SCOTTISH businessman and former Dragons' Den star Duncan Bannatyne has backed the far-right Restore Britain party to win their first MP.
The hard-right party, led by former Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe, had announced Rebecca Shepherd as their candidate in the Makerfield by-election, which is expected to be a two-horse race between Reform UK and Labour.
Bannatyne said on social media that he had supported Labour candidate Andy Burnham, but changed his mind after hearing that Burnham supports trans people’s right to use facilities that align with their acquired gender.
An anonymous social media account asked him to “get behind Rupert Lowe” instead, to which the former Dragons' Den star replied: “Oh I didn’t know Rupert was putting up a candidate for the by-election. Give me his/her name and I will research them. Thank you.”
Lowe then replied personally, saying: “A local businesswoman, Rebecca, is our candidate.
“We'd love to have your support Duncan. She is very passionate about small business and rejuvenating our high streets. Just what Makerfield needs.”
Bannatyne responded: “She has my support for the bye election now.”
The Scottish businessman had previously also shared a graphic outlining the Restore candidate's positions stating: "This might be a better candidate for Makerfield."
This might be a better candidate for Makerfield. https://t.co/muJ2dZrw6E
— Duncan Bannatyne (@DuncanBannatyne) May 20, 2026
In response to a question about his change from Labour to Restore, Bannatyne wrote: "I have not switched from any party to any other party. I don’t blindly support any party. We are talking about the Bye Election and the best candidate for that."
Restore Britain has never had an MP elected, meaning Shepherd would be their first. Lowe entered parliament as a Reform MP before becoming an independent, and then setting up the new party.
Restore Britain’s policies include mass deportations, a ban on Halal and Kosher meat, an end to “every trace of DEI [diversity, equality, and inclusion] across all government departments”, a referendum on the death penalty, an inquiry into the safety of Covid vaccines, and to “quash all convictions for non-violent breaches of lockdown”.
The Times previously reported that two of Britain’s most prominent neo-fascist leaders have pledged their support to Restore Britain.
Simon Birkett, who leads The Woodlander Initiative – a group purchasing land to create whites-only communities – has told supporters that Restore Britain is the far right’s last viable route to political power.
Steve Laws, who has called for the removal of non-white people from the UK, has urged members of his Remigration Now organisation to join Restore as organisers and candidates to influence the party’s direction.
For the Makerfield by-election, Labour have selected Greater Manchester mayor Burnham, while Reform UK have selected Robert Kenyon.
Burnham’s run is seen as laying a path for him to return to the Commons in order to challenge Keir Starmer for Labour leadership.
Kenyon has come under scrutiny after it was revealed that he had previously been Facebook friends with Gary Raikes, the neo-fascist leader of the New British Union.
Reform UK have defended their candidate, insisting that the Facebook connection between him and Raikes does not constitute an endorsement of fascist views.
