#1 Britain First

[Bev]

The elections watchdog has agreed to introduce new rules over the descriptions political parties can use after a review of its decision to allow an extremist group to adopt a slogan featuring murdered soldier Lee Rigby.

The Electoral Commission again apologised to the family of the murdered fusilier for allowing Britain First to put "Remember Lee Rigby" on voting slips in this month's European elections, and said it was tightening up its system of checks to "ensure a similar mistake is never repeated".

Although the slogan cannot be used in future elections it can still feature on ballot papers at the European elections in Wales on May 22, which take place on the first anniversary of Fusilier Rigby's death.

The 25-year-old father of one was killed near Woolwich Barracks in south-east London.

Electoral Commission chairwoman Jenny Watson apologised personally to members of Fusilier Rigby's family in "difficult and emotional calls".

The report of the independent review into the decision said: "It should be noted that each call confirmed that the use of Fusilier Rigby's name in a party description had caused deep offence and distress."

Britain First applied to use seven slogans in the elections and four were rejected, but the remaining three, including the one relating to Fusilier Rigby, were approved by the watchdog.

The commission's director of party and election finance Peter Horne, who resigned last week, " remembered thinking that it was distasteful but not sufficient to cause offence", the investigation said.

Although the review found the staff involved acted largely within the commission's processes, they failed to consider any need to protect public safety, morals or the rights and reputations of others.

Elizabeth Butler, who carried out the investigation, said the watchdog must introduce checks when personal names are used in party names or descriptions to ensure the individual or their family has consented, and review all names, descriptions and emblems currently on the register.

Ms Butler, the independent chairwoman of the commission's audit committee, called on the watchdog to consider the wider context when approving party names and descriptions and involve more senior officials in the decision.

Ms Watson said : "The Electoral Commission is deeply sorry for this mistake and the pain that it has caused Fusilier Rigby's family.

"The commission welcomes the report of the independent investigator and has accepted all the recommendations that have been made. These will now be implemented as quickly as possible to ensure a similar mistake is never repeated."

ht tp://w ww.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/news/national/rigby-row-sparks-poll-rule-changes-1-6602335

At least Britain First can now claim it's changed British history.

I'd like to know what these new rules are and whether Britain First even considered the fact that this might happen......

[andy]

Originally Posted by Bev

ht tp://w ww.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/news/national/rigby-row-sparks-poll-rule-changes-1-6602335

At least Britain First can now claim it's changed British history.

I'd like to know what these new rules are and whether Britain First even considered the fact that this might happen......

Britain First applied to use seven slogans in the elections and four were rejected, but the remaining three, including the one relating to Fusilier Rigby, were approved by the watchdog.

This would seem to confirm that it is a system designed strategy

[Bev]

Originally Posted by andy

Britain First applied to use seven slogans in the elections and four were rejected, but the remaining three, including the one relating to Fusilier Rigby, were approved by the watchdog.

This would seem to confirm that it is a system designed strategy

Wasn't it one of their mob who got arrested for quoting Churchill on islam as well or was that someone else?

[joefrombradford]

Originally Posted by Bev

Wasn't it one of their mob who got arrested for quoting Churchill on islam as well or was that someone else?

I believe that was Paul Weston of LibertyGB/EDL.

[Bev]

A far-right political party that is contesting the European Parliament elections in Scotland and Wales says it will use “armoured patrol vehicles” and ex-soldiers to protect Nigel Farage from alleged intimidation.

It issued a statement just a few days ahead of a planned protest in Edinburgh this Friday, which will see anti-Ukip groups – including Unite Against Fascism, the Scottish Green Party, and the Scottish Socialist Party – demonstrate during a rare visit from the Ukip leader to the Scottish capital.

Britain First, which is fielding candidates in only Scotland and Wales “just for the TV broadcasts”, says it is “sickened by the far-left attempts to stifle democracy by attacking UKIP leader Nigel Farage”.

The party has made a harrowing statement in which it claims to have “hundreds of ex-British Forces street activists and several armoured ex-army Land Rovers” which will be put “at UKIP’s disposal during the period of election campaigning”.

