness, Greta, what's the point of your Gaza flotillas?

In common with many, I suspect, I have been tracking the progress of the 40-ship Global Sumud Flotilla since it left Barcelona a month ago, with campaigner-for-everything Greta Thunberg as its standard-bearer.

time to read

3 mins

October 03, 2025

The Independent

The Independent

New scandal after Met cops offensive comments filmed

The Metropolitan Police has been hit with a fresh scandal over claims of racism and misogyny after officers at a London police station were secretly filmed making offensive comments and bragging about using violence.

time to read

4 mins

October 03, 2025

The Independent

The Independent

Badenoch takes swipe at possible challenger Jenrick

Robert Jenrick's thoughts are just “my thoughts repackaged”, Kemi Badenoch has said in what appears to be a swipe at her main rival ahead of the Conservative Party conference in Manchester this weekend.

time to read

2 mins

October 03, 2025

The Independent

The Independent

Russia's deadly missile upgrade a 'game-changer'

Russia appears to have upgraded its ballistic missiles in use against Ukraine to bypass US-made Patriot air defence systems, according to a report.

time to read

2 mins

October 03, 2025

The Independent

French arrest captain of Russian ‘shadow fleet’ ship

Oil tanker was off the Danish coast during drone incursions

time to read

2 mins

October 03, 2025

Listen

Translate

Share

-
+

Change font size