The hardline political group Restore Britain has received its inaugural significant financial backing, amounting to £500,000 from an IT business owner, indicating its potential to challenge Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party.

Rupert Lowe, a former MP who departed from Reform UK to establish his own party, disclosed on Tuesday that Simon Galbraith, a British entrepreneur, had made two separate donations of £250,000 this year.

Galbraith, representing Cade Hill Investments, stated that the contributions were motivated by his belief that “most British people feel a sense of decline in the nation.” He criticized the current government, describing it as “centralized, overgrown, and ineffective,” asserting that it increasingly lacks democratic principles. He expressed concern that British institutions are not fulfilling their intended purposes and that the democratic system fails to represent the diverse interests and views of the populace. Furthermore, he suggested that the situation is more dire than widely acknowledged, but also hinted at greater opportunities for improvement. “If Restore gains power, it could ignite a revival in Britain,” he added.

While this donation is comparatively modest when juxtaposed with the millions contributed to Farage’s party by crypto tycoons Christopher Harborne and Ben Delo, alongside additional significant pledges from Iranian-born billionaire Sasan Ghandehari, it nonetheless enhances Restore Britain’s capacity to present a formidable challenge to Reform UK in specific constituencies. Restore Britain has previously indicated its intention to run a candidate against Farage should he encounter a subsequent by-election in Clacton, following an investigation into his financial dealings.

In an effort to bridge gaps between the two parties, Lowe extended a conciliatory gesture to Farage in August, proposing that they collaborate on issues such as “mass deportation” of illegal migrants—including women and children—stricter legal migration policies, prohibitions on halal and kosher slaughter, the burqa, cousin marriage, and sharia courts, in addition to a referendum regarding the death penalty. He also called for the exclusion of former Conservative ministers from future governmental roles.

Farage, however, dismissed Lowe’s overture, suggesting that it lacked credibility and accused him of creating chaos and threatening colleagues during his tenure within the party.

In announcing the recent financial support for Restore Britain, Lowe stated, “I am thrilled to share that British entrepreneur Simon Galbraith has chosen to back Restore Britain with two separate donations totaling £500,000. I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Simon on behalf of our party and our members.”