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
National Front
Freedom Party
White Nationalist
Party
International
Third Position
Blood & Honour
C18
British Movement
November 9th Society
Friends of
Oswald Moseley
The National
Anarchists
British Ulster
Alliance
League of St George
Fascist
influenced football firms
Orange Lodges
in England
Foreign
fascists based in London
British
National Party
Under Nick Griffin, the BNP has become the most successful far-right
party in British history. Neither the National Front nor the British
Union of Fascists ever managed to gain a single councillor. The BNP
now has 21 councillors. 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. It remains weak however in London, and
is still liable to bouts of internal squabbling, factionalism and resignations.
Do say "Everythings changed since Griffin became leader"
Don't say "If voting changed anything, they'd abolish it"
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National Front
Stuck in a rock and a hard place between the slick professionalism of
the BNP, and the street thuggery of the White Nationalist Party. The
NF's ability to steer a path for itself will determine whether it continues
as a shadow of its former self, or if it joins the BNP as a party of
some significance. A street march in London early in 2004, drew well
under 50 marchers...
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?"
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Freedom Party
A Midlands based splinter from the BNP, the Freedom Party has gained
some electoral success in the Black Country. Its chances of national
success, whilst the BNP continue to rise, appear slim. Why should anyone
buy the photocopy, when they can just as easily get the original?
Do say "This is a party that's small, but perfectly formed"
Don't say "You leaving the BNP did not do them any harm did it?"
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White Nationalist Party
The WNP is an openly fascist party, based in Yorkshire. Most of its
activities are small scale leafleting events, with a recent attempt
to hold a march in Bradford banned by the police (as they knew it would
be). The WNP regard the BNP as having sold out. An electoral front group,
England First, has also been formed by the WNP, after the Electoral
Registrar originally opposed the name White Nationalist Party (standing
in elections is presumably not selling out!) One of the odd characteristics
about the WNP is the number of leading members it has who have been
thrown out fascist organisations for being informers or agents provocateurs.
Such dodgy geezers include party founders Eddie Morrison and Tony White,
and they have been joined more recently by Peter Rushton and Mark Cotterill.
Tim Hepple will be joining next! Should the WNP carry out their threat
to stand against Nick Griffin in the European elections, they could
well prevent the BNP from gaining a MEP in the north west. 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?"
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International Third Position
A splinter from the NF in the 1980s, the ITP once included one Nick
Griffin amongst its members. Following a series of intellectual somersaults,
the ITP settled down to a long term strategy of intellectual development
and cultural politics, under the leadership of Italian millionaire Roberto
Fiore. Its strong association with Catholicism has a boon to its sister
group in Italy, but has gone down like a pint of cold sick with many
British fascists. The ITP are very worthy, and very, very boring.
Do say "I though Father O'Flockerty's mass on Sunday was most
stimulating"
Don't say "In my experience Father Ted was a pretty accurate portrayal
of the Catholic priesthood"
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Blood & Honour
The cash cow of the international far-right. 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. In Europe an outright ban
by the German government was an indication of its size and threat. Here
B&H struggle to hold more than the odd gig in the sticks. Perhaps
people in Britain have realised that the 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"
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C18
Rarely sighted these days in England, C18 now has sister groups in several
European countries and the USA. 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
recently. 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.
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"
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British Movement
Once a dangerous street based organisation, the BM has limped on since
its then leader, Michael McLaughlin, wound the organisation up in 1982.
He now runs army surplus shops in Chester and Shrewsbury. His erstwhile
colleagues talked in detail about re-forging the BM for the new millennium,
but rumours of their revival proved to be greatly exaggerated. In the
end there was more action in Y2K from the millennium bug!
Do say "Going underground is really important"
Don't say "Didn't you lot disband in 1982?"
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November 9th Society
The N9S style themselves as Britain's nazi party. An examination of
their rather stylish website does not reveal any members other than
"National Director" Kevin Quinn. Meetings must be a doddle.
To be fair there is not much revisionism from Quinn, to quote from the
November 9th site "We will never flirt with public opinion, by
changing to suit half frightened people in order to gain public support.
We are National Socialists - We will never abandon the Führer, ever!"
Should someone tell them that old Adolf is no longer with us?
Do say "Hail Quinn"
Don't say "The last time I saw one of those uniforms was at a fetish
night in Islington"
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Friends of Oswald Moseley
Now little more than a website, the Friends used to gather annually
to toast their dear departed leader, often with Lady Moseley in the
audience. Given her recent death, and the fact that the BUFs "veterans"
get fewer by the year, this is not exactly a group to watch. These days
if they are wearing black, its for another funeral!
Do say "Sir Oswald was the greatest leader Britain never had"
Don't say "Didn't your grandad run away at Cable Street?"
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The National Anarchists
As an ideology National-Anarchism would appear to be about as logical
as the creation of an organisation of Catholic Orangemen. That does
not stop Troy Southgate however.
Attempts at finding anyone in the Anarchist movement to speak to them
have been unsuccessful (can anyone forget Jamie DeBayo/Damji leaving
the Anarchist Bookfair in 1998 head first?) whilst Southgate and co
are just a little bit too weird for the rest of the British far-right.
More years in no-mans land beckon.
Do say "National-Anarchism - now that is a brave innovation"
Don't say "But how can you be a nationalist and an Anarchist?"
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British Ulster Alliance
Having started out as a sort of Johnny Adair fan club, the BUA had to
switch allegiances once the Ulster Defence Association feud reached
such a dramatic end in 2003.
The BUA organises pickets of Downing Street in support of loyalist causes,
and trips to Ulster to drink beer. Whilst this is hardly thrilling stuff,
the BUA can put a big firm on the street, if recent London events are
anything to go by - possibly one to watch.
Do say "Down with popery!"
Don't say "Actually I think Celtic probably play more attractive
football than Rangers"
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League of St George
Does anyone know if these silly old buggers are still going?
Do say "The senior citizens of British nationalism"
Don't say "Historians have revealed that the real St George was
born in what is now Turkey, and that his parents came from North Africa.
So the patron Saint of England is in fact a black man."
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Fascist
influenced football firms
These come and go. Anyone who attended the 1993 Bloody Sunday march
will remember just how dangerous these groups can be, when allied to
the far-right. Openly fascist firms are actually few and far between
(Oldham's Fine Young Casuals being the best known exception) but other
clubs have small numbers of fascists who travel, with varying degrees
of support, with firms.
Do say "Football is the game of the white working class"
Don't say "I think Sol Campbell would make a really good England
captain"
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Orange Lodges in England
April now sees an annual Orange Parade through London, largely attended
by fascists, with the odd England based Orangemen in tow. The biggest
event in the English calendar, in Southport each summer, is usually
several thousand strong.
Do say "Well actually my great grandmother on my father's side
was from Ulster you know"
Don't say "If there is one thing worse than a Plastic Paddy, it
a Plastic Protestant Paddy"
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Foreign fascists based in London
A really under researched area. The tolerant nature of London, good
employment prospects, and the excellent English spoken by many Europeans,
has brought large numbers of people from across the EU, and the former
Warsaw Pact countries to the capital. It has also brought over many
people who have been involved in successful fascist parties at home.
Le Pen's Front National has a London branch, Swedish fascists have recently
been spotted at some punk gigs and the business activities of Roberto
Fiore, are well-known. Much however is not.
Do say "I hope you enjoy your stay in our marvellous country"
Don't say "We've got enough bigots of our own without you bastards
coming over"
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