FARAGE SAYS HE IS OPEN-MINDED ON RESTORE BRITAIN PACT TALKS

Nigel Farage stated he is "open-minded" on discussions with Rupert Lowe regarding a potential pact between Reform UK and Restore Britain. Farage said he had "reached out" to Lowe to discuss the proposal. Lowe, leader of Restore Britain and a former Reform UK MP, publicly extended an offer for the parties to collaborate. The proposal included specific conditions such as Reform UK adopting policies on a burqa ban, Halal meat restrictions, a referendum on the death penalty, and excluding former Conservative ministers from any future cabinet.

Lowe subsequently accused Farage of lying about the contact between them, providing a screenshot of a message that only said "Will call later" and stating no call was received. Farage gave a lukewarm response to the public video proposal, questioning its sincerity and stating he would not "ditch" allies. He also suggested Restore Britain could potentially harm Reform UK's electoral chances. Restore Britain was founded by Lowe after his suspension from Reform UK and is positioned further to the right on immigration policy.

The party has received public backing from tech billionaire Elon Musk. The two figures have a history of public disputes. Any formal alliance between the parties remains uncertain, with Farage's guarded language suggesting significant obstacles to an agreement despite his stated willingness to engage in talks.