I am delighted to announce Marlon West (@MarlonTag) as Restore Britain’s candidate for the Greater Manchester mayoral by-election.
West is one of the most prominent campaigners against the rape gangs in the country - he spent more than two years forcing the government to establish a national rape gang inquiry, meeting repeatedly with senior politicians, including safeguarding minister Jess Phillips, and publicly accusing Labour of breaking its promises to victims and families when they stalled.
Marlon’s own daughter was groomed and raped. He understands the evil, and wants to use his experience to ensure that others avoid the same fate.
I have such enormous respect for that.
Marlon played a central role in our independent Rape Gang Inquiry, working alongside Sammy Woodhouse to gather evidence and support survivors throughout the process. The inquiry's report, published this month, is the most comprehensive and honest independent examination of rape gang abuse ever conducted in Britain.
Marlon is born and bred in Greater Manchester and has worked in the NHS across the region for over 30 years.
He is standing on a broader platform for the city he has spent his life in. He will push to attract genuine business investment, cut wasteful public spending including on the GMCA's own bloated administration, protect greenfield land from developers, and overhaul a transport network that has failed commuters for years.
Greater Manchester is not a backdrop for Marlon.
It is where his family was failed. Scarlett was groomed by gangs operating across the region while Andy Burnham ran the city.
Marlon spent years fighting the institutions that looked the other way - he is now asking Greater Manchester voters for the chance to run those same institutions.
I will do everything in my power to back and support Marlon.
A good man who wants a better future for his home.
Why are you talking about the full force of the law?
How do you know this wasn't mental health?
Please don't speculate online.
Don't look back in anger.
Misinformation?
I’ll tell you what actually constitutes an extremist view:
The idea that if you pay tax in Wales for five years, you can suddenly become Welsh.
Or that if you simply “feel” English, you’re suddenly English.
These notions should be considered unacceptable and extreme.
Illegal migrants dumped next to the poor again.
1. What could go wrong?
2. If they complain, those in leafy suburbs and gated communities (@DeborahMeaden) will call them racist.
What an incredible first by-election for Restore Britain.
Standing in a rock-solid Labour stronghold like Makerfield and securing a very solid 7% in our very first proper outing as a party (registered only this March) is something we can all be genuinely proud of.
To every single one of the 7% who voted for us:
you are not sheep. You are the leaders and the shepherds. While so many others scanned the board for “who can win” and followed the herd, you chose principles, conviction, and courage. You voted for what you believe in, not what the pundits or the tactical-voting calculators told you to do. That takes real character, and I have zero doubt that you will influence and inspire many, many more in the months and years ahead.
If I had a penny for every person who came up to us on the doorstep or after the count and said “I absolutely love what you’re doing, I’ll be voting for you next time,” the result would have looked even more impressive.
The messages of support have been overwhelming. People are waking up, they’re fed up with the same old script, and they’re looking for something authentic. We are that something.
Labour heartland, and the possibility that Burnham might loosen Keir Starmer’s grip proved too much enticement for many.
Reform’s performance, by contrast, was pretty underwhelming — and that’s being kind. When you offer uninspiring politics dressed up in slightly different packaging, voters see through it.
What makes our 7% so meaningful is the context: a clear uptick in turnout compared to the general election, a brand new party that’s only been officially registered for a few months, and the mountain of challenges and late nights we’ve faced together. Every single one of those experiences has been invaluable. We’ve learned more in these weeks than some parties learn in years.
We can’t wait to get back out there and fight the next one.
A massive, massive thank you to the whole team who grafted so hard, to our brilliant candidate Rebecca who was outstanding on the doors, to every single person who came out to support us (some travelling serious distances), and most of all to every voter who put their X in our box. You made this result possible.
The future is brighter than the Westminster echo chamber wants you to believe. Thank you Makerfield. Truly.