THE OPPOSITION

The British far-right is an eclectic bunch, with organisations varying from those like the British National Party and Freedom Party, who hold elected office and have serious pretensions to wield power locally, to organisations like the November 9th Society that could best be described as containing one man and a German Shepherd dog. Developing an exhaustive list is far beyond our timescale (and sanity) but this is a pretty exhaustive guide to what is currently out there, and what to say (and what not to say) before you put the boot in.

 

British National Party

Under Nick Griffin, the BNP have become the biggest party on the far-right by far, claiming over 9000 members, and the most successful in British history. Their vote is on the increase and they managed to make the breakthrough from winning the odd council seat to getting Richard Barnbrook elected to the London Assembly. The strategy of replacing boots with suits after literally being kicked off the streets in the 90s along with their success in tapping into rising disillusionment with the mainstream parties helps to explain this. In many white working-class areas long abandoned by the three main parties and where the ‘left’ has faded away the BNP has stepped in to become the ‘radical’ opposition.

The BNP has proved itself well able to exploit racial tensions between white youths and Asian youths in the North West, and at the same time to present a more respectable face than the BNP under John Tyndall ever did. Thankfully, they’re still as liable to some spectacular bouts of internal squabbling, factionalism and resignations. Though they’ve moved far from their origins as an unashamedly neo-Nazi party the group is still run by people who’ve been active in fascist politics for decades. Probably the only force on the British far right that represents any real sort of threat.

Do say "Everything’s changed since Griffin became leader"

Don't say "If voting changed anything, they'd abolish it"

National Front

Stuck in a rock and a hard place between the slick professionalism of the BNP and the openly Nazi would-be thugs of the RVF and BPP. Any fascist with more than a dozen brain cells abandoned the NF to join the more successful BNP years ago, even idiots like Mark Collet, so the chances of a revival seem unlikely. A national march in Eltham, London in 2008 was thinly attended with 17 whole members being forced by the cops to 'march' on the pavement, a far cry from the NF of the 70’s and 80’s. The inability of the party to steer a path for itself has condemned it to a shadow of its former self filled with people reminiscing about the ‘good old days’.

Do say "The National Front is the name most synonymous with fascism in Britain"

Don't say "Having marches every now and then's not really working is it?"

British People's Party

Formerly the White Nationalist Party, but unable to register with the Electoral Commission, they underwent a makeover and reformed as the "Nationalist Alliance". Unable to get along with each other, they split, and the BPP was formed. Currently headed officially by Kevin Watmough of Redwatch, and his monstrous 'girlfriend' Kate Dermody an Irish citizen. The membership of the party seems to be currently divided into those in prison and those awaiting trial. Apart from the serious nutters it attracts to its ranks, like Martin Gilleard wannabe bomber and nonce, the rest are a laughing stock that attempt to pull stunts for publicity, such as the Leeds anti-rap demo, and a group that are willing to sell their 'friends' details for police protection from the "red scum agents of the ZOG". The last of these may be connected to one of the odder characteristics of the group which is that its leadership is largely made up of people kicked out of other fascist groups for being informers or agent provocateurs. This included the original leaders Eddie Morrison and Tony White who were later joined by Peter Rushton and Kevin Watmough. Tim Hepple will be joining next! It must be costing Searchlight a small fortune!

Do say "Well you are definitely more radical than the BNP"

Don't say "Has your cheque from Gerry Gable arrived?"

Combat 18

Scary Nazi 'terror machine' and the pride of Stromfront but rarely sighted these days in England, and considered an endangered species, not seen in public since 2001. C18 now has sister groups in several European countries and the USA but it's last national 'activity' in the UK seems to have been putting up a sticker or two in a few northern cities. Damaged by the revelation that his number two, Darren Wells, was an informer for Searchlight and the security services, C18 Fuhrer Wilf Browning has had an exceptionally low profile in recent years. Recent raids on C18 in Poland and northern Germany indicate that the authorities still regard C18 as a threat, even if no one else does. Still wheeled out occasionally in the media as a terrifying, psycho Nazi bogey man to scare the gullible.

Do say "The Blood and Honour scene is much better organised under C18"

Don't say "That's just a wild stab in the dark Charlie"

Blood and Honour

Founded in 1987, as a vehicle for White-Power music and a cash cow for other fascist groups, by Ian Stuart Donaldson (of Skrewdriver & car crash fame), in response to the activities of Anti-Fascist Action. Rather like football hooliganism, Blood & Honour originated in England, but has gone on to bigger and better things elsewhere. An important player in the development of far-right ideas internationally, Blood & Honour has struggled to retain much of a profile in its homeland. Unable to advertise gigs openly in Britain they’ve recently become even more of a laughing stock after Antifa hacked their forum and posted the entire thing online. Plus, their music is shit.

Do say "Ian Stewart's name will certainly live on with you guys about"

Don't say "Of course all the original Skinheads only listened to Jamaican music".

Definitely don't say "Everyone knows that most skinheads these days are gay"

Racial Volunteer Force

Formed after the leadership of C18 had an emotional breakup, this group’s membership struggles to reach double figures. Never the groups strongpoint, membership and recruitment was dealt a damaging blow in 2003 when several of them were arrested and imprisoned for inciting racial hatred. These Aryan warriors, used to provide 'security' (behind the police of course) for the BPP, but again a tiff between leaderships and the BPP informing on its friends for police protection has ended this alliance of the clueless. This group are serious contenders for the "who can make most shit up on Stromfront" award, recently claiming to have stolen intelligence from "Antifa HQ", when in reality they had picked up a publically distributed leaflet, available online. Other then these Bond style intelligence missions they restrict their activities to releasing poorly spelt statements detailing their feuds with other fascist groups. About as dangerous as a pond of ducks.

Do say: The spirit of C18 and militant neo-Nazism lives on with the RVF!

Don’t say: Do you lot do anything except release statements?