Gawain Towler

Pete North @FUDdaily

The reason we know this is because if there was a Restore Friends of Canada group, or a Restore Friends of New Zealand group, they wouldn't be especially animated. If, though, Uncle Rupe endorsed a Restore Friends of Israel group (the way Farage has in Reform), Restore's online activist base would be up in arms saying Lowe and Restore was "cucked by zionists". They'd be furious because "anti-zionism" is the keystone to their entire world view. The people who actually run Restore are keen to keep those people placated - because if they don't, they have no online activist base. The Rupert Lowe fanclub isn't big enough to keep Restore running as a going concern, so they're dog whistling to fascists. The casual Restore supporter thinks they're supporting a robust civic nationalist party in the image of Rupert Lowe, but what they're actually supporting is a nascent BNP with politics closer to the far left than conservatism. We can safely assume that Rupert Lowe is oblivious to this because he doesn't really take an interest in the intellectual direction of his party, and will take any support he can get. He's also not all that well versed in the ideological terrain he's occupying, so he doesn't see what's going on under his very nose. There is a massive gulf between what Lowe actually thinks and what his leading activists and staffers think. This is why Restore Britain is a dead man walking. No party can sustain a façade where the views of its supporters are so wildly divergent with those of the leader. They tolerate Rupert Lowe because without him, they've got nothing, and would have to start a party of their own - which would be electorally insignificant. Because Lowe is prone to the occasional gaffe, saying what he actually believes (not least his support for Israel and free markets) his handlers try to keep him contained. He is now little more than a managed figurehead. They're training him to at least stay relatively neutral on things he believes so as not to upset the grotbags. He's compromised his own ideology to keep a dysfunctional coalition in operation. Meanwhile, his residual respectability is what keeps up the pretence that that Restore isn't a proto-fascist party for twenty seven year old virgins. This is a Faustian pact that allows Lowe to prosecute his vendetta against Farage, while giving the grotbags a political vehicle they could not sustain without him. This, though, is life limited. Being a party leader is a much younger man's game. Lowe has stamina but he's ageing out of frontline politics. He's not senile but he's lost his sharpness. He doesn't really understand his own creation or who he's climbing into bed with. Sooner or later, probably after the next election when Restore badly underperforms, he will take a back seat, and we'll see more of Charlie Downes. This is when Restore will start falling apart. Downes is similar to Farage is that he has a limited repertoire that will soon get old. There's no depth to him and he's never had a real job. He will create controversy but the shock value will wear off and the party will routinely self-sabotage. A lot of the energy and momentum has already evaporated, and quite a few serious people who might have otherwise joined have already concluded that Lowe is away with the fairies and that his party is a bunch of wankers. Word is getting around and eventually the money will dry up. It can only be sustained if the social media revenue is enough to cover the salary bill. It will linger the way Ukip has, just because it's a recognises brand with residual value to its intellectual property. It will never reach the heights Reform was at (even before the return of Farage). The problem is, the children running Restore think that the very online activist base they pander to is representative of the wider electorate (certainly within their own demographic). It's sizable but it isn't significant. It's kryptonite to any remotely normal, well adjusted voter - and it's only going to get worse.

Blavatnik School of Government @BlavatnikSchool

We are pleased to announce that the Rt. Hon. @JustinTrudeau has joined Oxford University’s Blavatnik School of Government as a Distinguished Fellow and member of the World Leaders Circle.

Zack Polanski @ZackPolanski

👀 National Labour Party now threatening their own Sheffield Labour Party! They really are losing the plot. I hope Sheffield Labour stand with their residents rather than the Labour party machine that's arming a genocide.

UN Watch @UNWatch

Francesca Albanese: “Israel has always killed children... torture, even rape... raped by dogs trained in European countries. European people are profiting from selling dogs that will rape people.” Irish Sen. Chris Andrews: “Thank you for your ongoing advocacy. It's inspiring.”

Rebecca Paul MP @Rebecca_SPaul

Here’s the video for anyone that wants to see it.

