Gareth Young, campaigner for an English Parliament, examines the English Democrats' alliance with the white nationalist England First Party.
On Monday morning Nick Griffin, BNP leader, was interviewed on the BBC's FiveLive Breakfast Show. "Isn't your party full of neo-nazis?" asked Nicky Campbell. "No", said Griffin, "Britain's neo-nazis hate me, they say that I've sold out...They call me a liberal".
One such group that hates the superficially more moderate and 'liberal' Nick Griffin is the England First Party (EFP) who describe the BNP leader as 'fundamentally flawed and psychologically disfigured' and object to Griffin's 'watering down of nationalist principles'.
Although denials have been issued on a number of occasions it has been something of an open secret that the English Democrats Party (EDP) have been courting the EFP for a number of years. Indeed, these very accusations surfaced when the EDP's London Mayoral candidate Matt O'Connor walked out whilst claiming "I realised the English Democrats were working with ‘England First’ and had no choice other than to resign there and then."
Even given the previous, mostly anecdotal, evidence I was astounded, and horrified, to learn that the friendship between the EDP's election strategist, Steve Uncles, and the EFP's Mark Cotterill had developed into a public and cordial alliance between the two parties in the North West of England. The first inkling of this entente cordial came in April when an EDP member in the North West informed me that they had received an official letter on EDP headed paper signed by Mark Cotterill. For an EDP member to receive a letter from an official of another party must have come as something of a shock given that the EDP website explicitly states that the 'English Democrats have no links with the BNP or any other political party'.
Later in April came news that Councillor Michael Johnson, formerly of the EFP, was to join the EDP to stand against the BNP in Lancashire. “Nick Griffin stands a very good chance of getting in", warned Councillor Johnson, "Him getting into Europe on a Lancashire ticket will be a nightmare and will spark a BNP revival."
Then at the beginning of May the EFP website displayed a picture of EFP activists (Les Andrews, Mark Cotterill and Peter Rushton) proudly delivering EDP leaflets for the European Elections. This was followed by an EFP account of the EDP's press conference in Darwen, Lancashire, at which the controversial Peter Rushton gave a speech.
So what has pushed the avowedly civic nationalist EDP into the cold embrace of white nationalists? In a word, or at least in an acronym, it is the BNP.
It has long been the EDP's policy to extract English nationalists "firstly from UKIP" and then "from the BNP", with the aim of making converts to English nationalism, and not only BNP and UKIP members themselves but potentially the parties they desert. The inherent risks of such a policy to the broader civic movement for an English parliament appear to be lost on a desperate EDP leadership who atlast count had loaned the party £101,447 of their own money (Robin Tilbrook, £54,447; Steve Uncles, £17,000; Christine Constable, £30,000) with little by way of electoral reward. The small victories that have come the EDP's way in recent times are on account of their status as a BNP 'spoiler party', a status not overlooked by BNP activists who have accused the EDP of using the BNP's mailing list to poach their members.
For the EDP the electoral battleground can be mapped as an ideological battle between English and British identity, and between English and British nationalists; a simplistic and naive view at best, but one which according to Searchlight the EFP share:
Another barrier is the genuine ideological difference between the EFP and the BNP over “English” and “British” nationalism which, though it might seem of minor importance outside far-right circles, certainly contains the potential for a major ideological split. There are certainly people in the BNP who would prefer to “ditch Scotland” if not Wales, especially since the recent internal crisis in which Scottish activists were prominent opponents of Nick Griffin, the BNP leader. The BNP’s monthly magazine Identity has recently attempted to jump on the “English” nationalism bandwagon so as not to be usurped by the EFP not to mention the larger English Democrats party, which recently adopted Matt O’Connor, founder of Fathers 4 Justice, as its candidate in the London mayoral election.
There's no room for dual identity on this turf, no place for hyphonated anglo-brits in this polarised world; you're either English and with us, or British and against us. From amongst the numerous tag-lines registered by the EDP come the following party descriptions which seem to belie their position as a unionist party:
- ENGLISH, british, or EUropean? YOU decide!
- ENGLISH DEMOCRATS - ENGLISH? british? YOU decide!
- ENGLISH or british - YOU decide!
