Leicestershire policeman's 'foul-mouthed rant on his Facebook page'

A police officer is being investigated for allegedly posting foul mouthed and possibly racist material on his Facebook page.

The officer made the comments on his personal site but has fallen foul of his employer because he names the force in his biography at the top of his home page.

A selection of the posts, some of which date back to the beginning of the year, were sent to the Leicester Mercury anonymously. In one, the officer, who the Leicester Mercury is not naming, uses foul language about "foreigners", calling them "scum". Elsewhere he swears freely and refers to a "brilliant" shift which culminated in "fights in town".

A police spokeswoman said the matter was under investigation. The officer has not been suspended while the review is carried out.

A person who spotted the postings contacted the Mercury to complain, saying: "This person openly announces that he works for Leicestershire Constabulary, yet uses abusive language of the worst kind."

Ivan Stafford, chairman of Leicestershire Police Federation, said: "Officers have to be mindful that they are on duty and are representing the force 24 hours a day. Whatever they do, even if they think it is in a private arena, can be picked up and will affect people's perceptions of them and the force. Our advice to anyone using social networking sites is to think very carefully about everything they write."

Another officer, who has a personal Facebook account and also uses the social networking site Twitter regularly, said: "I post about the job from time to time because these sites are about staying in touch with friends – and a lot of my friends are police officers. But I'm always very careful what I say because this is in public. I've seen the posts that are being investigated and I can see why some people might be upset by some of them. But at one point he says he has worked a 17-hour shift, so I can understand fully why he might want to let off some steam from time to time."

The officer under investigation has since removed the reference to his employer in his Facebook biography. The comments that sparked the investigation can no longer be seen.

A force spokeswoman said: "We encourage officers to use social networking, but advise them to be careful what they put out on personal accounts."

This is Leicestershire

EDL/BFP and the Leaked Phone Calls

The English Defence League's alliance with the British Freedom Party is close to falling apart today after a telephone conference between senior BFP officials was leaked on the internet.

The EDL and the BFP have recently announced that they are forming an alliance together. The reasons are mainly thought to be the fact that the BFP need people to vote for them and the EDL need to go political in order to survive and lose their 'toxic' reputation, a reputation gained by the fact that many of their demonstrations end up in violence and their Facebook page and membership in general are overun with hard core racists who are more interested in targeting the Muslim community than Islamic extremists.

Simon Bennett (pictured, left), Lee Barnes, Peter Mullins and Gary Marshall were recorded discussing how they can use the English Defence League to their own advantage and Barnes instructs Bennet to keep hold of the EDL's membership database.

Click here to see the video

The leaked recording, which has turned into a massive embarrassment for BFP leadership and Simon Bennett is thought to have been recorded ten months ago when the they were first started talks with the EDL.

In a Facebook status update, an admin thought to be either Bennett or Weston, is currently undergoing a damage limitation exercise and claiming that the recorded conversation took place ten months ago. The update is full of conspiracy theories about leaked members addresses and a plot by the Muslim Defence League to murder him and gang rape his children. We are unaware of any complaints being made to the police about this.

In response to the recent audio file 'leaked' by the Muslim Extremist Hackers of the EDL Facebook page, British Freedom wish to clarify a few points:Simon Bennett, British Freedom Party

Firstly, the leaker of this ten month old Skype recording is an expelled member of British Freedom that has been waging a hate campaign against British Freedom ever since.

So much so that they have conspired with the BNP and the Muslim Defence League in order to release the name and address of the EDL webmaster to the Muslim Defence League and MAC in order to have him (and his young family) murdered. This can all be substantiated with facts and hard evidence if need be. These are the people (just some of them) that Simon Bennett traced via IP addresses cross referenced against other data that have threatened to have his children ‘gang raped’ and murdered.

Now, the fact that this 'leaked' Skype conference was recorded by these people in the first place ought to raise the question WHY it was recorded. The reason is obvious, they had every intention of releasing it at a time which they felt would cause British Freedom and the EDL the most damage.

Bearing in mind that this conversation was recorded over ten months ago and at an early stage of ‘negotiations’ between British Freedom and the EDL two questions have to be asked:

1. Why record it.
2. Why release it now.

The answer is of course obvious. To try in a desperate attempt to break the alliance the two groups have worked so damned hard to create. This ‘alliance’ was no spur of the moment idea. It was 18 months in the planning. A huge amount of discussion, planning, brain storming and thought went in to it.

If Skype conversations did not take place discussing the issues then you have cause for concern. Take another listen to the ‘leaked’ audio. Nothing untoward was said or discussed that either party would be afraid to repeat today.
The simple fact is this;

The opposition are terrified, absolutely mortified by the fact that a credible, non racist, non nazi political organisation in its embryonic stages is about to render all other party’s below the Lib-Dems null and void. It is in their interests (and that of Islamic Extremists) to ensure that this alliance fails.

Don’t be sucked in by this amateur attempt to derail us. The very fact they are trying so hard to do just that speaks volumes.

EDL members are naturally suspicious of the alliance and not all are happy with it. Simon Bennett is failing to win hearts and minds, mainly due to the stitch up of the British National Party when he took their website down the day before the last general election.

Yorkie Pudd

re the alliance with bfp ......all sounds dodgy as fuck to me @simon your a public figure? you sound like a spoilt brat mate ...eddy makes a good point " if you fall out with EDL, what are you going to do? What did you do when you fell out with the BNP?" ...and as for 30 quid to join your having a laugh ... i could go on but as it as been proved so many times there is no point ..are you sure your not related to weyman the cunt bennet?

Alan Furniss

if the bfp think im having anything to do with them after the way they chatted about edl members they,v gotta another thing coming id rather be natfront

Kevin Layzell ‎

The opposition are terrified? no ones terrified no ones heard of British freedom.

• "credible" as a purely Facebook political group its very hard to be non credible as there's little you can do to make yourself non credible
• "amateur attempt" this amateurs keep hacking the page.. they have brought down the EDL without even leaving their houses.
• What evidence do you have that they conspired with the BNP (I highly doubt the BNP wants to see him and his family murdered)
• " Simon Bennett traced via IP addresses" Simon Bennett seems good at tracking people down and handing out information... didn't he betray the BNP to try to bring them down? what a honourable fella.
• why did it take 18 months for British freedom and EDL to form an alliance it doesn't seem like anything has changed?

