Insecurity is fuel for the far right's hate

English Defence League members demonstrated in Bolton's Victoria Square at a
Unite Against Fascism rally in 2010. Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Britain has resisted the far right but studies suggest cuts will harden attitudes. All parties need to rethink

A century of democratic politics teaches that economics and identity are the two most compelling calls to action. Their interplay can produce a dangerous brew. As Britain contemplates a parliament of austerity, we need to understand what makes for the politics of division, and fight it.

Compared to some other European countries, we in the UK can consider ourselves relatively lucky in our experience of extremist politics. There have been hard-fought battles. But serious extremist parties have not got a grip. However, research published...on behalf of the Searchlight Educational Trust shows how people can become lured towards more aggressive forms of identity politics. It shows we can't complacently assume we are exceptional in the European context. We are not.

Searchlight has been at the forefront of beating back the National Front and the BNP since the 1970s. But if the emotional extremism of the far right we have so far seen blends into something more calculating and more credible, then this run of marginalised extremism may become more difficult to sustain.

Groups like the BNP, the English Defence League and Islam4UK are only ever likely to appeal to a small minority: their violent rhetoric, aggression and warped politics provide the source of their downfall. But we should not understate their impact locally in creating a climate of division, fear and hatred. We have seen this in Leicester, Bradford, Barking and Dagenham, and Luton; areas where the pride and security of the industrial age has been replaced by a casualised economics of the rapidly shifting global age, and which have had high levels of immigration. That is why we need to build the resilience of local communities to reject the politics of hatred. A common life forged between different cultures with the same anxieties, hopes and pride is the most effective backstop against extremism.

We need a demanding pluralism with a common core of shared values. And what's more, people believe that such local community building is an effective bulwark against discord.

The Searchlight research has broken down attitudes to race, identity, immigration and nation into six groups. On the left are "confident multiculturals" and "mainstream liberals", comprising 24% of the population. On the far right sit "latent hostiles" and "active enmity" (totalling 23%), who share antagonistic attitudes to others and differ only in the degree of their antipathy and tolerance of extremism.

The centre of British politics are the "identity ambivalents" and "cultural integrationists". Cultural integrationists accept diversity as long as there is an integrated national culture, the rule of law, and respect for authority. This is the group to which David Cameron's call for a "muscular liberalism" is targeted. They are a quarter of the population. But the real swing voters are identity ambivalents (28%): economically insecure, worried about their local community, feeling threatened but open-minded and accepting of diversity – as long as their security is not threatened. So they feel more wage and job pressure from immigration, are anxious about their family's financial future, but are, for example, much less likely to think "Muslims create problems in the UK" than cultural integrationists.

Labour's vote is more weighted towards this group than any other. More black and ethnic minority voters are to be found here, and almost half of people who don't identify with a party are also identity ambivalent. And this is why the economics of austerity and fiscal consolidation is so dangerous. A long period of low wages, casualisation of work, unemployment, higher prices, fiscal cuts (many are receiving tax credits), and VAT and fuel duty increases will refract into greater identity anxiety.

Cameron's "muscular liberalism" has little to offer in giving identity ambivalents the greater sense of security they crave. The risk is that significant numbers in this group leapfrog to latent hostility or active enmity.

If Conservative rhetoric and coalition economics are an insufficient response, then what of Labour? This group is vital territory for Labour. Identity and economics are bound tightly together. A convincing economic response is necessary but not sufficient. An authentic sense of identity is just as important. Labour's politics must be suffused with both cultural understanding and meaning and a pragmatic economic mission.

Otherwise, the as yet unformed and unidentified party of English or British nationalism could begin to fill the space. The political mainstream needs more convincing responses – and fast.

David Miliband at Comment is free

Luton: The day extremism lost

Police contain the EDL thugs

Now the dust has settled it is perhaps a good time to reflect on the weekend’s events in Luton. Despite the huge media coverage the day was a failure for both the English Defence League and the Islamist extremists of Anjem Choudary’s Islam4UK.

The EDL must have been disappointed with their numbers. At its height there were somewhere between 2,500 and 3,000 EDL supporters on the march, far fewer than everyone had expected. The EDL had been telling journalists that they were hoping for up to 8,000 to be there. Police briefings in the days running up to the march suggested 5,000 to 7,000. I put the figure at 4,000 to 5,000. We were all wrong.

EDL supporters came from across the country. There appeared to be almost 50 coaches, though many were far from full. Hundreds more made their way on trains and in cars. What was clear, however, was the lack of Lutonians there. Despite the bravado of claiming mass local support the vast majority of local people shunned the demonstrations. The profile of the EDL demo was the same as for previous events. It was largely made up of white men, aged between 20 and 45, many either former or current football hooligans.

