There might be a use for Restore Britain

If you’ve followed my analysis over the last year, you’ll know I do not hold Rupert Lowe’s party in high regard. I do not see a future for it as a traditional political party. They’ve made too many avoidable errors. There is, however, a possible way forward.

The party has voiced its support for recent masked protests. It a tweet is says “Restore Britain unapologetically backs those peaceful patriots taking to the streets to protest against the invasion of our country - no other political party has done the same”.

This is the correct trajectory for Restore Britain. There is no real point in it going through the motions as a traditional political party. It must instead recalibrate as the political wing of a street movement. A street movement without a political wing is just an unfocussed rabble. The model from here on in is a hybrid model, where the street movement looks to the party to articulate demands/political objectives while protests exert pressure elsewhere.

I've not been all that impressed with the Tommy Robinson jamborees. They serve a function in that they let the general public know that they aren't "far right thugs" but a street movement must also have an explicit purpose. While it must remain peaceful, it must also be vaguely intimidating so that the establishment understands that if the leaders give the order, people will turn out in force and up the ante. (port blockades etc)

Essentially, this is what Ukip has attempted to do in recent years, but as a spent political force its effect is limited. Restore is different in that it does have political representation in Westminster, thus has someone to deliver the demands directly to the government.

That ought to change Restore's electoral strategy. It not should waste money and effort contesting completely unwinnable seats like Holborn & St Pancras. All you're doing there is advertising your weakness. The priority should be to work on an electoral insurance policy in case Lowe loses his seat or is forced to step down.

As such, the job is to only stand candidates who understand the mission sufficiently to be the mouthpiece of the street movement in parliament - and direct all resources on strongholds. The party does not need a significant electoral breakthrough in 2029. It does not need several MPs - and that's just as well since it is not going to happen.

What it does need is a smart, articulate MP with enough years left on the clock to keep going. Three MPs, Lowe included, would be optimal, and work locally to ensure their seats are safe in the long run, then have these MPs turning up to speak at protests.

As a political objective for Restore, that much is achievable with the resources it has. Building up local strongholds is a much better use of resources - while any surplus fundraising should go towards street activities, and ensure that the platoon leaders of the street movement are paid a salary on the understanding that they do not launch their own crowd funders. That then gives the political wing the power to direct ground forces.

It still matters that the party develops its intellectual platform, working on the basis that Reform will eventually implode (they always do), standing ready to convert into a broader political party if the opportunity arises. For the moment, there just isn't the electoral bandwidth to sustain a rival party. Ultimately, targeted street protests will get results where pointlessly contesting by elections does not. If the street movement is able to bank actual results (like diverting RNLI boats) then it will raise the credibility of the party. Street momentum has a gravitational pull of its own.

The other benefit of doing it this way is that Restore could pick four target seats, with the intention of throwing everything at them, thereby denying Reform... and on the back of that, do a deal where you stand down two candidates if they do - and give Reform a free run everywhere else. You back that up with the ultimatum that if they don't agree to do it, then you'll stand a candidate in *every* seat where Reform looks like it might win. That way Restore gets what it needs, and doesn't need to fanny about fighting pointless elections.

The more I think about this, the more I war to it. Reform can be persuaded that it is strategically in their own interests to allow such a force to develop that they don't have any formal links to - which is no longer a direct threat to their interests, and one it can raise as a spectre, meanwhile the Restore contingent, as the political wing of a street movement, can absorb all of the micro parties like Ukip etc.

It's basically the only cooperation model that can unite the right, where everyone gets what they need without pulling in opposite directions. With just a few minor tweaks, Restore can serve a useful function. If it continues the attempt to compete as a party on the same basis as before, especially now that Reform is swimming in cash, then it is destined for the political scrapheap.