It added: “We forced the bully boys of the Muslim patrols off the streets of east London and we shall deploy our units to ensure that UKIP have the right to campaign free from attacks by leftwing hooligans.”

Quizzed on Facebook about the number of armoured vehicles, a party spokesperson responded: “3 AND MORE COMING, WHY?”

Britain First will continue to stand candidates against Ukip in electoral contests, but proclaims “we are all patriots together and UKIP may be well presented in nice suites [sic] but as recent attacks show, they cannot protect Mr Farage from the leftwing thugs who seem intent in intimidating him and perverting the democratic process”.

The British nationalist group, which characterises itself as “a patriotic political party and street defence organisation”, was founded by former BNP fundraiser Jim Dowson, a Christian fundamentalist who also helped launch Northern Ireland’s loyalist and sectarian Protestant Coalition.

Dowson, who is standing as Britain First’s top candidate in Scotland, faced arrests and court action last year in connection with the Belfast flag riots in late 2012. According to a Daily Record report from June 2009, Dowson also has “links to a Loyalist killer and a string of criminal convictions”.

Antifascist and antiracist advocacy group Hope not Hate describes Dowson as a “shadowy figure in the world of evangelical Protestantism” who shares a “close relationship with Loyalist paramilitaries”, though it does not provide further grounds for that allegation.

As of time of publishing, the Facebook event page for Friday’s anti-Farage demo says 455 plan to attend.

htt p://thetar ge.co.uk/article/current-affairs/0262/farright-promise-army-defence-for-farage Not looked round this site so no idea who/what they stand for.


Has Farage asked for them to "defend" him?

[Bev]

PROTESTERS are gathering ahead of of UKIP leader Nigel Farage’s rally at Edinburgh’s Corn Exchange.

A small number of demonstrators and police are outside the venue with Mr Farage understood to have already arrived.

It comes as the far right group Britain First, which is fielding its own candidates in the European elections, said it was not prepared to allow “fellow patriots” to be “bullied off our streets”.

Last time Mr Farage visited the Capital he had to lock himself inside the Canons’ Gait pub in the Royal Mile as protesters demonstrated outside.

The Radical Independence Campaign has announced it will picket tonight’s Ukip rally at the Corn Exchange. Organisers said the protest would be “vibrant” but non-violent.

However, Britain First said it would “deploy armoured patrol vehicles and ex-military volunteers to protect” the Ukip leader. A spokesman for the group said: “While no great fans of Ukip, Britain First has hundreds of ex-British Forces street activists and several armoured ex-army Land Rovers and we now put our men and our resources at Ukip’s disposal during the period of election campaigning.

“We shall continue to fight Ukip for votes at the ballot but we will not allow fellow patriots to be bullied off our streets by unelected thugs who do not stand for election themselves.”

Police said they could not comment on whether special measures were being taken for the Ukip leader’s return to Edinburgh. But a spokesman said: “Police Scotland are aware of the visit of Nigel Farage MEP and will supply the appropriate resources as required.”

Ukip is expected to do well in England in the European elections. The party does not have such strong support in Scotland, but Mr Farage claimed it could still win a seat.

He said: “I think Ukip will have a voice in Scottish politics and the people who have the most to fear are the so-called nationalists who are not nationalists at all – they want Scotland to become a province of the European Union.”

He said his return to Edinburgh showed he would not be deterred by his experience last year. He said: “That was a deliberate attempt to actually stop me speaking, which shows you how scared the nationalists are of this argument.”

Andrew Ashe, of the Radical Independence Campaign, said it would be demonstrating against Ukip’s “homophobic, misogynist and anti-immigrant” policies.

ht tp://ww w.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/protesters-gather-at-nigel-farage-edinburgh-rally-1-3404499

[john-connor]

Originally Posted by Bev

htt p://thetar ge.co.uk/article/current-affairs/0262/farright-promise-army-defence-for-farage Not looked round this site so no idea who/what they stand for.


Has Farage asked for them to "defend" him?

I bet not and i bet they are Nutters or worse state agents.

[Mr Murray]

Originally Posted by john-connor

I bet not and i bet they are Nutters or worse state agents.

Who? Britain Thirst or UKIP?