There was a splattering of women and older people and literally a handful of non-whites, but to all intents and purposes the composition of the demo was the same as it has always been.

The day passed off relatively peacefully, with just seven arrests. Despite some provocation and the now customary fire crackers thrown at police horses, the police did a good job in containing the EDL and keeping them away from the general public. The authorities were helped by the absence of Islam4UK as we believe it would have only taken a handful of these extremists to parade around with their provocative placards for serious disorder to break out. While I had been critical of the approach taken by the police in the run-up to the demonstration they did a good job on the day.

The fact that there was no violence was largely down to the excellent work of the local Muslim community who self-organised, debunked rumours and calmed tensions. There were over 300 stewards on hand and several mediation teams who were used to intervene when tensions rose. At one point during the afternoon over 1,000 Muslim youths began gathering on the Dunstable Road following rumours that a mosque had been attacked. The mediation teams and stewards went in and the group soon dispersed.

Across the city, the council's cohesion team, faith and community groups did an excellent job in reassuring local people and showing solidarity to one another.

We were happy with our intervention in the overall campaign. Once again we avoided counter-demonstrating on the day, preferring a strategy of constructive community engagement which sought to educate people about the EDL, provide experience and good practice from previous EDL demonstrations and reassure local communities. In the run-up to the day there was considerable tension between the police and the council and the police and the local Muslim community. Given the lack of trust, particularly from many in the Muslim community towards the police approach, we played a vital role in supporting key community leaders and activists. Because of our relationship building, the information/background we were able to provide via the magazine, briefings and one to one meetings, coupled with our sympathetic stance on building community, we were a trusted source of information on the day. The community mediation teams in the Muslim community found it useful to speak to our team on the ground and share information on how events were unfolding direct from the scene. They wanted to know about numbers of EDL, the mood, what was being done by the EDL etc. As rumours flew around about Qur’an burning by the EDL (for example) we were able to scotch those rumours instantly as a trusted and 'on side' source. This helped the community mediators calm young people down and counteract the rising tensions.

Also losers were the Islamist extremists. They boasted of making an appearance on the day but in the end they were nowhere to be seen. They had claimed that only they could defend the Muslim community but in their absence local people were able to cope just fine.

It is unclear where the EDL will go from here. Given Luton’s importance, both as a birthplace of the EDL and the link with Islamic terrorism, its relatively small numbers will be a major disappointment to its organisers. Future street mobilisations will only be smaller. There are some inside the EDL who are pushing for a more political approach in preference to street actions but this will alienate many of its current supporters. With the obvious thuggery of the EDL a political path looks slim.

Luton survived the EDL demo and it appears that the vast majority of local people – of all races and religions – shunned the extremists. The job now is to build on this by actually bringing people together in a town where fear has for too long reigned over hope.

Hope not hate

The EDL marches in Luton today. Hold your breath

Today's EDL march in Luton has put the interests of a few extremists above the wishes of the majority

Several thousand supporters of the English Defence League are marching in Luton today in protest against Islam. What began as a street movement to oppose Islamic fundamentalism has broadened its target to the religion itself. A few hundred metres away, Unite Against Fascism has arranged a counter-demonstration and, separately, a group of local Muslims will be meeting in a park to act as a buttress between the EDL and their neighbourhood. The town centre will be in lockdown, with most roads closed and 2,000 police on duty. For most local people, of all races and religions, today is viewed with dread and fear. Tensions have been building over the last week, and there is a real fear of disorder on the streets.

For the EDL, the march is being billed as coming "back where it began". The group was formed in the town in the summer of 2009 as a response to a handful of Islamic extremists who protested against an army homecoming parade. The EDL considers Luton to be the frontline. It is home to al-Muhajiroun, now known as Islam4UK, and there has been a Luton link to many recent terror plots in Britain.

Since then the EDL has gone national, with 80,000 supporters on Facebook and local groups across the country. It has held over 30 demonstrations and protests across the country, many ending in violence. The police hope they have the resources to ensure a peaceful day. I certainly hope they are right, but I also have reason to be fearful. The whole policing operation has been dogged by inconsistent mixed messages, confusion, and divisions between the police and the local council. They appear to have accepted the EDL line that by allowing the march they are reducing the risk of trouble. The residents of High Town, the mixed area of Luton where the EDL march is due to starts, were only informed of this last Sunday. No wonder the EDL themselves are openly and publicly bragging that the "tide has turned" and the police are on their its side.

