The BBC has been accused of political bias this morning after Question Time announced plans for a Makerfield by-election special.
Despite the only poll of the constituency so far putting Rupert Lowe’s Restore Britain party in third place, behind Labour and Reform UK, the line-up of the show fails to include their candidate.
But much smaller parties such as the Greens, Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, will be included in tomorrow’s special episode.
The failure by the BBC to invite Mr Lowe’s candidate, Rebecca Shepherd, onto the programme saw the corporation accused of institutional political bias by Restore.
This morning Mr Lowe said on X: ‘Restore Britain was not invited on the BBC Question Time Makerfield special.
‘The British establishment despise us.’
The Daily Mail has been told that the party is now consulting its legal team over their non-inclusion on the programme.
Rupert Lowe voiced fury this morning at the BBC’s decision not to include Restore Britain on the Question Time special
The BBC’s line-up features the five main national parties, but fails to take into account Restore Britain’s local popularity
A spokesman said: ‘This is yet another attempt from the BBC to suppress our support. They despise Restore Britain and want us to fail.
‘Our legal team is being consulted over this blatant election interference and bias.
‘We have been very clear – a Restore Britain Government will defund the rotten BBC on day one. It will be glorious.’
The BBC Question Time special from the Greater Manchester constituency will feature all other five main parties’ candidates.
Restore’s candidacy in the by-election has caused major controversy, after the first poll of the campaign revealed they risk allowing Andy Burnham to sneak a win by peeling away enough of Reform’s vote.
Andy Burnham will represent Labour tomorrow evening, as he faces his first head-to-head showdown with Reform UK’s candidate Robert Kenyon.
The episode will make for fiery TV, after weeks of the two candidates trading barbs in the media.
The Conservatives will be represented by Michael Winstanley; the Lib Dems by Jake Austin, and the Greens by Sarah Wakefield.
According to the one Makerfield poll published during the by-election campaign, Mr Burnham has a tight lead over Reform UK.
Survation put Labour on 43 per cent to Reform’s 40 per cent.
Restore Britain accused the BBC of ‘blatant election interfering’
Reform has accused Restore of splitting the Right-wing vote and helping Andy Burnham
But the shock came as it put Restore Britain, until now little talked about in Westminster, in third place on 7 per cent.
The Lib Dems were behind on 4 per cent, the Greens on 3 per cent and the Tories on 2 per cent, meaning they would all lose their deposits if reflected in the real election outcome.
While Restore Britain voices fury at the BBC’s decision not to include them on the high-profile show, Reform UK will be cheered.
Last week the Daily Mail revealed Nigel Farage’s party’s fury at Restore standing in the constituency, and threatening to let Mr Burnham sweep back into Parliament.
A senior Reform source said Mr Lowe is someone who ‘cares more about his ego and vanity than what’s best for the country’.
They added: ‘Our internal figures show Restore on a tiny, single-figure percentage. The only thing they can succeed in doing by standing is gifting the seat to Labour and Andy Burnham.’
But Mr Lowe hit back: ‘The increasingly desperate attacks from every Reform politician proves one thing – their internal data matches what we are finding in Makerfield.
‘They have nothing left. Restore Britain is going to make history in Makerfield.’
A BBC spokesman 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.’
