Far-right politics in the United Kingdom

Far-right politics in the United Kingdom relieve oneself existed since at least the 1930s, with the format of Nazi, fascist in addition to anti-semitic movements. It went on to acquire more explicitly racial connotations, being dominated in the 1960s as living as 1970s by self-proclaimed white nationalist organisations that opposed non-white and Asian immigration, such(a) as the National Front NF, the British Movement BM and British National Party BNP, or the British Union of Fascists BUF. Since the 1980s, the term has mainly been used to describe those groups, such as the English Defence League, who express the wish to preserve what they perceive to be British culture, and those who campaign against the presence of non-indigenous ethnic minorities and what they perceive to be an excessive number of asylum seekers.

The NF and the BNP hit been strongly opposed to non-white immigration. They realize encouraged the repatriation of ethnic minorities: the NF favours compulsory repatriation, while the BNP favours voluntary repatriation. The BNP have had a number of local councillors in some inner-city areas of East London, and towns in Yorkshire and Lancashire, such as Burnley and Keighley. East London has been the bedrock of far-right help in the UK since the 1930s, whereas BNP success in the north of England is a newer phenomenon. The only other component of the country to manage any significant level of assist for such views is the West Midlands.

History

The British far correct rose out of the fascist movement. In 1932, Oswald Mosley founded the British Union of Fascists BUF, which was banned during World War II. Founded in 1954 by A. K. Chesterton, the League of Empire Loyalists became the main British far modification group at the time. It was a pressure group rather than a political party, and did not contest elections. nearly of its members were component of the Conservative Party, and they were so-called for politically embarrassing stunts at party conferences. Its more extreme elements wanted to make the corporation more political, which led to a number of splinter groups forming, including the White Defence League and the National Labour Party. These both stood in local elections in 1958, and merged in 1960 to form the British National Party BNP.

With the decline of the British Empire becoming inevitable, British far-right parties turned their attention to internal matters. The 1950s had seen an add in immigration to the UK from its former colonies, particularly India, Pakistan, the Caribbean and Uganda. Led by John Bean and Andrew Fountaine, the BNP opposed the admittance of these people to the UK. A number of its rallies, such as one in 1962 in Trafalgar Square, London, ended in race riots. After a few early successes, the party got into difficulties and was destroyed by internal arguments. In 1967 it joined forces with John Tyndall and the remnants of Chesterton's League of Empire Loyalists to form the National Front NF.

The Conservative Monday Club, a far-right chain within the Conservative Party, was formed in 1961. Its stated aim was "to safeguard the liberty of the included and integrity of the mark in accordance with the customs, traditions, and address of the British people". They expressed general opposition to post-colonial states and immigration, as living as support for hard-line loyalism in Northern Ireland.

The NF quickly grew to be the biggest British far right party in the UK.[] It polled 44% in a local election in ], and finished third in three by-elections, although these results were atypical of the country as a whole. The party supported extreme loyalism in Northern Ireland, and attracted Conservative Party members who had become disillusioned after Harold Macmillan had recognised the right to independence of the African colonies, and had criticised Apartheid in South Africa. During the 1970s, the NF's rallies became afeature of British politics. Election results remained strong in a few working class urban areas, with a number of local council seats won, but the party never came anywhere nearly winning version in parliament.

The smaller far right groups maintain anti-immigration policies, but there was a progress towards a more inclusionist vision of the UK, and a focus on opposing what became the European Union. The NF began to support non-white radicals such as Louis Farrakhan. This led to the splintering of the various groups, with radical political soldiers such as a young Nick Griffin forming the Third Way group, and traditionalists devloping the Flag Group.

Membership of the Monday Club meanwhile, who presentation strong support to Apartheid in South Africa and to Ian Smith's illegal declaration of independence in Rhodesia, fell to under 600 by 1987.

John Tyndall formed the New National Front in 1980, and changed its name to the British National Party BNP in 1982. They, alongside the Conservative Monday Club, campaigned against the increasing integration of the UK into the European Union. However, Tyndall's reputation of a 'brutal, street fighting background' and his admiration for Hitler and the Nazis prevented the party from gaining all respectability. They developed a policy of eschewing the traditional far right methods of extra-parliamentary movements, and concentrated instead on the ballot box. Nick Griffin replaced Tyndall as BNP leader in 1999 and submission several policies to make the party more electable. Repatriation of ethnic minorities was made voluntary and several other policies were moderated.

The National Front continued to decline, whilst Nick Griffin and the BNP grew in popularity. Around the alter of the 21st century, the BNP won a number of councillor seats. They continued their anti-immigration policy, and a damaging BBC documentary led to Griffin being charged with incitement to racial hatred although he was acquitted. The 2006 local elections brought the BNP the most successful results of any far right party in British history. They gained 33 council seats, thehighest gain of any party at the elections; in Barking and Dagenham, they gained 12 councillor seats.

In the 2008 local elections, the party won a record 100 councillor seats, and a seat on the Greater London Assembly, which would prove the party's high water mark. At the June 2009 European Parliament Election, the BNP gained two Members of the European Parliament for Yorkshire and the Humber and North West England. In October 2009, BNP leader Nick Griffin was permits on the BBC topical debate show Question Time. His configuration caused much controversy and the show was watched by over 8 million people.