Andy Burnham’s nightmare could be about to come true – he’ll be quaking in his boots

One of the reasons unelected Andy Burnham is enjoying an extended honeymoon after his coup is the fractured right. Reform leader Nigel Farage finds himself in a deep hole with personal approval ratings heading south. And what’s more, he faces an upcoming by-election (entirely self-inflicted), one which the main parties have refused to contest and where his opponent will be a man dressed as a dustbin. It is an abrupt change in fortunes for someone who looked odds-on to become PM in 2029.

During the fandango of the past two years, his former lieutenant, Rupert Lowe, has been barking from the sidelines, making noise but making little progress. He was unceremoniously booted out of Farage’s pop-up party because it wasn’t big enough for the both of them. It now appears neither can make the progress needed to nullify the Left without the other.

Such is the concern that Britain is staring down the barrel of a nightmare Labour, Lib Dem, and Green future. Lowe has blinked first and, in doing so, has not only outmanoeuvred Farage but also put the ball firmly in his court. It might be his only chance to salvage something from the wreckage he now finds himself clinging to.

Many of those closest to the man who almost single-handedly delivered Brexit have said he is driven by ego and ambition. He says not. Lowe’s offer in a bombshell social media post may well provide the definitive answer.

He said: “My message is simple: If you are prepared to work together around serious policies, serious reform, and serious Government, then so are we. Not because it’s politically convenient for Restore Britain (and) not because it’s personally easy.

“After the events of the last 18 months, I would certainly rather not be making this offer, but millions and millions of people deserve a patriotic Government that puts our national interests before any personal differences that you and I may have.”

And addressing Farage directly, Lowe said: “If you disagree, that is your choice: Restore Britain will be ready for what comes next, regardless.

“I truly believe there could be sufficient common ground for our two movements to co-operate collectively (and) destroy the looming Left-wing alliance that will finish off what hope remains for this country.

“In my view, failing to even try because of our own personal difficulties is simply not an option.

“The British people deserve nothing less than our best and sincere efforts to make it happen.

“Now is the time to put our differences aside and co-operate for the good of the country that we all love.”

The astonishing and unexpected intervention comes as the latest Opinium approval ratings make grim reading for Farage and his crumbling project in the wake of the fallout over the tangled financial web at the heart of Reform UK and his links to Thai crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne and convicted criminal George Cottrell.

While Burnham is riding high on 16% (Keir Starmer had plunged to -60% at the nadir of his ruinous run) and Tory leader Kemi Badenoch on 1% Farage is languishing on -24%.

Lowe’s answer is to join forces, pool resources, and share the glory.

Lowe, who represents Great Yarmouth, is a one-man band after his brutal falling out with Farage.

He was thrown out of the party after being accused of bullying and verbal abuse. He vehemently denies all the claims.

He maintains the spectacular parting of ways boiled down to popularity – he was more popular, more clever, and had a much broader appeal than his boss.

Farage is also a one-man band. Remove him from Reform, as was the case with the Brexit Party and UKIP before that, and the cause is likely a lost one.

An insider said: “Farage loathed Rupert’s appeal. He hates Rupert and his success. He just doesn’t want to know.”

The well-placed source claimed Lowe irked Farage because of a common sense popularity that won him millions of admirers on social media and a ringing endorsement from Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, who was once a key Donald Trump lieutenant.

He also went rogue by outlining a wide range of popular policy suggestions.

After he was binned, he set up Restore Britain, essentially an extreme version of Reform. Musk has helped amplify his message and ensured anti-immigration posts are seen across the world. It is publicity Farage craves but has not succeeded in delivering.

Both Restore and Reform bombed in Makerfield, allowing Burnham a free run on No 10.

During that campaign Reform said: “If you go Lowe, you get Labour”.

But the tide has turned. With Labour united – for now at least – the task of removing it from Government has got greater.

Should he win in Clacton on August 13, cornered Farage may find the only way to defeat Labour is to go Lowe to reach the high office he craves.