Freedom Association
Origins
The National Association for Freedom was founded in 1975 by the twin brothers Norris and Ross McWhirter, founders of the Guinness Book of Records. [1] It absorbed a small pressure group the Middle Class Association. [2]
Early years
Personnel
When The Economist reported on the Freedom Association in 1976 it was directed by the right-wing journalist Robert Moss and its chairman was William Sidney , 1st Viscount De L'Isle. Its governing council included Norris McWhirter (whose brother Ross was murdered by the IRA), and seven Conservative MPs including Winston Churchill, Jill Knight and Nicholas Ridley. [3] At that time it had a full-time staff of ten at its London headquarters located "near Shaftesbury Avenue".
Activities
The Freedom Association sponsored legal actions to promote their right-wing agenda. They also published a fortnightly paper called The Free Nation. In 1976 The Economist reported that it was written 'using unpaid contributors who are often professional journalists -- of which 30,000 copies are printed at a non-union printing press "somewhere in the west of England". Half of the print order is, the NAF claims, sold at 15p a copy, mainly in the home counties and in the Manchester area, the remainder is distributed free.' [4]
Principals
- Caroline Cox (Lady Baroness)
- Michael Ivens
Contact
Website: www.tfa.net
Notes
- ↑ Adam Bernstein, 'Norris McWhirter Dies; 'Guinness Book' Co-Founder, Washington Post, 21 April 2004
- ↑ 'National Association for Freedom; Into its stride', The Economist, 28 August 1976
- ↑ 'National Association for Freedom; Into its stride', The Economist, 28 August 1976
- ↑ 'National Association for Freedom; Into its stride', The Economist, 28 August 1976