The hard work that many civic nationalists have expended on promoting a plural inclusive English identity (eg. Kingsnorth, Perryman) could be undone at a stroke if the EDP are successful in beating the BNP at the ballot box using the doorstepping expertise of the EFP. The British far-right will have a successor and the usurper will be white and English, not British. Under these circumstances it is quite conceivable that the BNP might water down its Britishness, become less vociferous in its unionism, or fragment completely. A victory of sorts for English nationalism over British nationalism, but vindication too for those who like to characterise English nationalism in particular as exclusive and dangerous whilst asserting 'Britishness' as the only plural, inclusive, catchall identity.
It should be stressed that these circumstances are unlikely. More likely than not the EDP-EFP alliance will count their success in councillors rather than MEPs, and the watching political commentariat will measure their virtue only as BNP spoiler parties. However, with a membership that has passed the 3,000 mark, and with coverage that guarantees them political party broadcasts, it would be unwise to dismiss the EDP's future potential if only because of the growing populism of English nationalism.
I have a feeling that the EDP may have staked their very future on this unwise pact, but if not their future then certainly their credentials as a civic nationalist party are destroyed. The EDP’s satellite organisation, The English Lobby, which raises funds for the EDP by suing people who suggest that the English flag is offensive or that St George’s Day is absurd, may well have an upsurge in work now that the EDP - England's largest nationalist party - has itself climbed into bed with the very people who make our flag and national day objectionable to so many. Their judge, jury and executioner will be the voters of the North West of England. English nationalism or British nationalism? In the immortal words of Harry Hill: "But what's best? There's only one way to find out...FIGHT!"
Please Note - If you are considering commenting on this article then please bear in mind the warning on the EDP's website: The EDP takes a hard line on anyone suggesting the English Democrats are racist and will seek legal remedy for anyone slandering the party in this way.
Comments
The English Democrats have little to gain and everything to lose by any form of association with England First or any other far right group.
Very little to gain. If everyone who voted for England First suddenly started voting for the English Democrats it would have virtually no positive impact on election results. Maybe, just maybe they could swing a councillor.
But at the cost of a reputation completely lost. Association with the far right guarantees alienation from mainstream voters - who have to be the target if they are ever to get anywhere.
So why would they do it?
One possible reason is that they are completely and utterly clueless and can't see how association with England First would cripple their future chances.
Another reason could be that the people running the party are blinded by their passion. They desperately want to get somewhere and bad decisions are being made as a result.
I don't normally subscribe to conspiracy theories but with something as important, and so entrenched as the Union, with so many vested interests in the status quo - you can't rule out some kind of political Trojan horse.
Association with the far right is just what the enemies of England and the Brit establishment wants.It is the single most damaging thing that could possibly happen to the Eng Dems. But not only can it completely discredit the Eng Dems it can also damage the English cause. Which is much, much more important.
And ultimately there's just no need to risk everything for a handful of fascist votes. Slowly but surely the English are waking up to the manifest injustices that face them. Despite a media blackout of the subject, issues like the Barnett Formula and the lack of English representation affect everyone in England. Not a week goes by without another example of how the other home nations get preferential treatment.
It just takes time. The Eng Dems should look at the SNP, it's taken them decades to get where they are today. They should concentrate on the grass roots and on getting the message across rather than getting elected. When the message hits home the votes will come.
In order to break through into the mainstream, the EDP should try to become the UKIP of English nationalism, not its BNP. The present crisis in parliament is a massive opportunity that the EDP and the English-nationalist movement in general are in danger of missing because they are too wrapped up fighting a narrow turf war with the BNP. In my view, they should concentrate on getting across the message that any new constitutional settlement must grasp the nettle of the English Question. Otherwise, there is a danger that parliamentary reform will be discussed and take place as a process purely of going from the present UK parliament without an English tier of governance to a new UK parliament without an English tier. English nationalism must engage above all with the mainstream debate about constitutional reform in order to become a movement capable of garnering mass popular support: parliamentary reform becoming the process that will create an English parliament that takes over many of the responsibilities of the present, moribund UK parliament.
