Far right in the UK article
The far right in the UK has been under a lot of strain recently following the leaking of a list of BNP members on the internet. This has lead to a backlash in this ideology with teachers, radio DJ’s and vicars being publicly shamed. This ideology has taken a severe public humiliation, where did this train of thought arise in the United Kingdom and have we been guilty of following the lead of our European counter parts?.
The political ideology of the United Kingdom has always been one of stability with the public traditionally sticking to liberal democracy. However, the far right has enjoyed some flirtations of success within UK politics in many different forms. Sir Oswald Mosley was the first far right leader in the UK in modern times with the BUF (British Union of Fascists) which was heavily based on other far right movements in Germany and Italy and had a military style political ethos. In modern politics the far right has seen many movements attracted to this political ideology. The more central appealing movements such as Veritas and the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) are strongly opposed to Britain’s inclusion in the European Union. These parties had tended to promote anti-racism within their ranks unlike their more extreme counterparts, tending to focus a lot of their effort on the European Union. A prime example can be seen in an article online by George Battern (UKIP MEP) in which he states in light of the recent economic crisis ‘membership of the European Union is simply something the British Public cannot afford.’ Battern goes onto say ‘if Britain is to get through a recession it must get rid of the EU.’ These suggestions from this UKIP member are prominent in their campaign to harvest different reasons for the EU’s worthlessness. These views however, have led to the election of UKIP’s first member of Parliament in April 2008.
British politics unfortunately contains more sinister movements than VERITAS and UKIP, the UK plays host to numerous far right movements who swing towards more extremist views including racial policy.
The National Front and the BNP (British National Party) have been huge in their opposition to immigration and asylum seekers. There views are radical and stem towards intense nationalism. The National Front enjoyed relative popularity in the 1970’s receiving between 1.8 % and 5.6% of all votes in the general election of 1970. In recent times the NF has enjoyed some relative success fielding 11 candidates in local elections in May 2003. On their website they demote modernism and democracy with remarks on immigration and homosexuality, in an article entitled ‘Why I support the NF ‘ a member indulges in his reasons for supporting this party including comments such as ‘ wicked practices like homosexuality destroys spirituality for those who get involved’ and other controversial views ‘we are constantly been swamped with pornography via the BBC and other medias.’ These views including strict immigration policies seem alarming in the 21st century.
The British National party (BNP) is the more modern form of the far right in the UK. Born in 1982 it has been perceived as a more media friendly branch of the far right. Now under the leadership of Nick Griffin the party has enjoyed some success in elections over the past few years including 5.23 % of the vote in the 2008 London mayoral elections, coming fifth overall and electing mayoral candidate Richard Barnbrook to the Greater London assembly. The BNP has indeed shown a steady rise in this branch of politics in the UK over the last few years but has been branded racist due to it’s extremist views and racial policy within the ranks where only white members can join. The BNP manifesto is extremely right wing, promoting a white Britain instead of a multi- cultural society, this is why the leaks in their membership list have hit the BNP hard. People who hold socially extremist views have been publicly shamed. The BNP has always caught the eye of the media but now it has opened it’s door and proven that doctor’s, lawyers and other professionals in the UK hold far right views.
The far right in the UK is real and these movements have different and highly controversial views which seem to have gained popularity, these movements are not isolated to the UK alone. The EU has had to face these political movements as well. A prominent example of far right activity in Europe can be seen in the general election in Austria in 1999.The ‘Freedom Party of Austria’ received a staggering 27% of the electoral vote and formed a coalition government with the ‘People’s party’. The 14 other EU members were horrified by a coalition with right wing extremists and ceased cooperation with the Austrian government claiming the Cordon Sanitarie which opposed coalition with the far right had been breached. The French have also seen far right movements rise to prominence in the 2002 French Presidential election. Jean- Marie- Le Pen leader of the French National front came second in the presidential elections. It was seen as a blow to democracy and multi-culturalism in France. Although Jaques Chirac won in a landslide it was a reminder that the far right was still very much active In France and Europe generally. Frenchman Matthieu Bultelle was famously quoted about the election. ‘shame shame shame… if Le Pen gets a good score there is something very rotten about French society.’

There is little doubt that the far right has enjoyed some distinctive success over the years but
it is a testament to Britain and Europe that far right movements have not achieved more electoral success. The far right is a scary and daunting political ideology and I do not see Britain ever giving into these narrow minded ideas. As Jeremy Paxman says in his popular history The English Britain always goes the ‘common sense middle way’ and the English have ’ very sensible scepticism about what the state can achieve and in doing so stay immune to fascism.’ I agree wholeheartedly with Paxman. Britain may have flirtations with the far right but it seems unable to turn its back on good old Democracy.