Lowe's first electoral campaign as the Referendum Party candidate for The Cotswolds.
At the 1997 general election, Rupert Lowe stood as the Referendum Party candidate for The Cotswolds constituency.
The Referendum Party, founded by Sir James Goldsmith, campaigned for a referendum on Britain's relationship with the European Union.
While Lowe finished fourth, the campaign established his credentials as a Eurosceptic activist and began his involvement in electoral politics.
This early political activity foreshadowed his later involvement with the Brexit Party and Reform UK.