UKIP!?! They're not that much better as a role model than the BNP. Have you noticed the number of corruption scandles that have hit UKIP not to mention their rubbing sholders with the BNP from time to time.
An English Nationalist party needs to position itself somewhere between the Tories and Lib Dems IMO.
Leave the europhobia, xenophobia and world wide conspiracy theories to UKIP and further right.
The Cornish Democrat
I don't like the association with the "England First Party" and like others above think it is counter-productive and completely misguided.
I suspect that a large part may be down to the attacks on the EDP by the BNP who see the rise of a non-racist nationalist party as both a direct challenge and a major threat to their possible future success.
The correct response should not be to "sup with the Devil" and "The Enemy of my Enemy is My Friend" but rather to simply continue to expose the injustices being done to all the people of England by the British State.
Incidentally, as far as I am aware the EDP have never claimed to be a "Unionist" Party, rather being analogous to Plaid Cymru, namely a party looking after the interests of the people of England. The EDP contain both those who simply want the restoration of political equality with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, ending our second-class status within the Union, and those who don't trust the British State to deal with England fairly and so want England to leave the Union altogether. Furthermore, the EDP have always been a Eurosceptic Party.
In other words, far from changing their position they have shown an admirable consistency in their political opinions.
@ The Cornish Democrat. I was not suggesting that the EDP position themselves to the right of the Conservative Party, like UKIP; but that they should try to become a popular non-ethnic English-nationalist party and alternative to the mainstream parties, in the way that UKIP are an alternative to both the BNP and the Tories. Logically and tactically, in fact, I think it would be most effective for them to identify themselves as a popular moderate left-of-centre party: capitalising on Labour's disarray, the disaffection of many English working-class Labour supporters and the fact that Labour will inevitably drift to the left under the initial impact of electoral defeat.
Agreed. Look forward to such a party working alongside Mebyon Kernow: A Party Political Broadcast by Mebyon Kernow
The Cornish Democrat
Don't know much about the EFP. I don't really want to.
The English Democrats must take enormous care not to let the EDP anywhere near. This is terribly important . Not only are they light years away from the English Democrats philsophically, they are potential future poison to our electoral hopes .
A statement from the leadership is needed and quickly disowning the EDP completely.
Fairly brief and to the point.
Make the point with some core detail and then move on
(as Blair would say)
Every civic nationalist party in every country trying to win its independence from alien occupation is presented with same situation. It is not at all new. The EDP leaders needs to recognise it for what it is and deal with it with the alacrity it demands. Do not let it fester.
Steve Uncles - you are a blazing idiot.
You have failed to respond to a single criticism that Gareth makes in this piece. Instead you insult him and call him a 'traitor.' You make his case for him.
Can you explain, please, how a public alliance with an openly racist party is going to help your 'strategy'? Could you tell us, as well as Gareth, what your 'strategy' is?
Like Gareth, I am an English nationalist. I would love to see a decent, intelligent English party contest the next election. The time is ripe for change. For a while I hoped the EDP might be that party. Now I see you in open alliance with a party which advocates the 'repatriation' of black people and the banning of mosques. Unless your 'strategy' aims to make you look like a bunch of pig-ignorant racists, I would suggest that it is failing you, because this is what it does. Mentioning the fact that Gareth is 'married to a Canadian' hardly helps your case on this count. Do you have a problem with that? Perhaps that makes him even more of a 'traitor' eh?
Instead of slagging of those who expose you to the light, why don't you get your own house in order? Make up your mind whether you want to appeal to anyone beyond bigots, racists and fruitcakes, and if you do, don't associate with them. Or you'll lose even more of your own money come the elections.
Incidentally, Gareth doesn't live in Canada, he lives in Sussex. We had a drink together recently in a good English pub, and lamented the lack of intelligent political representation for the English cause. Looks like we'll be waiting a while longer for that.
The English Democrats party political broadcast is unequivocal on
the parties policy on race, religion and origin:
for England now so that every English citizen of whatever creed,
whatever religion, and whatever birthplace is properly represented,
has their concerns listened to and their rights defended. Because the
British establishment, Westminster and the British Government fail to
do so ...
As far as I understand it this position is diametrically opposed
to the England First Party and the BNP.