The apparent willingness of the police to accommodate the EDL has had an adverse affect on many locals, including the Muslim community. Many do not trust the police to protect them, and this has bolstered calls to mobilise to defend their neighbourhoods. Compare this with the police in Bradford and Leicester, who restricted EDL demands and went out of their way to reassure target communities – and as a result reduced tensions.

I am not advocating a ban on all marches, but with freedom of speech comes responsibility. The rights of one group have to be put against the affect it has on others. Whatever the outcome, Luton is a more divided town than it was a fortnight ago. The EDL is already feeling confident enough to demand a local shopping centre withdraw plans for a multifaith prayer room or face an EDL response. The march, and the police's acceptance of the EDL's wish to gather at a pub in one of the outlying estates, further reinforces the perception that certain areas of the town belong to the EDL.

More worryingly, the EDL protest is likely to further alienate the Muslim community. Many Muslims will be more nervous; others are likely to be attracted by the extremist message peddled by Anjem Choudary and his Islam4UK group.

Shortly before Christmas, the head of the West Midlands counter-terrorism unit claimed that EDL activities pushed young Muslims into the arms of extremist groups. I have argued this for a long time. There is a symbiotic relationship between the EDL and the very groups they claim to oppose. Each needs the other to justify their own existence, and their respective memberships are boosted by the activity of the other.

Bedfordshire police are following the line set down by the government and police chiefs at the Home Office. They do not consider the EDL to be an extreme rightwing group and they view the march as simply a law-and-order issue. It is the events on the day that matter, rather than the longer-term consequences of their actions. With cuts of up to 50% in the Department for Communities and Local Government, and the closing of its tension-monitoring groups, no one in the government is willing to look at the wider implications of EDL activities.

Only yesterday a building that had been earmarked for a Muslim cultural centre in north Wales was set alight, two weeks after an EDL protest was held there. Mosques in Kingston upon Thames and Stoke-on-Trent have been attacked following EDL protests. A Hindu temple was obviously mistaken for a mosque during an attack in Dudley on the day of an EDL protest.Everyone will be holding their breath that today passes off peacefully; but it seems strange that, at a time when the government advocates localism, the interests of an extremist few are put above the wishes of the majority.

Nick Lowles at Comment is free

The BNP, EDL & Violence by ‘Malatesta’

As the BNP continue to implode the EDL are siphoning off support for their own brand of racism.

BNP
It has been a bad week for the BNP again with the guilty verdicts on hedgerow terrorist David Lucas for gunpowder and ammo and Peter Tierney of Liverpool BNP guilty of assault (they apparently share the same fashion consultant). Liverpool BNP are also in a bit of a homophobic tizz over the sexual proclivities of one of their members. (There is an amusingly rancid thread on VNN if you need any more info on that one.) Post-election Red, White and Blues have drastically affected Nick Griffin and there is much disharmony in the party. Griffin is clearly worried about a coup and in-between expelling former golden boy Mark Collett and being shafted by Simon Bennett over the website, he has been busy expelling members in the West Country and seeking out other victims. Eddie Butler is attempting a leadership challenge with some support from the disparate Nazis posting on the forums and the pro-Griffin smear machine is in full swing against him. All of which, combined with the dismal showing at the hustings, is benefitting the EDL.

The EDL
The ‘non-racist, non-violent’ EDL are much more attractive to the casual and not-so-casual racist in that they offer the potential of a scrap, a barrel of lager and a much needed ego-boost. This week has been eventful on a small level for the EDL. At the weekend a few EDL ‘supporters’ confronted a pro-Palestinian demo in Birmingham and after a bit of fruitless argy-bargy attempted to go and watch the England game but found themselves barred from the boozers and filmed by the cops. They then went home to watch the telly. On Tuesday, a handful of EDL went to Whitechapel in East London and after being kettled into a boozer for a bit were then escorted out of the area by the cops for their own safety, pursued by a large and angry crowd of locals. We can presume that the EDL are not likely to set up a local chapter there. Further out in Barking on the same day the EDL/BNP were attending the Royal Anglian homecoming parade as were ‘Muslims Against Crusades.’ This new grupuscule is very similar in tactics and ideology to Anselm Choudary’s Islam4UK and after making a bit of noise they were abused by the EDL/BNP contingent and then escorted away by the police. These ‘militant Islamic’ groups are as suspect as the EDL in that they gather in extremists who are then more easily monitored by the state. With their usual naivety the EDL assume that all anti-fascists, UAF, SWP etc., support these bozos and are therefore claiming a great victory against anti-fascism. So this week’s activities by the EDL have amounted to little more than a humiliation in Whitechapel, several photos to put in their hooligan scrapbooks and a few crowing posts on Indymedia. The SDL have also planned a demo in Kilmarnock this weekend but if their previous excursions north are anything to go by this may be dismal.