[Zander]

Can't wait for this. It will be fucking hilarious!!

[Bev]

Bradford West MP George Galloway is meeting with West Yorkshire police over allegations a far-right group had targeted a number of mosques in the city.

It is believed Britain First - led by Paul Golding former British National Party Councillor - had gone into mosques unannounced to hand out leaflets and bibles before being asked to leave.

They then posted images of themselves on their social networking site confronting members of the Asian community. Galloway has accused the group of trying to inflame racial tension.

h ttp://w ww.itv.com/news/calendar/update/2014-05-12/george-galloway-meets-police-over-mosque-leaflet-invasions/

[Monny]

I do wonder if they gaol paul golding if the organisation will come to a halt, he does seem to be pushing his luck a bit too much too I think.

[NewsFeed]

Daily Stormer

The brave lads of Britain First have invaded mosques across the UK and handed out pamphlets about the ongoing epidemic of Muslim “grooming gangs.”

This action was a very proper British approach to the problem of Muslim child-rape gangs, but bold action nonetheless.

I sense that this is a first step in a larger plan. Once it is known that the Muslim community understands that their people are drugging, raping and forcing girls as young as ten into prostitution, and they do nothing to address it, then they can be held responsible as an entire community, rather than “a few bad apples.”

Britain First’s statement on the action in Bradford:

May 2014 saw the launch of Britain First’s Yorkshire brigade with a day of action in heavily Muslim Bradford.

Our newly formed units descended on around 10 giant mega mosques, madrassas and Islamic centres across the town to distribute British Army bibles and anti-grooming leaflets.

Our brave activists also invaded the campaign HQ of Bradford Labour Party and spent a considerable amount of time giving the local councillors a dressing down for their inability to fight Muslim grooming gangs in their community.

Finally, after the Mayor of Bradford declined a meeting request, the assembled patriots visited his home address only to find he was too cowardly to come out and face us.

Similar actions have taken place in East London:

And Scottland:

We need more of this, every day, in every White country.

We don’t have time to stand around and wait for others to do it. Get out there on the street.

read full article at source: http://www.dailystormer.com/britain-...s-in-bradford/

[NewsFeed]

You Tube

You Tube

Video: Britain First Defence Force invades mosques in Bradford | EuropeNews.

read full article at source: http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/...rd-europenews/

[Bev]

Our brave activists also invaded the campaign HQ of Bradford Labour Party and spent a considerable amount of time giving the local councillors a dressing down for their inability to fight Muslim grooming gangs in their community.

Fair play for that (if done coherently and without swearing) but what's the point to handing out bibles in mosques?

[Bev]

The far-right group, Britain First, marched down Brick Lane last night with a large camouflaged car as part of what they called a “Christian patrol”.


The group said on their Facebook page: “Major disturbances follow Britain First christian patrol in East London. Crowds of Muslims rampage through Brick Lane. Muslim vigilante gangs lock horns with Britain First teams.”

The leader of Britain First, Paul Golding, said that around 20-25 activists had marched up Brick Lane, starting from the Whitechapel Road end and given out leaflets.

At the upper end of Brick Lane, Golding said they were confronted with a “baying mob of around 150 muslims.”

Golding denied that the march was provocative and said that they were there to protect the local community. After the march, Golding said that the activists returned to south London.

He said the matching clothes the activists wore were not uniforms but “activist jackets” and were worn to distinguish Britain First from the “riff-raff” of the English Defence League who behave like “drunken hooligans”.

Golding said that the armoured land rover was “not to look macho” but to protect Britain First from attack.

Natasha Daniels said on twitter that she was having a curry on Brick Lane when “some morons with Union Jacks and a tank/car thing came down followed by loads of police.”

She said that there was not many people involved in the march and most were “hid in the car” which was large and camouflaged.

Many assumed the march was the work of another far-right group, the English Defence League.

Golding said that nobody was injured or arrested and he had not seen any bottles thrown, contrary to reports on twitter.

A previous “christian patrol” involved Britain First members drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes to “draw out” muslims, according to Golding. A video of this incident is shown above.