Based upon this the EDP is categorically NOT a racist party.
I am a lapsed member of the English Democrats but I want them to
do well and I want to rejoin because I believe that they have the
best chance of getting justice for the English people.
The only thing that stops me is this deal with England First - if
it exists. Why can't the party come out and clarify the position?
Don't the party understand just how poisonous the accusation of
association with England First is?
Steve. Gareth is no traitor go and look through the archive at
http://toque.co.uk/blog/ as far as I can tell; few have worked so
hard to expose the injustices against England.
Gareth. I've been involved with the EDP for a few years and I have
never heard any racist views. Undeniably immigration is a big issue -
but that's because the British Governments open door policy IS a big
issue.
For England's sake the English Democrats should make a statement
and lay this issue to rest. Because if you don't; this issue will
return and return and return and each time it does some more mud will
stick until the whole English movement is tarnished.
No deals with the far right! Lets concentrate on getting votes off
the British establishment parties and getting the non voters out to
vote for England.
Our cause is our strength. Lets not let
egos do any more damage.
According to SU politics is more about marketing than policy, so presumably this alliance is presentational (or down to a lack of awareness).
"The reason, that we don't get as many votes as the BNP, is simply because our awareness is not as high.
You fail over and over again to understand that politics is more about marketing then policy.
When will you learn ?"
Gareth. I've been involved with the EDP for a few years and I have never heard any racist views. Undeniably immigration is a big issue - but that's because the British Governments open door policy IS a big issue.
I know several people within the EDP and they're most certainly not racists. This article is not intended to insinuate that they are, and I don't believe that it does. The alliance appears to be confined to the North West (the only place where the EFP are a force) and at the behest of the EDP leadership and significant players rather than the EDP rank and file (many of whom are as disgusted as I am at the EFP). For what it's worth I don't believe that the EDP leadership is racist, just incredibly moronic.
The policy of 'converting' members of racist parties to English nationalism is not a policy that anyone should support. More worrying is the prospect that if the EDP are successful in this gambit - which is a big if but still a possibility - then the BNP could become an English nationalist party which I believe will make it a stronger political force, and a more harmful one at that (not only to the cause of English nationalism but to society as a whole).
The EDP may see political gain in converting racist parties and the members of racist parties to English nationalism, in which case they should explain their strategy to those of us not smart enough to appreciate their true genius. And while they're at it perhaps they can explain what political imperative results in articles like this from the EFP's website (and there's plenty as bad as that on there).
Steve Uncles, you really are your own worst enemy. As long as your party associates with racists and neo-nazis no one in their right mind will touch it with a barge pole. What you should really be doing is thanking Gareth for taking the time to provide you with a lesson in basic political ethics and campaigning. Instead you subject him to juvenile abuse, making irrelevant comments about his wife and personal situation and labelling him a "traitor". Unless you elevate your level of debate and distance yourself from the far-right fringe you're doomed to stay irrelevant. Believe me.
Wyrdtimes wrote: 'It just takes time. The Eng Dems should look at the SNP, it's taken them decades to get where they are today.'
Of course the difference is that the election of an SNP Govt came after decades of civil society struggle, for Home Rule, against Trident, against Thatcherism, the Poll Tax and so on.
It wasnt a movement for the SNP, it was a movement for Scottish self-determination.
It seems that there is very little to bind the 3000 or so people claimed to support these parties, be they racist or not.
I have to say I am frankly disgusted at what has become of the EDP. I was briefly a member of the party back in 07 but left shortly later after hearing about the EFP link.
I would hope other members of the EDP who felt the same have also left. When I was a member there was certainly other members like myself with non-English family members, so the prospect of any kind of alliance between themselves and the EFP is worrying to say the least.
Don't you see, that the English Democrats had WON the battle, they had proven that patriotic Engish Nationalism is the way forward.
The Englland First Party, is or was effectively going to close down.
You have made a very bad mistake - Gareth Young - will English Nationalism forgive you ?
"will English Nationalism forgive you?"
This assumes that there is one English nationalism, and that I am asking for forgiveness.
"The Englland First Party, is or was effectively going to close down."
Then let it close down and have nothing to do with it.
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