With the rapid decline in the British National Party’s (BNP) electoral fortunes, and with the English Defence League now counting their demonstrators in the hundreds as supposed to the thousands (did you see our survey?), it may look as though Britain’s far-right has gone quiet. The failure of the far right to capitalise on the […]
UTV: Antrim attacks ‘part of loyalist feud’: The High Court has heard that rival loyalist paramilitaries have carried out beatings and gun attacks on homes as part of an ongoing feud in Northern Ireland. “Prosecutors revealed 26 incidents in the last four months are being linked to a dispute between the Ulster Volunteer Force and Loyalist […]
It may strike many as bizarre that Israel’s UN ambassador Ron Prossor was pictured in November 2011 with Front National (FN) leader Marine le Pen at a reception at the French Mission in New York, in view of the multiple convictions of her father, previous FN leader Jean-Marie Le Pen, for inciting antisemitism. This episode demonstrates […]
The Star: Extra police on duty for EDL and UAF demo’s in Rotherham: Extra police will be on duty in Rotherham next weekend when the EDL and UAF both stage rallies in the town. The EDL has called a demo for October 13 after confidential police and council documents were leaked detailing the problem of gangs of Asian […]
Despite attracting considerable publicity, the English Defence League (EDL) remains under-researched and poorly understood. While some have explored online supporters of the EDL, little is known about wider public perceptions: what ordinary citizens think about the group, its values and provocative street-based strategy. The absence of reliable research is striking given the EDL’s current plans to hold […]
Analysis: Policy Network: Recapturing the ‘Reluctant Radicals’: Marley Morris discusses the recent Counterpoint research for Policy Network: “‘Reluctant radicals’ who offer uncommitted and indecisive support to populist parties are key to understanding the success of the far-right in European elections” Rotherham Advertiser: Anti-fascists planning rally to counter EDL’s Rotherham demo: “Anti-fascist protesters have called for […]
Belfast Telegraph: BNP leader Nick Griffin faces police probe over ‘fenian bastards’ sectarian tweet during procession: “Police are investigating a complaint that controversial BNP leader Nick Griffin was responsible for “inciting hatred” after making a foul-mouthed sectarian remark about Catholics. The far-right MEP described republicans as “fenian bastards” on Twitter, hours after a surprise appearance at Stormont.” […]
BBC Northern Ireland: BNP leader Nick Griffin defends Fenian comment on Twitter: “The BNP leader Nick Griffin has defended using a derogatory term about Catholics on Twitter. Mr Griffin, who attended the Ulster Covenant event at Stormont in Belfast on Saturday, said he had used the word Fenian in a tweet after receiving abusive messages from republicans.” […]
The British far-right should be having a ball. With the economy faltering, austerity biting and economic pessimism growing, the conditions for racism and racist scapegoating could hardly be better. But, as Nick Lowles reports, racist groups are contracting and morale is dropping. Will it always be like this? In May, the British National Party (BNP) […]
Far right ideas: Britain’s generational divide
Writing for the Guardian Comment is Free, Matthew Goodwin summarises the key findings from our new survey that explores public attitudes toward core far right policies, and identifies an important generational divide. Read the full post here.