The EDL: Britain's New Far Right Social Movement
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RNM Publications www.radicalism-new-media.org TTHHEE EDEDLL BRITAIN’S ‘NEW FAR RIGHT’ SOCIAL MOVEMENT The University of Northampton’s Radicalism and New Media Research Group Dr Paul Jackson, lead author Foreword by Michael Ellis, MP About The Radicalism and New Media Research Group Harnessing expertise in the University of Northampton’s School of Social Sciences, the Radicalism and New Media Research Group is an initiative that generates practitioner-focused research projects. Linking academia with the wider world, these partnership activities coalesce around the understudied connection between radical and extremist political movements and their use of new media technologies. From the English Defence League’s use of Facebook for directing activities to Islamist jihadi beheadings filmed for the purposes propaganda and global dissemination, this connection is both striking and increasingly relevant. There has been, as yet, no coordinated network to systematically undertake research in the crucial connection between new media and new forms of radicalism. In taking on this role, the Radicalism and New Media Research Group invites academic researchers, practitioners and civil servants (particularly the police and others concerned with community cohesion) to compare experiences and develop collaborative enterprises in the analysis of this wide-ranging phenomenon, particularly as it relates to the contemporary UK. An electronic version of this report can be downloaded from: www.radicalism-new-media.org Copyright, RNM Publications, University of Northampton, Broughton Green Road, Northampton NN2 7AL Front cover image by David Hoffman, taken at the English Defence League’s Tower Hamlets demonstration, 3 September 2011 Rear cover image by Garry Cook, taken at the English Defence League’s Preston demonstration, 27 November 2010 Table of Contents Foreword 1 By Rt. Hon Michael Ellis, MP Introduction 3 By Dr Matthew Feldman Executive summary 5 1: The English Defence League and the ‘New Far Right’ 7 By Dr Paul Jackson 2: The Rise of the English Defence League as a Social Movement 13 By Dr Paul Jackson 3: The English Defence League’s ‘New Far Right’ Rhetoric and the New Media 30 By Dr Paul Jackson 4: The English Defence League’s Leaders and Followers 42 By Dr Mark Pitchford 5: The English Defence League’s Contexts and Trajectory 53 By Dr Paul Jackson 6: The Views of Professionals and Practitioners 61 Chronology of the English Defence League 66 By Trevor Preston Glossary 71 The EDL: Britain’s Far Right Social Movement subculture of casual racism. This report presents a Foreword very useful documentation of the EDL’s development, their use of online and social media, their links to football hooliganism, as well as the Rt. Hon Michael Ellis, MP development of splinter groups. The advance of copy‐cat organisations like the Norwegian Defence League and others, as documented by the authors, shows not only the The University of Northampton is at the forefront urgency for action as a society but also shows the of the important academic research into the far‐ potency of the repugnant values represented by right, an area of increasing importance nationally the EDL. and internationally. As Member of Parliament for The British National Party, and other far‐ Northampton North, I am very pleased to have right parties, may try to attract voters with talk of been asked to write this Foreword because I local politics, of bin collections and council applaud the fact that the University in the town housing shortages to win them votes. But as a where I have lived and worked my whole life, and fascist organisation that does little to couch its which I now have the honour to represent in the views, it is my opinion that it will always struggle House of Commons, is leading the way in this key to garner the support of the vast majority of the area. British public who rejected fascism in the 1930’s, The view of the ‘new far right’ is that we and who continue to do so today. should cut ourselves off from Islam and other The EDL, however, by not asking for votes religions and cultures. They believe we should do and by arguing that they do really only oppose this, as the Prime Minister David Cameron put it violent Islamism – though the hypocrisies pointed earlier this year, ‘through forced repatriation, out by this report are worthy of note – could favoured by some fascists, or the banning of new potentially spearhead a movement that would mosques, as is suggested in some parts of Europe.’ have damaging consequences and divide This ideology, or for example the practice of communities. burning the Koran – as promoted by Pastor Terry At the same time as we confront this new Jones, who has been excluded from the UK – is far‐right politics, we must also do the same for utterly abhorrent and must be robustly rejected. other forms of extremism – for too long, Extremism of any kind is a threat to our Government policy has encouraged communities country and to our way of life. In the Prime to merely co‐exist rather than co‐operate with Minister’s speech to the Munich Security each other. As a member of the Home Affairs Conference on how best to tackle this threat David Select Committee of the House of Commons, I am Cameron made the point that groups on the far‐ particularly conscious of this issue and very right, such as the English Defence League, fuel supportive of the Government’s response to Islamophobia with their poisonous and deeply extremism, namely the Prevent strategy, which for erroneous stance that Islam and the West do not the first time explicitly tackles far‐right extremism. mix. In addition to the recent Prevent policy, this No one can doubt the importance and Government is keenly aware of the importance of relevance of the subject at hand. One must only fostering a stronger sense of belonging and look at the terrible atrocity this summer in citizenship, co‐ordinated by the Department for Norway at the hands of a murderous terrorist – in Communities and Local Government. By the name of a crazed war against Islam – to see the empowering communities and integrating them relevance and currency of the subject matter in into society, those communities become much this report. more resilient to terrorist ideology and The potential for this kind of extremism to propaganda. lead directly to ‘lone‐wolf’ terrorism is also dealt The Prevent strategy of the previous with in this report. These developments show the Government failed to confront extremist ideology danger of allowing extremist views on any side to and therefore failed to adequately tackle the threat fester. we face. If we wish to combat the rise of the ‘new What began in reaction to the deeply far‐right’ and the potential for ‘lone‐wolf’ offensive abuse of returning British soldiers – our terrorism inspired by such thinking, we must courageous servicemen and women that have vigorously pursue all forms of radicalisation. I made such sacrifices over the years to fight have every confidence that, through Prevent, the extremism in other parts of the world – has current Government will do this. manifested itself, through the development of the EDL, into violence on our streets and a terrifying 1 The EDL: Britain’s Far Right Social Movement This Government is committed to do more than any previous administration has to promote integration. The Prime Minister’s speech in Munich made it clear that the new Prevent strategy will be an unyielding fight against extremism. This report is an important contribution to the study of the threats that this country and Europe are embroiled in today. Rooting out extremism from all quarters must be, and is, a real priority for the Coalition Government. Twenty‐ First Century Britain is about integration and cohesion between all of our different communities. That both Islamist extremists and the ‘new far‐ right’ extremists reject this belief is telling. As Baroness Sayeeda Warsi has said, ‘any phobia is by definition the opposite of a philosophy. A phobia is an irrational fear. It takes on a life of its own and no longer needs to be justified.’ It is this that makes the development of the EDL and their ilk of concern. I hope this report plays a part in our greater understanding of this problem, and in developing societal solutions to it. Michael Ellis, MP Member of Parliament for Northampton North, Member of the Home Affairs Select Committee September 2011 2 The EDL: Britain’s Far Right Social Movement makers and the wider public alike. There are Introduction several reasons for this. Following Nigel Copsey’s impressive report on behalf of Faith Matters from this time Dr Matthew Feldman last year, The English Defence League: Challenging our country and our values of Social Inclusion, Fairness and Equality, the present analysis, The EDL: Britain’s New Far‐Right Social Movement, For some thirty months, the English Defence considers the English Defence League from a League has brought disorder, violence and racism variety of perspectives. In doing so, the report in its wake. It has stretched police budgets and represents the most extensive discussion available strained cohesion amongst, and between, British to date. In the chapters to ensue, the English communities. Despite claiming that it opposes Defence League is approached as a social jihadi Islamism – like, of course, all right thinking movement, one driven by a unique alliance of people – the EDL’s rhetoric quickly turns into anti‐ football hooliganism, xenophobic nationalism and Muslim prejudice, whether at demonstrations, street politics – collectively organised and online or, increasingly, in court. disseminated from the leadership to grass‐roots The EDL and other Defence Leagues in supporters via the new media.