Rupert Lowe MP @RupertLowe10

I want to address an allegation directly, because Reform politicians seem determined to spread the idea that I am somehow working in coordination with the Conservative Party and Kemi Badenoch. Yes, I was a member of the Conservative Party. In 1993. My children have since been born and grown up. It was more than thirty years ago. Literally, a lifetime ago. Many of the Reform leadership certainly can’t say the same. Yes, I've met Kemi Badenoch. I speak to her occasionally. I like her personally. We have worked together in Parliament. She spoke positively about our rape gang inquiry, and I thanked her for it. Numerous Conservative MPs have supported my parliamentary work, including our inquiry. Esther McVey. Nick Timothy. Jack Rankin. Peter Bedford. I could go on. I am not going to apologise for that. I will work with anyone in Parliament who is prepared to help deliver meaningful change. We have achieved results by doing precisely that. Does that mean I forgive the Conservatives for what they did to Britain between 2010 and 2024? Absolutely not. It was a betrayal. I have literally established a national political party to fight them at the ballot box. I am delighted when we beat them, which is a growing amount. All that should be a fairly substantial clue… But opposing a political party does not require you to behave like a petulant child towards every single person associated with it. Conservative MPs believed I would do a good job on the Public Accounts Committee. I accepted the opportunity to scrutinise government spending and fight for British taxpayers. Again, absolutely no apologies. I think we have delivered results. Now let's compare that with Reform. Reform tried to have me imprisoned over false allegations. I would be in prison today if they had their way. Despite everything, I have repeatedly attempted to work with Reform MPs in Parliament. I have invited them to support initiatives, collaborate on important issues and help deliver results. Time and again, those invitations have been ignored. My emails don’t even get a reply. I happily sign their motions and support their efforts, I did earlier this week. The feeling is not mutual. They complain. They moan. They attack. They endlessly manufacture personal grievances. But ask them to put their animosities aside and actually achieve something together? Suddenly, it's total silence. I've received more constructive support in Parliament from Labour MPs than from Reform. Think about that. It is grievance politics at its most pathetic. Negative, unproductive and deeply unprofessional. My position is incredibly straightforward. At elections, we are opponents. In Parliament, we have a responsibility to get things done. I believe that is what our constituents want us to do. Maybe I’m wrong, but I think not. Reform claim we stand in more local council Reform seats than anyone else. Yes, because so many more Reform councillors resign in disgrace than any other party. We are moving towards standing in 100% of local council by-elections. We’ve stood in Reform seats, Labour seats, Tory seats. Everywhere and anywhere. I intend to fight both Reform and the Conservatives for every vote. I want Restore Britain to win over millions of people who previously voted for those parties. But that does not mean I have to insult everyone I disagree with, refuse to speak to political opponents or sabotage decent initiatives because somebody else might receive a little credit. I was elected to represent my constituents, not to participate in an endless Westminster playground feud. Do I like Kemi Badenoch and some other Conservative MPs personally? Yes. Will I work with them when it benefits the British people? Yes. Do I fundamentally oppose the Conservative Party's record and want Restore Britain to defeat them electorally? Yes. Their 14 years of power was an utter betrayal, and is largely responsible for the social, economic and demographic vandalism we have endured. All three things can be true. Any serious adult should be capable of understanding that. It is not difficult to comprehend. I will work with Conservatives. I will work with Labour. I will work with Reform, if they ever decide to behave constructively. Reform's increasingly nasty, brash and personally unpleasant approach to politics says far more about them than it does about me. It’s just downright rude. They seem to believe that refusing to work with anyone is a demonstration of strength. In my view, it’s a weakness that erodes our politics and fails our constituents. I have said it again and again. I will work with anyone in parliament to deliver for the British people. And I make no apologies for doing so.

Claire Fox @Fox_Claire

We're told that schools need to get 14-15 year-olds ready to vote at 16. Has the government thought through the problem of teachers who are political activists canvassing pupils for votes? And what about the obvious contradiction in expecting pupils to independently research who to vote for and the government's social media bans for teens? At the end, I responded to the minister telling me not to worry as 16 year olds will be allowed to get info from TRUSTED sources. Trusted by who? If this is a big expansion of democracy, why is there no impact assessment or proper engagement with criticism?

Freddie New @freddienew

From my reading of the new law, I do believe there is a strong chance that possession of a DVD of Star Wars may now lead to a custodial sentence in the UK. Not clear that the officer in this scene consented and from memory it was reasonably fatal.

Daily Mail @DailyMail

Police investigate threat to 'murder whoever doesn't support trans rights' sent to nurses at centre of hospital changing room case

Luke Tryl @LukeTryl

It’s the 5th of November. So what do we think of that most infamous of plotters Guy Fawkes. While nearly half of Brits are neutral/no opinion on Fawkes among those who do there are partisan splits. Reform 2024 voters have the most positive net view, Tory voters the most negative

Politics UK @PolitlcsUK

🚨 NEW: Andy Burnham says he will introduce 8 "regional water councils" to oversee water companies "For the first time, local people will have a real say over what they need from their water company, whether that's cleaning up polluted rivers or building new reservoirs"

BBC News (World) @BBCWorld

Italian chef fired for refusing to put pineapple on pizza

Simon Cooke @SimonMagus

Well yes but the problem isn't Iran or Ukraine or Israel. It is... 1. Net Zero energy policies 2. £120bn of budget deficit 3. Sky high taxes on jobs and business 4. A massively over-regulated economy from energy to employment to land use

Aubrey Allegretti @breeallegretti

Exc: Evasion of Angela Rayner’s new “tourist tax” will carry a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison. The measures, set out in a bill published on Wednesday, target accommodation providers in England who evade the proposed overnight visitor levy. The new legislation is also designed to prevent property owners offering “mates’ rates” to friends that would reduce the amount of tax paid on temporary stays.

dan barker @danbarker

Here was the consumer testing on the new John Lewis ad.