Lee Collins

No no no no no! Don't you see? it gives us NO credibility. It makes us a laughing stock. If the EDL wanted to be more political it should have either formed a political party called the English Defence Party or had discussions with other parties, come to a decision an then those who didn't or couldn't support that party would leave. Having 'secret' discussions behind our backs to stitch up a deal with any political party just makes mugs of us all. And this is not a BNP vs BFP thing either. It could be UKIP it could be anyone. And stop saying we can vote for who we like! How can we vote for one party and belong to a movement which is actively helping another party

Chris Bangtidy Belsher

Tell you what Simon- how about you and this British Freedom Party get to fuck and when you get there you fuck off some more. You think that I've stood on the streets up and down this great country in freezing conditions, endured police giving me fuck and run the gauntlet of mad muslims throwing rocks and threatening to kill me just to be used to bolster some weak as fuck political parties numbers? You seriously think anyone is seriously going to vote for a party with no financial manifesto? no employment manifesto? Etc etc etc, you haven't got a clue.

Eddy Stevens

Simon, if you fall out with EDL, what are you going to do? What did you do when you fell out with the BNP? ANSWER: Took BNP website offline the day before a major election. I ask, would a genuine patriot have done that?

Yorkie Pudd

all sounds dodgy as fuck to me @simon your a public figure? you sound like a spoilt brat mate ...eddy makes a good point " if you fall out with EDL, what are you going to do? What did you do when you fell out with the BNP?" ...and as for 30 quid to join your having a laugh ... i could go on but as it as been proved so many times there is no point ..are you sure your not related to weyman bennet?

Chris Bangtidy Belsher

British Freedom Party- bit of an oxymoron really. You won't be getting my vote, you won't be getting my money and you'll definitely won't be getting my support. I'm EDL not BFP and if this so called freedom Party is made up of semi literate halfwits like Simon then they're doomed.

EDL News

Cambridge pub landlord sacked by his parents after disgusting racist rant

The manager of The Salisbury Arms has been sacked by his parents after making despicable racist comments on Facebook.

The website EDL News - which prides itself on bringing people the news the “English Defence League will not bring you” - has published the Facebook postings of Ben ‘English’ Green, the manager of the Salisbury Arms in Tenison Road, Cambridge.

Following the online publication David and Angela Green, his parents and licensees of the popular pub, have made a statement on The Salisbury Arms’s Facebook page, saying their son has moved out of the pub where he is no longer welcome.

It reads: “Ben has been sacked with immediate effect as this sort of behaviour can not and will not be tolerated. The management of The Salisbury Arms would like to apologise unreservedly to anyone who was offended and upset by the stupid actions of this young person. He has let us down as employers and parents and he has put our business and reputation under threat. Once again we are so very sorry about this, he has already been moved out of The Salisbury Arms and is no longer welcome in the pub.”

A spokesman for the brewery branded Green’s Facebook page as “disgusting”. She said: “We find the views expressed by Ben Green on his personal Facebook page disgusting and they do not reflect either our own opinions or those of the licensees of The Salisbury Arms. These views cannot and will not be tolerated and we’re able to confirm that Mr Green has been sacked from his role as Manager of the pub and barred from the site.

“We are sorry for the undoubted offence his views have caused and will work with the licensees to restore the faith in the pub that he alone has sought to bring into disrepute and trust that the local community will be able to disassociate the unacceptable beliefs of one individual from the pub and everyone else associated with it.”

As reported by Cambridge First, the thriving pub was crowned the best cask ale pub in East Anglia in the Great British Pub awards in August.

Cambridge First

More on Ben Green at EDL News.

Thanks to NewsHound for the heads-up

Populism in 21st century Britain: Why the EDL needs Facebook

A new study by independent think tank Demos has revealed that online activism is at the heart of the English Defence League

The far-right English Defence League (EDL) first emerged in 2009 as a street protest movement, whose ideology and rhetoric opposes radical Islam and Sharia law in the UK. The group’s mission statement includes declarations that it is committed to “ensuring human rights are protected and promoted” and “ensuring that the public get a balanced picture of Islam.”

The EDL has organised more than fifty marches and demonstrations across the UK over the past two years, and many of these have descended into violence. EDL supporters and others have been arrested, often after fighting with counter-demonstrators from organisations such as Unite Against Fascism. Inflammatory and provocative tactics are regularly employed. When the EDL recently marched through Tower Hamlets – an area of London with a significant Muslim population - the group’s leaders proclaimed that they were “heading into the Lion’s Den”, the demonstration descended into violence and the police made sixty arrests.

While the EDL has repeatedly denied being a racist organisation and has attempted to distance itself from the far-right British National Party (BNP), video footage of racist chanting at their marches or a glance at the vitriolic comments published on its online forums portray an utterly different picture. EDL leader Stephen Lennon (who uses the pseudonym Tommy Robinson amongst his supporters), has also appeared on television to deny claims that the organisation is racist, but he describes the Koran as a “seventh century book in its barbaric form.”

Although it is the demonstrations, violence and anti-social behaviour that make the headlines, a new study published by Demos this week revealed that the majority of EDL supporters have never been on a march. When asked about their recent involvement in the organisation, 52% of supporters claimed that they had taken part in some form of online activism.

Press interest in the organisation has led to a growth in the number of supporters, and this has largely manifested through the internet and social networking sites, in particular Facebook. The EDL is reliant on Facebook as it is their central communicative and organisation tool. There are a number of fan pages dedicated to the organisation and Demos estimate that the group has an active membership of 25,000 – 35,000 people. Amongst those supporters surveyed it found that the BNP is the most popular political party amongst EDL supporters, followed by the UK Independence Party.