On Monday, Britain First “invaded” the nearby East London mosque, entering, handing out leaflets and arguing with worshippers.

After that incident two local Labour MPs, Rushanara Ali and Jim Fitzpatrick, released a statement condemning Britain First.

They said: “Tower Hamlets has a proud history of rejecting those who try to divide us. Last year our community came together to resolutely reject the divisive EDL. These Britain First trouble makers should take heed and recognise their rhetoric is not welcome in Tower Hamlets.”

At the time of publication, the Metropolitan police had not responded to requests for comment.

Speaking today, David Crompton the chief constable of South Yorkshire Police said that the cost of policing far-right demonstrations in Rotherham is too high.

Britain First holds 'Christian Patrol' in Brick Lane and Whitechapel, east London - YouTube

Britain First holds 'Christian Patrol' in Brick Lane and Whitechapel, east London - YouTube

ht tp://w ww.london24.com/news/crime/far_right_britain_first_s_brick_lane_march_ends_in_violence_1_3613477

[Bev]

For the second time in a few days, a mosque in east London has come under attack from a far-right group who invaded the mosque premises, handing out Bibles and leaflets as part of what they call “Christian patrols”.

“Britain First, the fringe far-right, Muslim-hating group, made a second visit to the East London Mosque today (apparently an 'invasion' which involved four people),” a statement by the East London Mosque, was quoted by International Business Times.


"They left pretty quickly, after a local Community Support Officer spotted their car on zig-zag traffic lines.”

‘Christian Crusade’ Targets UK Mosques

According to eyewitnesses, the raid occurred when four member of far-right Britain First party invaded the mosque to hand out Christian leaflets and bibles.

Wearing “green activist jackets” of their party, the group was seen as leaving the mosque and driving away in a car.

According to representatives of Britain First, an offshoot of the British National party which is contesting this month's local and European elections, mosque visits were part of a "Christian crusade" campaign against Islam.

The attack, the third to target mosques in London, Bradford and Glasgow, has raised Muslim concerns over their safety if those “Christian patrols” continued.

"Britain First's previous visit as part of their misnamed 'Christian Patrol', showed them bravely swigging lager and unfurling a banner on the street outside ... before again running off quickly,” the mosque statement read.

"Of course, members of the public are welcome to attend the mosque and, with a booking, take a tour of the facilities (perhaps Britain First had trouble writing down the number)."

No Arrests

Metropolitan Police said no arrests have been made in the latest incident.

"Officers on patrol in Whitechapel Road, E1 witnessed a group of three men and a woman running into the East London Mosque at 1231hrs on Monday 19 May,” a spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said.

"The group dropped off some leaflets in the mosque before making off in a motor vehicle. The leaflets have since been seized by police and are published by Britain First."

The attacks are not the first to raise controversy surrounding Britain First.

Recently, the group stirred ire after using "Remember Lee Rigby" as their party slogan, an act which saw the Electoral Commission change the rules on how political parties describe themselves on ballot papers.

Lyn Rigby, the mother of Lee Rigby, said she was "heartbroken" that the group had used his name for their own political purposes.

She wrote on Facebook: "Their views are not what Lee believed in and has (sic) no support from the family."

ht tp://ww w.onislam.net/english/news/europe/472699-uk-far-right-re-invades-london-mosque.html - obviously a non-friendly source but there's not much about these "mosque invasions" anywhere.

[NewsFeed]

Britain is headed for total disaster! British birth rates have collapsed and immigrant/Muslim birth rates are very high.

Within a few short years, the British people will be a minority in their own country. We are headed towards civil war and bloodshed.

Several weeks ago, Britain First and our activists caused an international storm with our first Christian Patrols in East London.

The publicity was gargantuan: The Express, the Daily Mail, East London Times, LBC, Al Jazeera, London24, Russia Today, the International Business Times, London Evening Standard, all the London locals and even the Malaysia Chronicle all covered the story!

