Farage Signals ‘Open-Mindedness’ Over Electoral Pact with Restore Britain to Avoid Right-Wing Vote Split

Nigel Farage has confirmed he is in talks to strike a potential electoral pact with Rupert Lowe’s Restore Britain party, admitting that the rival right-wing group poses a significant threat to Reform UK’s prospects at the next general election.

Speaking at a press conference in central London on Monday, the Reform UK leader said he was, “open-minded”, about working with his former colleague. The move comes as senior figures in both parties warn that a failure to coordinate could lead to a fractured vote, inadvertently handing victories to the Labour Party or the Conservatives.

The overture was initiated by Rupert Lowe, the leader of Restore Britain, who was ejected from Reform UK last year. On Sunday, Lowe publicly called for the two parties to align in order to bring about a, "patriotic government".

The potential alliance faced an early hurdle when Lowe failed to immediately respond to a message from Farage suggesting a phone consultation. However, sources confirm that Lowe has since responded and formal talks are now expected to take place.

The proposed pact would see Reform UK and Restore Britain agree to stand down candidates in specific constituencies, clearing the path for whichever party has the stronger local mandate.

While Restore Britain has not yet specified a total number of seats it expects Reform to concede, the party has its sights set on Great Yarmouth and several areas across Greater Manchester. Party insiders believe Lowe’s high-profile work on an independent investigation into the grooming gangs scandal has given them a competitive edge in the North West.

Evidence of Restore Britain’s growing momentum surfaced during last week’s Manchester mayoral election. The party finished in fourth place, ahead of the Conservatives, securing approximately 9 percent of first-preference votes. More impressively, the party secured third-place finishes in Oldham, Rochdale, Tameside, and Wigan.

Pollsters currently place Restore Britain’s national support between 2 and 6 percent. While modest, these figures are enough to act as a 'spoiler' for Reform UK in tight contests.

Farage was uncharacteristically blunt about the danger posed by his former ally’s new venture. "They could do us great harm", Farage admitted on Monday, noting that a split in the insurgent right-wing vote would only benefit the political establishment he seeks to topple.

As the general election approaches, the outcome of these talks could dictate whether the populist right enters the campaign as a unified front or a divided force. Negotiations are expected to continue throughout the week.