The EDL is indicative of a wider trend of new far-right groups that have sprung up across Europe in recent years and has tried to form ties with other ‘European Defences Leagues’ in Germany, Poland and France. The EDL also publically supported the Dutch far-right politician Geert Wilders when he visited the UK to screen his anti-Islam film in the House of Lords in 2010.

The EDL have also been accused of having links to terrorist Anders Behring Breivik, who carried out twin terror attacks that claimed 77 lives in Norway this summer. When Norwegian police began their investigation it was revealed that Breivik claimed to have 600 EDL supporters as Facebook friends, was a fan of the EDL Facebook page and had previously praised the organisation.

In this high-tech digital age, new technology has changed the way that organisations such as the EDL spread their message and organise their activities. By using the internet, supporters can publish their opinions anonymously and without facing the same consequences that they might encounter should such opinions be shared in the pub or at work. The EDL is a chaotic and disorganised organisation that has no official membership procedures, and were it not for Facebook and other social networking sites then it is most likely that they would not exist.

New Federalist

Thanks to Zaahid for the heads-up

David Miliband warns against complacency over rightwing extremism

Former foreign secretary praises Demos report into rise of far right in Europe

David Miliband has joined those warning about the rise of a new wave of far-right nationalist parties across Europe, saying that it is important to keep track of their ascent.

In a rare foray into international politics since his defeat for the Labour party leadership 14 months ago, the former foreign secretary praised a report by the thinktank Demos which revealed a mass of mainly young, male Facebook-based supporters of such groups, who often held vehemently antagonistic views about immigrants and, in particular, Muslims.

"This report is an important antidote to any complacency about rightwing extremism," Miliband told the Guardian. "It shows that discontent with globalisation can fuel the politics of the right as well as the left. The Occupy protests have captured media attention but away from the public eye the hard right is also organising. The only way to defend the gains of globalisation is to understand its most dangerous critics, and this report helps us to do so."

The rise of such parties, which now hold significant parliamentary blocs in well over half a dozen western European countries, from Italy to the Netherlands to Scandinavia, has a particularly personal element for Miliband, whose Jewish immigrant parents fled Nazi Europe.

The Demos report sampled the views of more than 10,000 people who support such parties and street movements on Facebook pages, which for the 24 groups had a combined total of almost 450,000 mainly young fans. The breadth of such hard-right views means they are in danger of "becoming mainstream", warned Emine Bozkurt, a Dutch MEP of Turkish descent who heads the European parliament's anti-racism forum.

She said: "In some countries, for example the Netherlands, it even becomes the majority because mainstream right or centre-right parties are adopting the rhetoric of nationalist-populist parties in an attempt to attract their voters."

Observer

Far right on rise in Europe, says report

Study by Demos thinktank reveals thousands of self-declared followers of hardline nationalist parties and groups

The far right is on the rise across Europe as a new generation of young, web-based supporters embrace hardline nationalist and anti-immigrant groups, a study has revealed ahead of a meeting of politicians and academics in Brussels to examine the phenomenon.

Research by the British thinktank Demos for the first time examines attitudes among supporters of the far right online. Using advertisements on Facebook group pages, they persuaded more than 10,000 followers of 14 parties and street organisations in 11 countries to fill in detailed questionnaires.

The study reveals a continent-wide spread of hardline nationalist sentiment among the young, mainly men. Deeply cynical about their own governments and the EU, their generalised fear about the future is focused on cultural identity, with immigration – particularly a perceived spread of Islamic influence – a concern.

"We're at a crossroads in European history," said Emine Bozkurt, a Dutch MEP who heads the anti-racism lobby at the European parliament. "In five years' time we will either see an increase in the forces of hatred and division in society, including ultra-nationalism, xenophobia, Islamophobia and antisemitism, or we will be able to fight this horrific tendency."

The report comes just over three months after Anders Breivik, a supporter of hard right groups, shot dead 69 people at youth camp near Oslo. While he was disowned by the parties, police examination of his contacts highlighted the Europe-wide online discussion of anti-immigrant and nationalist ideas.

Data in the study was mainly collected in July and August, before the worsening of the eurozone crisis. The report highlights the prevalence of anti-immigrant feeling, especially suspicion of Muslims. "As antisemitism was a unifying factor for far-right parties in the 1910s, 20s and 30s, Islamophobia has become the unifying factor in the early decades of the 21st century," said Thomas Klau from the European Council on Foreign Relations, who will speak at Monday's conference.

Parties touting anti-immigrant and Islamophobic ideas have spread beyond established strongholds in France, Italy and Austria to the traditionally liberal Netherlands and Scandinavia, and now have significant parliamentary blocs in eight countries. Other nations have seen the rise of nationalist street movements like the English Defence League (EDL). But, experts say, polling booths and demos are only part of the picture: online, a new generation is following these organisations and swapping ideas, particularly through Facebook. For most parties the numbers online are significantly bigger than their formal membership.

The phenomenon is sometimes difficult to pin down given the guises under which such groups operate. At one end are parties like France's National Front, a significant force in the country's politics for 25 years and seen as a realistic challenger in next year's presidential election. At the other are semi-organised street movements like the EDL, which struggles to muster more than a few hundred supporters for occasional demonstrations, or France's Muslim-baiting Bloc Indentitaire, best known for serving a pork-based "identity soup" to homeless people.

Others still take an almost pick-and-mix approach to ideology; a number of the Scandinavian parties which have flourished in recent years combine decidedly left-leaning views on welfare with vehement opposition to all forms of multiculturalism.

Youth, Demos found, was a common factor. Facebook's own advertising tool let Demos crunch data from almost 450,000 supporters of the 14 organisations. Almost two-thirds were aged under 30, against half of Facebook users overall. Threequarters were male, and more likely than average to be unemployed.

The separate anonymous surveys showed a repeated focus on immigration, specifically a perceived threat from Muslim populations. This rose with younger supporters, contrary to most previous surveys which found greater opposition to immigration among older people. An open-ended question about what first drew respondents to the parties saw Islam and immigration listed far more often than economic worries. Answers were sometimes crude – "The foreigners are slowly suffocating our lovely country. They have all these children and raise them so badly," went one from a supporter of the Danish People's Party. Others argued that Islam is simply antithetical to a liberal democracy, a view espoused most vocally by Geert Wilders, the Dutch leader of the Party for Freedom, which only six years after it was founded is the third-biggest force in the country's parliament.