The campaign continued Friday night with another major activist drive in East London.

read full article at source: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=7ac_1400969619

[john-connor]

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ne...-30369983.html One of the organisers of loyalist flag protests in Belfast has been revealed as the real leader of far-right group Britain First.
Related Articles
Jim Dowson laughs off TV claims he is the 'evil genius' of British fascism


According to the anti-fascist Hope Not Hate campaign group, Jim Dowson, who is originally from Scotland but now living in Northern Ireland, is "bankrolling" the hardline organisation publicly fronted by ex-BNP councillor Paul Golding.

Hope Not Hate makes a number of claims about Britain First, adding it has "deep and worrying links to loyalism and Protestant extremism in Northern Ireland".

A statement from Britain First rubbishes the Hope Not Hate report, saying it has "literally dozens of inaccuracies, distortions and outright lies", but also threatened journalists who report on it.

Dowson, who is facing charges relating to the Belfast City Hall flag protests, helped to launch the Protestant Coalition, which has links to Britain First.

He is also an ex-Calvinist minister, an anti-abortionist and the man who set up the BNP call centre in Northern Ireland.

Last night Channel 4 News aired a report (below) on Britain First referring to Dowson, of marketing company Midas Consultancy, as one of Britain First's "backroom people" who remains constant throughout its activities.

Dowson, who was previously in charge of BNP finances, said: "You're got to remember, most political parties don't know their a**e from their elbow.

"You bring in a professional marketing team, you know I trained in America with the pro-lifers and all that.

"If you apply professional marketing techniques and fundraising to a political situation it's a gift.

"It's a gift and that is what we did with the BNP. Raised them four million quid and left them to it.

"I was never in the BNP but we did do work for them, just to make them successful enough to push everybody over to the right, and I think that has resulted now in the success that Ukip is enjoying.

"And far better Ukip to be enjoying it than the BNP, to be honest with you, but at least everybody is over to the right a couple of notches."

[Englisc]

BF seems to care more about cultural Christianity than race. Groups like Sikhs which they don't see as threatening "British culture" (whatever that is nowadays) are okay with them:

[Bev]

Britain First Threatens Journalists With 'Personal, Direct Action'

The National Union of Journalists has condemned the far-right pseudo-militia group Britain First which threatened journalists "with direct action", and warned that its attacks will be "personal and not on the internet".

The threat came after a Channel 4 documentary about the group based on a report from anti-fascist campaigners Hope Not Hate. The uniformed group who conduct "Christian Patrols" in Muslim areas were described as having "taken Britain’s far-right scene by storm".

Britain First said the claims in the 20-page report "contain literally dozens of inaccuracies, distortions and outright lies" and that journalsits reporting them would pay through "non-violent direct action".



"When journalists knowingly publish lies, smears or inaccuracies, it can lead to unforeseen circumstances for the victims of their poison," the group said in a posting on Facebook. "The Britain First Defence Force has announced that should any news outlet wish to re-publish any inaccuracies or lies peddled by "Hope Not Hate” that could place any of our people or their families in danger unfairly, they (inc journalists, directors and main advertisers) will be subject to a legal and non-violent "direct action” campaign to highlight any misinformation.

"These direct action operations will be 'personal' not on-line or via the internet. Britain First is not interested in facing lying journalists in the dock, but we shall face them. Journalists have the right to criticize, to comment, but not to lie and distort - that's where we draw the line."

Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary, said: "The threats from Britain First represent the latest attempts by far right groups to intimidate and bully journalists with the sole aim of making them fearful of investigating their activities.

"The NUJ is not prepared to have its members threatened or deterred from their work by thugs and bullies who would like to see press freedom undermined in order that their behaviour goes below the radar. We will take this matter up with the Home Office and police and robustly support any journalist targeted in this way."

Journalists have been beaten and threatened by various far-right groups in the past, and their home addresses circulated on far-right websites.

Hope Not Hate's report said Britain First "often cleverly disguises its online campaigns as support for the Armed Forces or against animal cruelty, whilst creating a climate of fear among Muslim communities on the ground".

It called leader and former BNP fundraiser Jim Dowson "a religious antagonist and Protestant extremist since the early 1980s, when he was active in anti-abortion extremism in Scotland".

Report author Matthew Collins, director of research for Hope Not Hate and a former member of the National Front (NF) and BNP, said: “Britain First is the most dangerous group to have emerged on the British far right scene for several years.

