Restore Britain leader Rupert Lowe has offered an "olive branch" to his former rival Nigel Farage, signaling willingness to cooperate. This move adds to the pressure on the Reform UK leader. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing The Guardian.

In a 12-minute video posted on Sunday, Lowe, looking directly at the camera, addressed "Nigel" and suggested his party could set aside differences with Reform UK and work together. He called for putting "personalities and our past disagreements aside for the good of the country."

However, Farage appeared unmoved. At a press conference on Monday, he accused Lowe of bad faith, questioning the circumstances of the "offer" and reminding that Lowe had been "screaming" and "threatening" colleagues while in the party. By midday, Lowe accused Farage of lying, posting a screenshot of a curt "will call later" message from Farage.

These exchanges highlight how Restore has become a real obstacle on Farage's path to Downing Street. Lowe's offer came after Restore finished fourth in the Greater Manchester mayoral election, ahead of the Liberal Democrats and Tories, and third in the Makerfield by-election – the strongest Westminster performance by a far-right party since at least 2010.

Restore's policies – a referendum on the death penalty, bans on halal and kosher slaughter, and a deportation policy informed by an ethnonationalist view of British identity – make any deal with Restore almost impossible for Reform if it seeks to broaden its base. Additionally, Lowe demands that former Tory ministers in Reform's ranks, such as Robert Jenrick, be excluded from any Reform government.

Yet Lowe's enduring popularity among right-wing voters, including Reform supporters, means Farage must at least pay lip service to his rival's overtures. While Restore's vote shares in Manchester and Makerfield (8.7% and 6.8% respectively) indicated the party was far from winning seats, such results could cost Reform many constituencies in a general election if the right-wing vote is split.

In contrast to Farage's vitriol, Reform MP Andrew Rosindell told GB News on Sunday that "a lot of what he [Lowe] says will resonate with Reform voters and with British people," and appealed for unity on the "right of centre."

At grassroots level, the relationship is complicated. In several local authorities, including some of Reform's flagships, Restore has attracted disillusioned councillors from Farage's party. However, canvassers often encounter voters who admire both parties and leaders.

Joe Mulhall, director of research at Hope not Hate, credited Lowe with making a clever play that addresses his own problems and adds to Farage's pressures. He noted that Lowe's move negates the charge that he is splitting the right-wing vote, but also that Lowe could be sure Farage would never accept the offer, as Farage's route to power requires courting centre-right voters, and having ethnonationalists behind him would raise endless questions.

For now, negotiations to unite Britain's hard right appear confined to X and GB News studios. In a month, Reform's annual conference will take place, where Lowe once enjoyed cult support from a considerable minority of activists. If questions persist about the future of both parties, it will be another shadow over what is meant to be a pivotal rallying point on Reform's supposed path to power.