This is a "key point" for the new populist-nationalists, said Matthew Goodwin from Nottingham University, an expert on the far right. "As an appeal to voters, it marks a very significant departure from the old, toxic far-right like the BNP. What some parties are trying to do is frame opposition to immigration in a way that is acceptable to large numbers of people. Voters now are turned off by crude, blatant racism – we know that from a series of surveys and polls.

"[These groups are] saying to voters: it's not racist to oppose these groups if you're doing it from the point of view of defending your domestic traditions. This is the reason why people like Geert Wilders have not only attracted a lot of support but have generated allies in the mainstream political establishment and the media."

While the poll shows economics playing a minimal role, analysts believe the eurozone crisis is likely to boost recruitment to anti-EU populist parties which are keen to play up national divisions. "Why do the Austrians, as well as the Germans or the Dutch, constantly have to pay for the bottomless pit of the southern European countries?" asked Heinz-Christian Strache, head of the Freedom Party of Austria, once led by the late Jörg Haider. Such parties have well over doubled their MPs around western Europe in a decade. "What we have seen over the past five years is the emergence of parties in countries which were traditionally seen as immune to the trend – the Sweden Democrats, the True Finns, the resurgence of support for the radical right in the Netherlands, and our own experience with the EDL," said Goodwin.

The phenomenon was now far beyond a mere protest vote, he said, with many supporters expressing worries about national identity thus far largely ignored by mainstream parties.

Gavan Titley, an expert on the politics of racism in Europe and co-author of the recent book The Crises of Multiculturalism, said these mainstream politicians had another responsibility for the rise of the new groups, by too readily adopting casual Islamophobia.

"The language and attitudes of many mainstream parties across Europe during the 'war on terror', especially in its early years, laid the groundwork for much of the language and justifications that these groups are now using around the whole idea of defending liberal values – from gender to freedom of speech," he said.

"Racist strategies constantly adapt to political conditions, and seek new sets of values, language and arguments to make claims to political legitimacy. Over the past decade, Muslim populations around Europe, whatever their backgrounds, have been represented as the enemy within or at least as legitimately under suspicion. It is this very mainstream political repertoire that newer movements have appropriated."

Jamie Bartlett of Demos, the principal author of the report, said it was vital to track the spread of such attitudes among the new generation of online activists far more numerous than formal membership of such parties. "There are hundreds of thousands of them across Europe. They are disillusioned with mainstream politics and European political institutions and worried about the erosion of their cultural and national identity, and are turning to populist movements, who they feel speak to these concerns.

"These activists are largely out of sight of mainstream politicians, but they are motivated, active, and growing in size. Politicians across the continent need to sit up, listen and respond."
Voting trends

As a political party, having tens of thousands of online supporters is one thing but translating these into actual votes can be quite another. However, the Demos survey found that 67% of the Facebook fans of the nationalist-populist groups which put up candidates – some are street movements only – said they had voted for them at the most recent election.

Further analysis found that female supporters were more likely to turn support into a vote, as were those who were employed.

Observer

The Last Gasp Of The EDL?

‘We’re going nowhere down the road!’

Well what a resounding success that wasn’t! The English Defence League’s ‘last national demo’ in Birmingham at the weekend was more like the last gasp of an increasingly riven and moribund mob. Scarcely a couple of hundred bothered to turn up to stand in the rain before being shunted into coaches and moved out again. As usual the EDL said they would demonstrate ‘where we want, when we want’ but of course it was an utter shambles, they bottled out and plod gave them a time and a place only to shift it in the last few days and gave them two hours tops to do whatever it is they do these days.

Various EDL Facebook sites were asking where was the usual opposition and the answer is that most antifascists can’t be bothered with the EDL anymore as they are clearly going nowhere and besides which, there are more important things going on at the moment. EDL splits, rivalries, rows over money, egomania and plain bad behaviour has seen the ranks dwindle over the last 6 months or so and they are looking weaker and weaker with every demo. The Infidels break away has affected the EDL’s numbers significantly. As with all fascist grupuscules too many people want to be Del-Boys and not enough want to be Rodney’s. The average EDL eejit hasn’t much money to spend gadding around the green and pleasant to be kettled in by coppers and ignored by the media. Any media attention they’ve got has been wholly negative because rather than talking to journalists the EDL attack them instead. Lads, as journalists are your conduit to the national media and they determine the tone of reportage, attacking them is not going to endear you to them.

The EDL really thought they would fare better than previously in the jewel of the Midlands: 1st time they went, loads got nicked, they got battered and were humiliated. Did they really think that this time would go smoothly? The local MP and various councillors called for a ban given the large policing bill they were landed with the last time the EDL came to ‘defend’ the town. Plod proved wiser than usual and had them under heavy manners right from the moment they got off their coaches. Then the 250 assembled in the drizzle and were told off by the speaker for throwing fireworks and bottles in their usual ‘peacefully protesting’ manner. Shame on you boys! The speaker did not condemn the racist statements and half-arsed Nazi salutes though. Most of the pubs either closed or refused to serve beer to them and they ended up in the Walkabout Aussie theme bar whilst the riot cops outnumbered them outside. Liverpool, Croydon and some Yorkshire members managed to get out of bed and probably wish they hadn’t as they could have donated all that hard earned to the EDL’s royal couple, Stella and Charlie. Nottingham EDL’s Joanne ‘Bus Stop’ Dickens said she was going as did Hayley and the Plymouth EDL/Combined Ex-Forces despite the fact Tommy had said they were ex-communicated. Has Tommy been fibbing again?

