Both Advance UK and Restore Britain were launched as a response to Reform UK and how Britain is being run.
They have broadly similar objectives in wanting to make Britain more British, restore patriotism, and make the country functionally work for the people of the country.
Advance UK isn’t currently a political party, and has been set up as a one-band type party by Ben Habib and as a soon-to-be party. He says they intend to implement a structure of an independent board, termed a college, that will set the party manifesto and provide overarching governance around such things as appointing or dismissing the party leader.
Restore Britain was set up by Rupert Lowe, launched 3-hours after Habib launched Advance UK, and is termed a movement rather than a party.
Opponents to these new initiatives will say that Reform UK is already offering what they are proposing, but there is also criticism that what Reform UK is no longer offering what they once said the would. Habib and Lowe were removed from the Reform UK because, in-part, their values didn’t fit. The question comes down to do you agree with Farage’s, Habib’s or Lowe’s version of a new world order ?
Both Advance UK and Restore Britain had a very lack-lustre launch. There were many that expected much more from Advance UK, given that it had been on the runway, waiting to go, for some months. There wasn’t a launch press event, just an email release.
Press pickup of both these initiatives has been low. There has been some coverage from the smaller online news services, but mainstream press coverage has been limited. You could view that in many ways, firstly that it’s just not that interesting to have gained interest, or, that mainstream media is intentionally not going near them. Either way it demonstrates a lack of a media strategy from both of them.
But what should be the attraction of these new initiatives?
The fundamental and base pitch is that the country needs change, and that none of the existing political groups offer what is needed. They will further say that Reform UK says it offers that change, but won’t in reality.
They have attracted, now rejected, but previous followers of Reform UK. Either Rupert Lowe or Ben Habib provide a natural home for them. These are people that have a need to follow, and be part of something, so really they are an easy to convert group – they certainly won’t challenge, but will follow.
Now, this is where the problem comes along.
You could conclude that Ben Habib and Rupert Lowe believe that have a much bigger profile than they actually do in reality.
For the majority, they do not provide a hook to gain following – in simple terms, they don’t know who they are.
But pitching a movement or party as unknown to most wouldn’t be a problem if they demonstrated capability to deliver. You can’t just say “I am here” and list the things you intend doing, people need to see the capability to deliver.
Demonstrating a capability to deliver is key, or the saying not what you intend doing, but how you will do it.
But what about Reform UK and Farage, you may ask?
Farage and Reform UK climbed on the wave of public interest at the right time. The timing of local council elections were perfectly timed for Reform UK. It had given Farage the time to re-establish himself, people were often unhappy with Labour, and still unhappy with the Conservatives. Furthermore, the media got behind Reform UK with the narrative that they were going to do well – that removed the feeling of voting for them being the niche party or just a wasted vote.
Farage is now uniquely positioned as “the messiah” which enables him to control his followers, be vague on what he is doing or change previous commitments without negative consequences.
But a good proportion of Reform UK followers are people that want change, and see that Farage could offer that, but are not fully invested in him being able to do that.
But if Lowe and Habib are looking to instigate genuine change, they may have underestimated the magnitude of the job. Either of them sitting on some online news channel banging on about immigration has become boring, and this is a where a public school education could be failing both Lowe and Habib, with an inability to read the room.
The psychology of how people vote will run very deep. Many Reform UK voters will be emotionally invested to a core belief level in that party. So Lowe/ Habib either need to do something very big and impactful or Reform UK need to do something very wrong – both are possible.
For many, voting a Reform UK local councillor is them lending them a vote and putting some metrics in place to see how they do on a local level.
But where will it go from here for Habib and Lowe will be interesting to follow, but sure has become a bit boring just now.
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