English Values?
The EDL claim that they are standing up for English values yet are vague about what these actually are. Most people would say ‘English values’ are tolerance, plurality, peace, a long heritage of mixed ethnicities dating back to Roman times and a simple desire to get on with life. The EDL’s values tend to revolve around drunken violence. The way that the EDL website perceives themselves and the reality differ enormously: they describe EDL demos like Sunday picnics, all lads together being hassled by the cops and the beastly UAF.

Peace?
The EDL say they are a peaceful protest group who merely oppose militant Islam but their visits to places like Whitechapel and the planned one in Bradford are guaranteed to cause trouble. The EDL inflate the threat of ‘militant Islam’ and use the term loosely to legitimise their racism. Why do they choose Bolton or Bradford? Is it because they know for a fact there are ‘preachers of hate’ there or is it simply to have a go at Muslims? Where is the evidence that Bolton or Bradford are full of ‘Islamic extremists’ as opposed to just Muslim communities? The racist/pro-BNP chants on the demos do little to disguise their bigotry. On the various forums the EDL criticise the burkah and halal as if they are pro-feminist vegetarians which again serve as an excuse to have a go at Muslims. The EDL provoke communities with a strong Muslim presence and then pretend surprise when they are opposed by people who take umbrage at a bunch of outsiders disrupting their town. And the potential for violence is precisely the attraction of the EDL: they attract fascists who can no longer hold marches as they are outnumbered by the opposition, and football hooligans who can no longer fight at football matches due to heavy surveillance.

How many more photos and quotes do the EDL need before they admit they are riddled with BNP members, drunks, hooligans, racists and fascists. No one is saying that all EDL are like this for there is clearly a moderate wing but to deny this is beginning to sound a bit delusional. If the EDL really had it in them, they would forcibly exclude the vocally racist, provocative behaviour and Nazi following. But they do not. The fascist websites frequently include comments from those who have been on the demos. One reason the EDL are less keen on a productive exclusion policy is that like most far-right groups they rely on quantity not quality. This has led any number of fascist grupuscules imploding in acrimony, accusations and violence. They will take anyone regardless of ideological purity. These ‘internal contradictions’ will cause the EDL problems in the future.

Malatesta at Indymedia

Southend West BNP candidate boasts of violence and drug use on Facebook profile

Tony Gladwin, the British National Party Parliamentary candidate for Southend West, has made several references to drugs, binge drinking and violence on his profile on social networking site Facebook.

Mr Gladwin (left), a single 26 year old builder, lives in Billericay with his mother. He is known to have worked as security for BNP leader Nick Griffin, and stood as an Essex County Councillor in the last round of elections.

On his Facebook page, which is open to the public, Mr Gladwin has made several references to violent clashes with socialists. In October 2009, when Nick Griffin was due to appear on the BBC’s Question Time programme, anti-fascists and other opposition groups held protests at the studio where the debate was to take place. Mr Gladwin was present with Mr Griffin at this clash, and demonstrated his eagerness to fight protestors. He wrote:

“CANT WAIT TILL 2MORRA! LOOK 4 ME ON THE NEWS STOMPIN SUM PATHETIC RED SCUMBAG’S HEAD IN!

“but coz of the old bill doin der job 4 once in der traitorous lives, i might not b able 2 play with dem.”

In January this year, the Muslim organisation Islam4UK claimed that it would hold a march through the streets of Wooton Bassett to commemorate the Muslims killed in the Afghanistan conflict. Senior BNP members Nick Griffin, Andrew Brons MEP and Richard Barnbrook claimed that they would “use their own bodies to physically block the street” if the march took place.

The march did not take place, but before this, Mr Gladwin expressed his excitement at the possibility of a clash between BNP supporters and Islam4UK. In response to a comment posted on his wall that said “see you at wooton bassett” on his Facebook profile, Mr Gladwin wrote:

“cheers m8 hope u ad a white xmas and a red free new year!

“cant wait m8 should b fun 2 cleansing our streets hope the filthy media shows how peaceful and carin they r and their willingness 2 integrate with english culture

“just tink this is the only country in the world dat allows foreigners 2 shit on the graves of our war heroes in public (with a police escort!) and get away with it but if u shout out naughty words dat offends them u get banged up!

