Restore Britain leader Rupert Lowe has earned more than £100,000 from posts on X since being elected in 2024, positioning him to potentially make more from social media than from his official MP salary, according to the register of MPs’ financial interests.
Earnings From Elon Musk’s Creator Revenue Programme
Mr Lowe has made an average of £931 per hour this year on X, according to the register of MPs’ financial interests. The payments come directly through billionaire Elon Musk’s creator revenue programme. This scheme allows premium users with more than 500 verified followers to monetize their accounts on the site. One single payout on 10 June reached £11,724.97 for just five hours of work. If earnings continue at this exact rate through the end of the year, Mr Lowe’s total takings from the platform will almost surpass his annual MP salary of £98,599.
Engagement on Mr Lowe’s anti-immigration content drives the revenue boost. His five posts on 24 August alone garnered 683,000 views and over 70,000 likes on the platform. One post receiving 20,000 likes called for foreign nationals living in social housing to be deported. Mr Lowe wrote that if a foreign national lives in social housing and cannot financially support themselves, they need to be evicted and removed from the country. Another post with 24,000 likes responded directly to media reports regarding his X earnings.
Political Context and Party Shifts
Mr Lowe hit back at critics regarding his social media income by stating that he donates his entire net MP salary to local charities in his constituency. He stated that if he wanted to make money, he would not be in politics, describing it as the most expensive job he has ever had. The earnings report follows his acrimonious departure from Reform UK in March 2025 amid claims of bullying and threatening behaviour. Following his exit, he founded his own party, Restore Britain. The Crown Prosecution Service stated that Mr Lowe would face no criminal charges.
The Restore Britain party has largely been based in Mr Lowe’s constituency of Great Yarmouth. The party sits further to the right than Reform on issues like immigration. Tech billionaire Elon Musk has publicly backed Restore Britain a number of times on X. Meanwhile, X faces mounting scrutiny in the United Kingdom. The government has threatened to ban the platform over the misuse of its Grok/AI feature. Several government departments have abandoned the site, including Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, who announced her departure because the platform favours abuse and misinformation.
Did You Know? Rupert Lowe’s earnings on X include an individual payment of £11,724.97 received on 10 June for just five hours of work, averaging out to £931 per hour over the course of the year.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much has Rupert Lowe earned from X?
Mr Lowe has collected more than £100,000 from posts on X since being elected in 2024, averaging £931 per hour this year.
What is the source of the social media payments?
The payments are issued through billionaire Elon Musk’s creator revenue programme, which allows premium users with over 500 verified followers to monetize their accounts.
What has Mr Lowe said about his earnings and political career?
Mr Lowe stated that if he wanted to make money, he would not be in politics. He added that he donates his entire net MP salary to local charities in his constituency, calling politics the most expensive job he has ever had.
How should parliamentary rules govern income generated directly from social media monetization schemes by elected officials?
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