Anyway, to cap it all off, after the usual long winded speeches, bored and drunken yobs ‘spoiled it’ for the assembled numbers by fighting amongst themselves again. The fallout on the forums was inevitable: many complained that the static demos are getting nowhere; that the racists and Nazi saluters are still there (they’re your core constituents chaps!); that many were drunk and out of control fighting with cops and stewards; and that once again EDL looked like drunken, racist hooligans. Well, that’s because you are! Much dismay, accusations of bottling, resignations and insults were flying about on the net which was great fun to read. There has been a call for an EDL national meeting which will no doubt be a disaster and end with a load of pissed up hooligans all trying to have their say and fighting with each other instead of sorting out their political future. And the numbers of supporters at demos continues to decline. One of the reasons is that many EDL have been arrested and their bail conditions prohibit them from going anymore. That is if they haven’t been sent to prison already! Scarcely a week goes by without yet another EDL lobo-case being sent down for their stupid, drunken, racist antics.

Check out our friends on Everything EDL and EDL News for more info on the recidivist yobbos!

And where was ‘Sir’ Tommy? At Tower Hamlets he promised us he would show up for every national demo despite his bail conditions. However after getting remanded on the nonce wing following the Tower Hamlets ‘victory,’ Tommy has not been overenthusiastic about another stint at Her Maj’s Pleasure – though this may be about to change. Tommy also hasn’t learnt from his many previous mistakes: after the Jodie Marsh and Joey Barton photo fiascos, he was pictured with some crap magician who has since denied knowing who he was. Maybe you should ask Jeremy Paxman instead Tommy, he REALLY likes you!

Infi-Del Boys

After the sparsely attended embarrassment of their Leeds debut, the Infidels ended up meeting renegade EDL, SDL and other partial-wits for a show of, err, strength, in Newcastle. However, they did a lot better than the Newcastle National Front turnout which numbered a pathetic 8 fascists stood looking clueless in the Toon. Feeling their usual lager bravery some Infidels and other National Front Bottoms attacked the Occupy Newcastle site which fascist forums claimed to be a ‘victory.’ But this was not enough violence so the associated eejits decided to battle it out between themselves instead and happily kicked each other in the testicles for 20 minutes. Don’t take our word for it! Check out our friends in Lancaster!

Check out the axe merchant! This infighting reveals yet more splits amongst the tiny far right grupuscules and the blossoming romance between the Front Bottoms and the Infidell-ends is over.

The EDL and other associated grupuscules are scab organisations doing the self-defeating work of the ruling classes for them: they attacked the Occupy Newcastle site which is protesting against corporate greed and the unaccountability of capitalist organisations; they threatened to attack students who were protesting against education cuts and view all students as ‘middle clarse’ which is naïve beyond belief; and they opposed the massive march against cuts which was protesting against the decline in living standards, government austerity and attacks on public sector jobs and pensions. No doubt, they will oppose future demonstrations which are supported by tens of thousands – unlike their squalid little demonstrations which most people and the media completely ignore.

Fail, Bail, Jail.

So, this has not been a good year for Tommy Robinson: the Infidels split and other petty fallouts have drastically affected numbers on EDL demos; Tommy got nicked and remanded at Tower Hamlets, spent some time inside on the nonce’s wing on ‘hunger strike’ and on his release he went for a Halal Nando’s which gave him a poorly tummy; he got a guilty on the Luton football hooligan thing and he is still under investigation for fraud and has had his assets seized. When the headbutt case comes up on the 3rd November he probably won’t be going home for tea that night (his favourite is spaghetti hoops and fish fingers. No foreign muck for Tommy!). All of which will leave the EDL leadership in the less than capable hands of Hel ‘And Damnation’ Gower, who is 70 and everyone hates (she likes Soleros and Weetabix best) and Kocaine Kev Karol (turkey Twizzlers and a whole Vienetta), a less than gifted public speaker and organiser. Maybe it’s time for Tommy to wrap it up and grab what little cash is left before it all goes horribly wrong. Or not.

P.S…

Our antifascist friends way down on the south coast have launched a call for a more coherent antifascist organisation. Check them out here!

Malatesta's Blog

Thanks to NewsHound and Malatesta (cheeky monkey) for the heads-up

EDL Plan Arson Attack on LSX Camp

The English Defence League are planning an attack on the protesters at Occupy London Stock Exchange this Sunday, outside St Paul's Cathedral. London Division's Greg Bingham put a call out to fellow London racists calling for them to turn up to LSX and 'move' them. Bingham then went on to make threats about burning the tents down on his Facebook wall.

Click on image for full-size

They appear to want them moved because they are 'lefties' as they describes them. Another more sinister message appeared on Bingham's Facebook wall claiming he is going to comit an act of arson on the protester's camp and some threats to kill three people.

Click on image for full-size

Mick Wittman aka Gil Gould, a regular attendee at demonstrations in the South East also plans to attend.

As making threats of arson on the internet is a prosecutable offence, EDL News have informed the Metropolitan Police of his intentions.

EDL News

Thanks to NewsHound for the heads-up

Jail for child-cruelty bully

A man who smashed a young boy’s head into a dinner plate and shot another with an air rifle has been jailed for 12 months.

Gareth Meanock (pictured, left), who is an avid National Front supporter, subjected the two lads to almost seven years of cruelty. The far right-wing backer was described as a bully in court and Judge Bernard Lever called him an unremorseful man for his violent actions.

One of the boys, now 16 years of age and who cannot be named for legal reason, is damaged according to his father.

He told the Chronicle after sentencing at Manchester Minshull Street Court on Friday: “Meanock’s arrogance was there until the end and he showed no remorse whatsoever. My son is still badly affected by what happened, but he is trying to get his life back on track. I honestly did not think he was going to go to prison at one stage. It’s just a relief he has.”

Meanock, who now lives in Blackpool, was convicted by a trial jury of two counts of child cruelty in July, who unanimously found him guilty. The court also heard how one of the boys was shot at by Meanock with an air rifle once and after missing, he shot him again.

Meanock, who regularly moved house with his wife, lived at a range of addresses in the Oldham area, including Longfellow Crescent, London Road, Lees Road and Kipling Road. It is believed Meanock, who can be seen on social networking site, Facebook, holding a poster to “vote NF”, was first verbally abusive before his behaviour escalated into violence.

Meanock, who does not work due to knee problems, denied any wrongdoing. Eventually one of the children bravely spoke out and the police became involved.

