Eastbourne Stand Up To Racism condemns attempts to establish Restore Britain branch in town. “Far-right extremism is not welcome in our town”.
Eastbourne Stand Up To Racism (EBSUTR) has condemned attempts to establish a local branch of Rupert Lowe MP’s far-right Restore Britain party, warning that its racist and extremist politics have no place in the town.
Restore Britain has reportedly been holding meetings locally and distributing inflammatory leaflets through letterboxes in Meads. The leaflets promote policies including mass deportations, sweeping restrictions on immigration, cuts to benefits and tax reductions for the wealthy.
The party warns that its proposed policies would be “incredibly painful”. It calls for the deportation of “illegal immigrants” and the reversal of legal immigration, with proposals that could see millions deported. Its literature also promotes Islamophobic claims about the threat posed by “political Islam and Sharia law” and supports the use of “lethal force” to defend “home, family and property”.
RESTORE BRITAIN was founded by Rupert Lowe MP following his departure from Reform UK. The party has attracted hardline ethno-nationalists, fascists and neo-Nazis, raising serious concerns about its attempts to establish a foothold in Eastbourne.
Lowe has urged supporters to use Restore as their “voice”, “weapon” and “threat”. Senior Restore official Charlie Downes has declared that a Restore government would “utterly crush” its political opponents and that “the Left as it currently exists simply will not exist any more”.Among those associated with Restore are Eddy Butler, a former National Elections Officer for the fascist British National Party (BNP), and Sam Melia, a leading member of the neo-Nazi Patriotic Alternative group, who was welcomed into Restore following his release from prison after serving a sentence for inciting racial hatred.
Restore activist Lucy White has also developed links with Austrian far-right organiser Martin Sellner, attending a European “remigration” summit alongside him. White is a public representative of the Save Europe Act, an international initiative co-founded by Sellner to promote mass deportations. Sellner received a €1,500 donation from Brenton Tarrant, the white supremacist terrorist who murdered 51 Muslim worshippers in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 2019. Sellner and Tarrant also exchanged friendly emails before the massacre.
Eastbourne Stand Up To Racism: warns that Restore Britain is seeking to bring together fragments of the extreme and fascist right into a more organised political force. Although the party remains a long way from becoming a serious electoral contender, the organisation warned that the consolidation of such forces could encourage racist intimidation and street violence.Restore Britain has also developed links with fascists and white nationalists across Europe, including figures associated with organisations linked to terrorism.
A spokesperson for Eastbourne Stand Up To Racism said:
“Eastbourne is a multicultural and diverse town. The politics of Restore Britain are racist, divisive and extreme, and they have no place here.
“Restore seeks to exploit the racism against asylum seekers encouraged by mainstream politicians and amplified by Reform UK. But it goes further, attempting to unite hardened far-right activists, fascists and neo-Nazis into an organised political force.“
We should not allow Restore Britain to present itself as a normal mainstream political party. Its extreme rhetoric, its proposals for mass deportations and its threats against political opponents should alarm everyone who values democracy and equality.“
Most people in Eastbourne reject these disgusting politics. We will stand alongside our neighbours and communities against any attempt to organise racism and hatred in our town.
“We call on venues across Eastbourne to refuse to host Restore Britain meetings. We will support peaceful protests and boycotts of venues that choose to provide a platform for this organisation.
“Far-right extremism is not welcome in Eastbourne, or anywhere else.”
ACTION REQUIRED
Please sign and share this PETITION denouncing Restore UK organising in Eastbourne and requesting venues/pubs not to host their meetings.
NOTES
● Eastbourne Stand Up To Racism (EBSUTR) was founded in 2021 by local people concerned about rising racism and bigotry. It is affiliated with the national Stand Up To Racism organisation.
● EBSUTR has organised and supported community events celebrating diversity and opposing the far right. Its activities have included local demonstrations, among them a protest against far-right political commentator and former Reform UK candidate Matt Goodwin when he spoke at an event in Eastbourne in September 2025.