Hope Not Hate puts its money on the BNP for 2013
Written by Gerry Gable
The latest issue of Hope not hate magazine predicts that the British National Party will grow this year, mainly because Hnh are to quick to write off the British Democratic Party which will launch next month. Ignoring a potential threat from this new party is dangerous and could leave the anti-fascist movement underprepared for the battles to come.
Searchlight does not predict complete failure of the BNP but it is highly likely they will never return to the position they held as one of the two most successful postwar fascist parties in Britain. The National Front in the 1970s had the largest membership but the BNP was achieved far more than the NF at the ballot box.
It is clearly the methodology that Hope not hate use for their research and analysis that fails their readers most of the time. This intellectual slackness appeared in their website yet again a few days ago. So I decided to put my two pennies’ worth as a warning of the damage they can do to the anti-fascist movement.
Last Updated on Friday, 25 January 2013 16:13
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International solidarity against Golden Dawn
Written by Gerry Gable
Tens of thousands of anti-fascists gathered in cities and towns around the world on Saturday 19 January to protest against the Nazi Golden Dawn party in Greece and its attempts to spread its murderous message of hate beyond across Europe and North America. Closer to home reports are coming in of Golden Dawn activity in the North of England.
Generations from the British anti-fascist movement stood shoulder to shoulder outside the Greek Embassy in London in sub zero temperatures for one of the best rallies we have attended in years. Despite the weather nearly one thousand people listened to the veteran Labour politician Tony Benn, Tottenham MP David Lammy, Islington North MP Jeremy Corbyn, and Steve Hart, a senior officer from Unite the Union and joint chair of the UAF. From abroad there was Elizabeth Mantzari, one of the leaders of the Greek Resistance Movement, and a Turkish anti-fascist. Also on the platform were two representatives of the new generation of British anti-fascist writers, Dan Trilling and Owen Jones, NUS Black Students’ Officer Aaron Kiely and an activist from Sikhs against the EDL.
Add a commentLast Updated on Sunday, 20 January 2013 23:07
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‘No platform’ outdated – my arse!
Written by Gerry Gable
What a start to the New Year. Nick Lowles, the overpaid, jetsetting Chief Executive of Hope not hate, has spoken out in his blog against the policy of giving No Platform to fascists, something that has been a cornerstone of antifascism ever since fascism appeared in this country. I can only think he wishes to put some distance between his policy of cosying up to right-wing Labour and Searchlight’s ongoing success in using intelligence from live sources to keep the antifascist movement up to date with hard information and analysis of what the fascist enemy are up to.
I am sure Lowles will recall a conversation between us on this very matter some years ago and I sent him off with a flea in his ear. Now he has new friends and HnH has gradually adopted a fluffy approach to dealing with fascism.
Lowles asked readers to let him know their thoughts. Searchlight has existed for 49 years and has surely earned the right to have, and express, an opinion on the issue, so I posted a comment. It did not appear.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 09 January 2013 16:08
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No Platform for Nick Griffin
Written by Sonia Gable
It was great to see Hope Not Hate today upholding the No Platform principle in relation to Nick Griffin. The leader of the British National Party had received an invitation to take part in a debate on gay rights at the Oxford Union on Thursday 17 January on the motion: “This house would be glad to have gay parents”.
HNH contacted the Oxford Union earlier today to object. The Oxford Union rapidly withdrew the invitation, explaining that it had been sent in error by a new member of staff, and that although it had been sent in the Union President’s name it had not been cleared with the President or the committee.
In a press release the Union said: The Oxford Union does not wish to be associated with the BNP in any way whatsoever. We strongly disagree with their views. It is unfortunate and deeply regrettable that this miscommunication has occurred.”
Who is Stephen Lennon?
Written by Sonia Gable
The leader of the English Defence League appeared at Southwark Crown Court today and pleaded guilty to possession of a false identity document with improper intention, as reported in our news section. Stephen Lennon had used a friend’s passport to get into the USA because he had previously been refused entry.
Lennon was sentenced to ten months in custody. He can expect to be released after serving half his sentence and to have time served on remand taken into account. He has been in prison since late October so is likely to be released in March, or earlier if he is granted Home Detention Curfew for which he is understood to be applying. However, he still faces three charges of conspiracy to commit mortgage fraud, which he denies.
Antifascists have naturally welcomed his well deserved removal from the scene for a few more weeks. The EDL’s decline started well before his arrest and his absence will add to the troubles of the bunch of street thugs who now appear more interested in fighting each other. Lennon’s co-founder and deputy leader Kevin Carroll has abandoned the EDL, preferring to concentrate on his political career, hopeless though that is, with the British Freedom Party of which he has just been appointed leader.