Judge Lever said: “You have not admitted any of it and you have showed no remorse to this regime of cruelty.”

Oldham Evening Chronicle

EDL to Counter Protest 'Rising Against Islamophobia'

The English Defence League's Newcastle Division are set to protest at an event which aims to bring awareness to increasing Islamophobia.

Ever disillusioned EDL supporters appear to be tying up with the BNP in Newcastle upon Tyne. In a meeting hosted by Nick Griffin at High Lane Social Club in Hebburn last week, more than 50% of the attendees were EDL according to Hope not Hate.

The event on the 29th October is being supported by Unison, Northern Public Services Alliance, Coalition of Resistance, Stop the War Coalition, Show Racism the Red Card, Enough Coalition Against Islamophobia, Black Activists Rising Against Cuts (BARAC), writer and broadcaster Yvonne Ridley, councillor Dipu Ahad and more.

The EDL's event page stated:

'As we will not be having speakers, or require a designated area to hold our counter protest I can confirm there will be no police liason and nor will there be a need for EDL stewards.

Muster points will be released at a later date or contact your division for more details.'

This delightful exchange between Darren Lewis and North East regional co-ordinator, Alan Spence was spotted on the EDL's Facebook event wall.

EDL News

The EDL Notts Division Coach Fiasco

A bizarre fiasco occured on the Nottingham Division Coach at Saturday's Tower Hamlets demo.

After they were contained in Aldgate East (which a fair distance from Tower Hamlets), Notts Division's coach was diverted and allegedly came under attack on Whitechapel Road. Video evidence suggests there was a fracas on the bus and the window went through. EDL 'Angel' Joanne Dickens was dragged off the bus toilet, through the emergency exit and violently assaulted by Asians outside the bus.

Video evidence does not show this happening and it was thought she opened the door, shouted racist abuse at some locals and fell off the bus, only to be helped to safety by a local Asian man.

In the aftermath of these events, police arrested all 44 members of the EDL coach and bailed them on suspicion of an earlier incident. Dickens is a violent thug who has been to prison several time and boasted of 'ripping part of a girl's chest off' in a recent post she made bragging on Facebook.

Dickens contacted us on Facebook this morning to reaffirm her story and claimed she had a broken jaw.

We are not sure if this video was taken before or after the alleged incident.


After contacting us Dickens vanished after screenshots of vile racist abuse were produced.

The EDL Leadership were quick to support her and claim she would not use racist language but these screenshots suggest that Dickens is a proven hard core racist , massive nazi and possibly has a white nationalist tattoo on her left breast.

This screenshot shows Dickens mocking an Asian woman who died on a fun fair ride

Click on image for full-size

and this screenshot shows the following Facebook status update

'fuck all you dirty imagrant, muslim, paki, foreign cunts, get out of my country (england)'

Click on image for full-size

It didn't stop there, click on the image to read on.

EDL News asked the EDL support group whether step will be taken to stop her attending the next demo but we did not get any reply. Notts Division have since released this awesome comedy 'Statment'. Click here to read it.

EDL News

Thanks to Greg for the heads-up

Note from LU: According to the EDL 'Statment', the coach was at one point surrounded by 'a estimated 1000 strong muslim group'. Not according to the film we've seen, it wasn't. Take a look at the screenshot below for the truth.

Click on image for full-size

MP’s call for police probe into far right

A South Yorkshire MP has written to Home Secretary Teresa May to call for police investigation into extreme right-wing incitements during the riots posted on social media like Twitter and Facebook.

Denis MacShane, who represents Rotherham, said BNP MEP Nick Griffin told his supporters the riots were a ‘black/Jewish affair’ and provided details of areas where riots were taking place. A member of the English Defence League also used Facebook to say ‘these riots look brilliant’.

Mr MacShane added that another EDL supporter used Facebook to ask where he could obtain Semtex.

He said: “At a time when major prison sentences are being imposed on Facebook users who did not generate any response the police should also take action against the extreme right which used the riots to stoke up race hate and create an atmosphere of violence which contributed to the feeling that anything was permitted.

“Other elected people used their tweets to urge calm and restraint but Griffin tweeted with an orgasmic excitement as he watched the break-down in law and order.”

Mr MacShane added: “I do not think that social media should be used to encourage hate and incitement.”

The Star

Thanks to Zaahid for the heads-up

English Defence League Jewish division leader Roberta Moore quits

The hardline activist at the forefront of the "Jewish Division" of the extreme right-wing English Defence League has announced that she does not wish to be a part of it any longer because of Nazi elements within it.

Roberta Moore, who has led the Jewish Division since it was launched more than a year ago, was accused earlier this month of being a divisive figure in the EDL. Ms Moore had attempted to co-ordinate her efforts with those of the far-right American Jewish Task Force, whose leader Victor Vancier has been imprisoned for terrorism offences. The move, in February, was heavily criticised by the EDL leadership.

In a statement which she posted on Facebook, the Brazilian-born Ms Moore said she had been offered work on "an international level" elsewhere and so had decided to step down from the Jewish Division. Although she described the EDL as "doing a fantastic job" she said the party had been hijacked by elements who wanted to use it "for their own Nazi purposes".

Ms Moore said she still supported the EDL leaders and "all the genuine patriots out there who struggle to get their voices heard" but added that she no longer wished to be a part of it.

"I sincerely hope that the leaders will get the strength to squash the Nazis within," she said.

Mark Gardner, from the Community Security Trust, said: "This latest development shows, yet again, why Jews should not be involved in such circles. They will destroy this movement if allowed to remain."

Jewish Chronicle

EDL Acronym Trouble: Forgetting Who They Are?

It seems the English Defence League (EDL) have been having an identity crisis. Their members, many of whom have trouble spelling their own first name, have got themselves confused over their own 'organisations' acronym. Recently heard chanting “E L D!” during a town centre smash up, it was speculated the organisation had changed their name, however, it turns out it's a simple case of them all being a bit thick.

