OneNamedNameLess
31st January 2009, 15:55
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"
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?"
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?"
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?"
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"
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"
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"
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?"
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"
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?"
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?"
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"
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."
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"
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"
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"
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"
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?"
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?"
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?"
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"
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"
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"
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?"
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"
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?"
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?"
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"
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."
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"
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"
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"