Rupert Lowe demands answers from 'biased' BBC over Question Time snub

The leader of Restore Britain has penned an angry open letter to the BBC's boss.

By Steph Spyro, Deputy political editor and envionment editor

08:24, Thu, Jun 4, 2026 Updated: 08:30, Thu, Jun 4, 2026

Rupert Lowe has penned an open letter to the BBC's director general

Rupert Lowe has penned an open letter to the BBC's director general (Image: Getty)

Rupert Lowe has slammed the BBC's decision to exclude his party from a Question Time special as "the most blatant example of bias" he has seen from the broadcaster. Restore Britain's candidate in the Makerfield by-election is not set to appear on the programme on Thursday night, despite polling third in the crunch race.

In a letter to the BBC's director general Mark Brittin, Mr Lowe said: "Your decision to exclude Restore Britain from the Makerfield by-election Question Time is the most blatant example of bias I have ever seen from your organisation. Even our political opponents admit that we have a very strong presence in the constituency. Anybody who has spent any time on the ground understands that we will score far more than the Tories, Lib Dems and Greens combined - all of whom you have been generous enough to invite."

Furious BBC bias row erupts over Question Time Makerfield by-election special

Mr Lowe continued: "You may detest Restore Britain, I am certain you personally do. But I don’t care about your personal opinion. It is entirely irrelevant.

"You are paid to present information to the British people fairly and accurately. Evidently, this decision is neither of those. My message today is quite simple - do your job, Mr Brittin."

Restore's candidate, 53-year-old local businesswoman Rebecca Shepherd, is polling third in the race after Labour's Andy Burnham and Reform UK's Robert Kenyon.

Despite this, the parties appearing on the news show will Labour, Reform, the Tories, the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party.

It comes after a Survation poll put Labour in the lead for the crunch by-election with 43%, while Reform was on 40%.

Restore Britain, which was launched by Mr Lowe after his acrimonious exit from Reform, was in third place with 7%.

The BBC has stood by its decision not to include Restore Britain.

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."