It was thought the constant chanting of “E E E D L” for hours on end, was a battle cry of some sort, to make their presence known when vandalising town centres and intimidating shoppers. However, it now appears this is a method, introduced by the leadership, for helping the membership remember the complicated three letter acronym.

Facebook posts are a gold mine of EDL cock-ups, some of the best include; “ELD All The Way! No Surrender”, “ELD til I die!”, “E-On Yeah!! No to Islammyfication” and “DEL Forever, No Surrender”. Whilst some could possibly be put down to typos, a number of EDL supporters have been seen sporting ELD tattoos and wearing ELD clothing, and a source reported that the EDL leadership spent thousands manufacturing ELD merchandise, which is now for sale online.

Tommy Robinson, the leader, has blamed the crisis on the BNP's leader Nick Griffin. He said in a statement: “This is all his (Nick Griffin's) fault, when he started saying we were a state sponsored pressure valve, we had to sit down and think, what's a pressure valve? And we had to think, why a state sponsored one? We just didn't understand it, we still don't. All this thinking made us stop chanting and we forgot what the acronym was.”

Robinson later claimed the “new range of ELD merchandise” is for the new EDL French Division, he said “the French say things the other way round so you see it's actually quite clever”. This resulted in a backlash from EDL supporters, ranting via Facebook “them dirty frogs aren't even English so they can't join our defence league, if they want a French Defence League then fine, but no way are we having a French Division, it just isn't democratic!”.

When we phoned for comment, the spokesperson asked us what an acronym was and if it was poisonous, “I heard we've been having trouble with em and I don't want to get hurt or owt, tha knows, I ant even got me feet on the floor just in case".

Turkey Breath

Ebay and Paypal dump the EDL

No surrender to Al Qaeda, just Ebay and Paypal

News has reached us that both Ebay and Paypal have closed down accounts owned by The English Defence League.

Announcing the news on their Facebook page,admins tried to reassure angry members who had paid money for items so far not received.

It isn't clear yet as to the reasons behind the closure, however there is a strong possibility that after months of flaunting Ebay's strict rules and regulations, the EDL broke one rule too many.

Paypal along with closing down the EDL account have frozen all the EDL's money held in their account. This will no doubt leave a serious dent in the EDL's all important merchandising operation.

Hope not hate

Fears that EDL march could bring repeat of clashes to city's streets

An English Defence League protest in Stoke in
January last year, during which 40 police officers were injured

Fears have been voiced that a planned English Defence League march in Derby will bring problems experienced by other neighbouring cities.

Police and the council say they have not yet received official confirmation of the demonstration, which organisers are legally required to give. But a page on social networking website Facebook states that the event is one of five that will take place across the country on July 9 and more than 290 people have said they will be attending. Posters have also been made.

A campaigner for multiculturalism is worried that unless it is properly controlled the march could result in violent clashes, like those witnessed previously in Leicester and Stoke.

Those demonstrations have cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of pounds to police. In October last year, 1,000 EDL supporters and 750 counter-protesters descended on Leicester. Supporters of the EDL pelted officers with bottles, cans, bricks and coins during the protest. The operation to police it cost £715,000, with 18 people arrested. Forty police officers were hurt at a similar event in Stoke in January last year.

Superintendent Gary Parkin, head of operational policing in Derby, said: "Since the EDL was formed in 2009 they have held between 20 and 25 major demonstrations where there have been around 1,000 people. That is a major drain on the resources of any city."

Mr Parkin said that when the EDL held a "flash-demo" in Derby in January it did not require extra policing. He said: "We have had a flash-demo, where very few people turned up, but how much it will cost depends on the number of people who turn up from the EDL and how many people decide to protest against it. There are, however, four other events planned for the same day so it might dilute the support."

Under the Public Order Act, groups are required to notify police of any demonstration and details of their route if they plan to march. Mr Parkin said: "People are free to protest within the boundaries of the law."

It is expected that members of Unite Against Fascism, who have protested against the EDL in other areas, will hold a counter-demonstration. And organisers of a free music festival aimed at celebrating Derby's multiculturalism have brought forward the date of the event so it coincides with the proposed EDL demonstrations. It will be held in the Market Place and will feature live music and speeches.

Organiser Baby J said: "Derby is very diverse and always has been, that is something that the people of Derby are really proud of. We live in peace and harmony and have done for a long time."

Baby J said he had been at several EDL marches in other cities, some of which descended into violence.

He said: "It all depends on how it is policed. If EDL and protesters are in the same space, city centres have been shut down. I would hope that they are put somewhere else, like at the Cattle Market. I know that the EDL had meetings in Leicester and Nottingham at the weekend to discuss it so there will be at least a few hundred. It will not be like the previous one which was a flash demonstration organised the night before."

This is Derbyshire

EDL needs lessons in English

In last week’s column I pointed out that some members of the English Defence League – who plan to demonstrate in Dewsbury on Saturday – seem to have a fairly shaky grasp of their own language.

An EDL spokesman urged his comrades to join him in Dewsbury by declaring on Facebook that “were losing our culture.” We’re losing our apostrophes, more like.

Perusing Facebook this week, I discovered that a few people did not appreciate my initial report about the league’s plan to demonstrate in Dewsbury. It seems I touched a raw nerve with some of the more sensitive members of the EDL by describing their group as “far-right”.

A couple of them deployed some choice Anglo-Saxon words in expressing their rejection of that label.

“The artical in question is a load of crock,” added another contributor.

Someone claiming to be “Yorkshire EDL Dewsbury Division” directed his colleagues towards the Examiner’s website, encouraging them to vent their fury. He wrote: “Feel free to leave comments the leftys and unedjucated have been commenting”.

Now I’ll admit that some Examiner website users can be a little sloppy with their spelling. But I think accusing them of being “unedjuacted”, or even “uneducated”, is far from right.

Which is not the same as “far-right”, by the way.

Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Thanks to NewsHound for the heads-up

Fuel protest group in civil war over Facebook comments

Fuel protesters targeting the Stanlow Oil Refinery in Ellesmere Port have dismissed their spokesman following a Facebook dispute.

