For weeks, Restore has sparked curiosity. The party has attempted to establish itself as a challenger to Reform UK in one of the most closely watched by-elections of the year. In Makerfield, Rupert Lowe's party is polling third at around five per cent. Quite remarkable for a party that only established itself in June 2025 and officially registered as a national political party on March 20 this year.
Despite the growing attention on Restore, the party's candidate has - it seemed - remained largely out of sight. The Manchester Evening News first contacted Restore on May 19, a day after local businesswoman Rebecca Shepherd was announced as the party's candidate, inviting her to take part in a hustings event and requesting an interview. Since then, there has been a lot of back and forth.
The Manchester Evening News was unable to attend a Restore campaign event at Bryn Community Centre on May 21, but contacted the party several times to say the paper was still interested in future events and interviews. Until today - Wednesday, June 17 - we have continued to seek an interview with candidate Ms Shepherd.
Earlier this week, many voters said they hadn't seen her. Other media organisations are understood to have struggled to speak to Ms Shepherd. A video posted online shows a Telegraph journalist repeatedly attempting to ask her questions while she was campaigning alongside Mr Lowe. The request was declined.
Ms Shepherd appears to have given only one substantial media interview, to political channel Vox Populi. Mr Lowe took great exception to his candidate not being invited on Question Time. The BBC invited five candidates - including Labour's Andy Burnham and Reform's Rob Kenyon - to the filming at Winstanley College earlier this month. Asked why it didn't invite Restore, a corporation spokesperson said: "There are 14 candidates in the Makerfield by-election on the 18 June. Question Time has invited five parties to take part in our debate in the constituency based - as is always the case - on their past and current electoral support. The programme will ensure there are appropriate references to all the candidates standing." Mr Lowe branded the move 'utterly disgraceful'.
With polling day approaching and little opportunity to hear directly from the candidate, the Manchester Evening News travelled to Wigan to find out more about the woman seeking election to Parliament. The first stop was an address linked to Shepherd in Standish. There was no answer at the property despite repeated knocks on the door. The letterbox appeared stuffed with unopened post. A parcel lay untouched on the doorstep.
The next step was some miles away at Bryn Community Club, which has become the focal point of Restore's operation in Makerfield, regularly hosting volunteers, campaigners and party figures. Earlier this week, a Restore voter spoken to by the Local Democracy Reporting Service said she had never seen Ms Shepherd, despite working at campaign HQ. Joanna Lapniewski, 64, a cleaner and ex-Army officer, said: "I've not seen Rebecca, but I've spoken to people who say she's really down to earth. But I've read up on Rupert Lowe and there doesn't seem to be anything there about him and corruption or anything like that."
Behind the bar, manager Lisa Heyes was quick to defend the candidate. "I read your article about nobody seeing her and that she's a no-show, but she's doing a lot more than the others," she said, referring to an article in this week's paper in which the Manchester Evening News spoke to voters who said they hadn't seen her. Ms Heyes has certainly seen her. She said: "She comes in, meets with the canvassers and she's straight back out to speak to people. She's really nice, dead down to earth. She'll listen, she'll talk and if you ask her a question she will answer." Ms Heyes said she had not seen any of the other candidates campaigning in the area and described herself as a supporter of Restore's message.
The conversation also provided a clue as to where many of the party's activists had gathered that afternoon. "They're all over at Brewers Fayre," she said. Just over a mile away, dozens of campaigners and supporters had congregated outside the bar. Boxes of Restore leaflets sat stacked on tables. One side of the leaflet contained a statement from party leader Mr Lowe, under the heading: "Is Restore Britain 'splitting the vote' in Makerfield?" In his opening paragraph, he writes: "Here is my honest opinion. Reform do not 'own' anybody's vote. It is up to them to make a positive argument about why you should place your trust in them." The party leader goes on to say 'Reform simply do not have the balls to do what needs to be done'. On the other side of the leaflet is a checklist comparing Reform and Restore - on issues including mass deportations, whether foreign family members of convicted child rapists should stay in Britain and banning kosher and halal meat.
Outside Brewers Fayre, volunteers chatted over drinks while canvassers prepared for another round of door-knocking. Asked about Ms Shepherd's whereabouts, the Manchester Evening News was simply told she was out campaigning. Two reporters from Canary, a left-wing website, said they had seen her out canvassing on Wednesday morning but declined to give an interview. The reception towards journalists was cautious to say the least. Several people approached by the Manchester Evening News declined to speak, saying they feared their comments would be 'twisted' or 'misrepresented'. Others directed questions towards more senior figures within the campaign.
The atmosphere was not overtly hostile, but it was clear that many present were wary of media coverage. 'Young Bob', a high profile social media figure, was also present. He declined to speak. The activist was assaulted on Monday afternoon on Market Street in Manchester city centre. Among those who did agree to talk was Mark, from Bolton, who said he had previously voted for Reform but had become disillusioned with mainstream politics. "It doesn't matter if they're wearing a blue jacket, a red jacket, a yellow jacket or a green jacket, I don't trust any of them," he said. "That's why I'm here."
Others spoke enthusiastically about Mr Lowe and Restore's positions on immigration, crime and local issues. Software engineer Alex Graham had travelled all the way from Surrey to lend his support. "Before it was a choice between what's the least worst option. This [Restore] is a positive choice." Immigration, he said, was 'too high', adding: "It's turned areas in the UK into ghettos. I don't recognise them anymore."
The Manchester Evening News waited for Ms Shepherd but there was still no sign of her later that afternoon. Restore's literature describes Rebecca Shepherd as a local businesswoman who has spent most of her adult life living and working in the Wigan borough and who is passionate about improving support for children with special educational needs and disabilities. But with polling day now imminent, questions remain about why voters have seen so little of the candidate herself, even as support for her party appears to be growing. The Manchester Evening News has approached Restore Britain for comment.