“Its confrontational style is attracting huge publicity and could potentially lead to a violent backlash. If nothing else, its provocative actions – such as distributing Bibles inside mosques and doorstepping Muslim community leaders in their homes – is generating a climate of fear.

“In effect, Britain First is the far-right version of al-Muhajiroun, the Islamist group led by Anjem Choudary. Despite numerous arrests, Golding and Dowson have not slowed their sick stunts against Muslim institutions. It’s time for the authorities to act properly against Britain First.”

The Electoral Commission was harshly criticised after allowing the extremist party to use a slogan featuring murdered soldier Lee Rigby on voting slips for the European elections.

ht tp://ww w.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/06/20/britain-first_n_5514384.html

The NUJ has described a pledge from far-right group Britain First to carry out ‘direct action operations’ against journalists as “outrageous”.

The union spoke out after Britain First issued a press release threatening consequences for journalists and media organisations it perceives to have been “caught lying”. The group, which styles itself as a ‘street defence force’, said actions would be “legal and non-violent” but “personal” and would take place offline. The group refused to elaborate on what that meant when asked by The Drum.

Tim Lezard, NUJ National Executive Council member and former president of the union, told The Drum: “It’s an outrageous attempt to scare journalists into not doing their jobs properly. Britain First says that they’re a non-violent organisation but threaten our members because they’ve written something they disagree with.

“The NUJ will always stand up for a free press because asking the right questions is an important part of a democratic process. Journalists won’t be scared off by a street gang of thugs.”

In a statement, NUJ general secretary Michelle Stanistreet said the union would take the matter up with the Home Office and police.

Britain First’s comments came ahead of the broadcast of a Channel 4 News piece, “Britain First: inside the extremist group targeting mosques.” The broadcaster’s report sourced comment and information from anti-extremist campaign group Hope Not Hate, which has journalists and researchers on its staff.

Matthew Collins, a Hope Not Hate researcher who authored a book about his own experience of being part of the BNP and National Front before becoming an opposition voice, told The Drum that the organisation operated under “constant” threats from Britain First.

“We get them all the time,” he said. “They ring our offices constantly issuing threats, telling us to be careful walking down streets, things like that.

“We don’t usually air them because we think it just encourages them, but we do take steps to safeguard our organisation and we’re very cautious about giving out information.

“We do take it seriously. Our main concern is that our journalists are just doing their jobs, reporting on a matter that is of interest, who may find themselves the targets of these people simply for doing their jobs.”

Collins added that Hope Not Hate’s experience was that police would not take pre-emptive action against general threats to intimidate or harass, but vowed the organisation would exhaust legal routes should any members be targeted.

“If we are attacked we will call the police and we will exhaust every avenue,” he said. “If any of our members are injured or intimidated we will exhaust every avenue available to us to bring the perpetrators to justice, and I’m pretty sure that every other media organisation will have the same plan.”

The Drum approached Britain First to find out more about what any ‘direct action operations’ would involve. Britain First administration manager John Wilson said: “You’ll just need to wait and see, won’t you? It’s operational, you don’t tell your enemy what you’re going to do to them.”

Wilson added that the group “will always remain within the law”, and said it had chosen a policy of targeting journalists directly because it was too expensive to go through the courts.

When asked what the group hoped to achieve with its policy, Wilson said: “To let people know a very simple message, which is a simple message in nature and in life in general: everything you do has a consequence.

“It’s not the paper who put those lies there, it was an individual human being. It has to be realised that choice will come with consequences because we will not put up with that shit anymore.”

The NUJ advised journalists working on stories concerning Britain First to keep their details private and contact the police immediately if they are targeted.

“This is a step up from online abuse,” Lezard said. “That’s bad enough, but this is a step beyond that. It’s physically intimidating and a naked threat.

“Journalists should make sure their personal details are kept safe and private. They should also keep a note of any suspicious people concerning them, record as much evidence as they can and take photographs where possible. The NUJ will do all it can.”

ht tp://w ww.thedrum.com/news/2014/06/20/nuj-vows-journalists-wont-be-scared-outrageous-britain-first-threats-against-media