A row erupted after Ian Charlesworth posted a series of angry tirades peppered with four-letter words on the group’s Facebook page. Members also complained that he had invited the English Defence League and the British National Party to protests.

Founder member Kevin Bowker, a football referee from Chester, said: “We have parted company with Mr Charlesworth, due to myself and members of the group becoming increasingly unhappy with many of his ideas. The Stanlow Fuel Protest and Direct Action group will continue to run without him.”

Mr Charlesworth, a haulier from Hawarden, used the group’s Facebook page to accuse police of threatening women and children during a protest on May 8. He wrote: “The police went against the agreement we had. They turned back tractors, issued tickets to farmers and started bullying other vehicles. They held up the convoy from North Wales and kettled the Manchester group at Lymm away from the press. They had police dogs ready to be released into the protesters and tried to intimidate them by threatening women and children.”

Mr Charlesworth confirmed that he had left the group, but said this was caused by differences in how he and other members wanted to protest. He also accused group members of sending him hate mail after he left to form another protest group.

“The group has become a talking shop and people had stopped turning up to events,” he explained.

When asked why he had invited the EDL and the BNP, he said: “We agreed to speak to the EDL, the BNP and For England six weeks ago. I made contact with the EDL and the BNP with the backing of the group – but they never responded.”

Cheshire Police have denied Mr Charlesworth’s claims. Chief Inspector Damien Smethurst said: “We have been made aware of comments made on social networking sites regarding the policing of the fuel protest on 8 May. Cheshire Police have not been informed of, or received any complaints of, disruption to the road networks as a result of the mobile protests. There were approximately 60 foot protesters at the site at 6pm that evening.

“The role of the police in this situation is to uphold the law. The law allows for peaceful protest, but also requires that business can continue as usual. We liaised with the organisers well in advance of the protest and clear parameters regarding the nature of the motorway go-slow were set and agreed by all parties.

“There was no impact upon business activity at the site and throughout the protests, tankers continued to arrive and depart the refinery as normal. Throughout the protests, officers liaised with mobile and foot protestors in a civil manner, no arrests were made and we strongly refute any suggestion of threatening behaviour by officers deployed to police the protest.”

Ellesmere Port Pioneer

Community praised following racist demonstration

A multi-cultural community has been praised for the way it reacted to a racist demonstration. Police have also been applauded for the way in which they dealt with the flash demo outside a Darlington mosque by members of the English Defence League (EDL).

Three people were arrested after about 30 members of the EDL gathered outside the Jamia Mosque on North Lodge Terrace on Saturday at 4.20pm. It is believed they had attempted a similar demonstration in Middlesbrough earlier in the day before moving on to Darlington. The group chanted nationalistic slogans and, according to witnesses, intimidated local residents. However, the group was dispersed by police who arrived in large numbers to control the demonstration and then remained in the area for the rest of the night to prevent any reoccurrence.

Local councillor Eleanor Lister said: "It was obviously very frightening for the community. However, I thought the police handled it brilliantly. The community did the best thing possible by not reacting. I was speaking to some young men in the mosque who were telling them that Islam means peace. Darlington is a peaceful town and we don't want this sort of thing."

One local shop worker said: "They were racists, shouting things like England for the English and go back to your country. These weren't people from Darlington."

Superintendent Paul Unsworth said: "These people (the demonstrators) were acting in a rowdy, abusive and offensive manner and we believe their actions were racially motivated. Officers attended to ensure the crowd dispersed without causing further disruption or disorder."

A 49-year-old man from Redcar was arrested on suspicion of theft and a 40-year-old man from Spennymoor and a 17-year-old from Middlesbrough were arrested on suspicion of causing a public order offence. All three were taken to Darlington police station for questioning.

Last night, Darlington MP Jenny Chapman condemned the demonstration. She said: "This kind of activity is not welcome. I would encourage the police to take the toughest possible line in dealing with people who come to Darlington to cause trouble."

A statement on the North-East EDLs Facebook page posted on Saturday evening read: "Some EDL were walking to a mosque for a flash demo & singing EDL songs, as they got close to the mosque the police issued them with 'section 27' notices & told to leave the area. They are now enjoying the nightlife in Newcastle."

The Advertiser

Thanks to NewsHound for the heads-up

Jail vow to tackle religious hate

Mr MacAskill said recent events had "scarred and shamed Scotland"

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has promised to introduce tougher laws which crack down on people who shout sectarian abuse in football stadiums or "peddle religious hate" online.

Mr MacAskill said prison sentences of up to five years would be possible under legislation planned by the new Scottish government. The SNP minister said recent events had "scarred and shamed Scotland".

He said he would work to bring in the changes "as soon as possible". Mr MacAskill's comments came after weeks of turmoil in Scottish football. Celtic manager Neil Lennon has been the target of parcel bombs and an assault inside a football ground. These high-profile cases have been accompanied by online hate campaigns against Lennon, a prominent Roman Catholic, and other figures in Scottish football.

Currently people who cause disruption at matches can be charged with breach of the peace, with a maximum one-year sentence. However the new laws would include behaviour that is threatening, abusive, disorderly or offensive, with a maximum jail term of five years.

Mr MacAskill said: "It is unacceptable to carry out sectarian disorder at a football ground or indeed to peddle sectarian hate over the internet or by tweeting. Strong action will be taken. It will be enforced because we cannot go on as we are."

"This is not a victimless crime," Mr MacAskill added. "It does affect people and action has to be taken to protect, not just people, but to protect whole communities and to protect the good name of Scotland in the 21st century."

The justice secretary said the policy was being pursued by Scotland's Solicitor General Frank Mulholland. He said the Scottish Parliament would need to pass new legislation to enforce some of the new proposals, such as dealing with people who posted comments on Twitter or Facebook.

Mr MacAskill said some might consider the new laws "draconian" but action was required to "stamp out" the small minority who carried out this "reprehensible" behaviour. He added: "Within my lifetime we have seen changes where racial epithets have been seen as entirely unacceptable and there are tough laws to enforce it. We have got to make it clear in Scotland in the 21st century that religious epithets and slurs are equally unacceptable."

BBC Scotland