“u gota laugh or u’ll cry or become a serial killer lol”

At other points, Mr Gladwin makes comments about people born with birth defects due to the use of the controversial drug Thalidomide. Thalidomide was used worldwide between 1957 and 1961 and was linked to birth defects such as shortened limbs, in what was described as “one of the biggest medical tragedies of modern times.” An estimated 20,000 people are known to have been affected by the drug in this way. In the UK, only 466 of the “Thalidomide babies” born with defects survived.

On Mr Gladwin’s profile, a friend joked about impotence, writing “Hello Mr Floppy” on his wall. In response, Mr Gladwin wrote: “Its a disability you know, you wouldn’t ask a flidermite [thalidomide] to change a light bulb would ya?!! They look like sea lions.”

Mr Gladwin also makes comments on his page about casual drug use. After posting a new picture of himself online, he wrote: “Now don’t I look like an ordinary respectable member of society?” In response, a friend wrote: “Hello mate, just short of pipe and slippers then uv cracked it.” Mr Gladwin replied: “Cheers m8 but the only pipe ive got has got a ganja leaf on it, dont tink that will go down well with da local rag lol!”

At the time of publishing, BNP representatives had not responded to Councilbust.com requests for comment.

Councilbust

Late breaking...BNP's Griffin puts another one over

The heroic Mr Griffin under egg attack

An announcent by the extremist ISLAM4UK group run by Anjem Choudary that it intends to hold a demonstration in Wootton Bassett has sent the extreme right into a boggle-eyed frenzy - which is perhaps exactly what it intended to do.

Wootton Bassett is, of course, the village through which the repatriated bodies of servicemen killed abroad are processed, each sad procession attracting hundreds of mourners - including one Nicholas Griffin, MEP, who has shamelessly milked the heroism and sacrifices of British servicemen for his own narrow political purposes. That's the same Nicholas Griffin who goes nowhere unless guarded by a squad of burly thugs. The same Nicholas Griffin who fled terrified from a few flying eggs. The same Nicholas Griffin whose goons set about a slightly-built youth who threw beer over his unlovely head.

Tonight (Monday) the great hero of British Nationalism has announced that he, Andrew Brons and Richard Barnbrook are to "use their own bodies to physically block the street and any attempt by Muslim fanatics to insult the memory of our fallen soldiers". "It must be stopped! We will not have this! They shall not pass!" screams a hysterical missive issued by Griffin.

While the motives of Anjem Choudary and ISLAM4UK are entirely disreputable, and we condemn them without reservation, the motives of Nick Griffin and the BNP are equally questionable.

While far right fanatics outside the BNP are vowing to violently confront ISLAM4UK, Griffin, worried by the steady haemorrhaging of his members to other organisations and deeply concerned that the English Defence League has stolen a march on the BNP, has to be seen to do something - even if it is all smoke and mirrors for the benefit of his adoring minions.

Of course Nick Griffin isn't going to block ISLAM4UK with his body. He knows as well as we do that the police will never allow it and will go out of their way to ensure that not a hair of his head comes to harm. His pretensions are those of an abject opportunist.

Speaking personally, I would go further and say that Griffin's true intention is to help ramp up the increasingly ugly atmosphere to the point where all demonstrations are banned in Wootton Bassett, thus allowing Griffin to pose as a nationalist hero prepared to lose life and limb when he was never likely to place himself in any danger.

As clearly evidenced by all those thick-set no-neck gorillas who surround him, Nick Griffin just doesn't do danger.

Denise

MP Malik slams protests and extremists

Veterans got together to mark the contribution of Dewsbury people in past conflicts and to show their support to serving troops.

MP Shahid Malik hosted the second annual veterans lunch at Dewsbury Town Hall, attended by more than 250 people. And the MP used the event to heavily criticise two organisations which demonstrated in Leeds and London during in recent weeks. He slammed Islam4UK who demonstrated in London and the English Defence League (EDL) who protested in Leeds. Mr Malik also attacked the extremists in Luton who disrupted a military parade and shouted abuse at soldiers.

In his speech Mr Malik said that the UK was a multi-faith society and that was part of what made the UK the best country in the world. Mr Malik concluded by saying that the true defenders of England were those present at the Town Hall event and veterans around the country were the true patriots.

The Dewsbury MP said: “It’s right that we celebrate the truly outstanding contribution that was made by so many local people both during past wars as well as current conflicts.”

During the event, guests were treated to refreshments and a light lunch while listening to a medley of wartime anthems from 40s singer Caroline Romley. After lunch guests heard contributions from Veterans Minister Kevan Jones MP and Major David Wroe.

Huddersfield Daily Examiner