England First Party
The England First Party is a British political party which seeks to establish an independent England and to "Stop all further immigration and start a programme of voluntary repatriation of non-European immigrants back to their lands of ancestral origin."[1]
The Party was registered with the Electoral Commission on 2 September 2003. It is led by Mark Cotterill.[2]
Searchlight Magazine has described the party's genesis as follows:
- The EFP was founded in 2004 by Mark Cotterill, a former chairman of the American Friends of the British National Party (AFBNP), which channelled tens of thousands of dollars into the BNP before a change in UK electoral law made it illegal to raise money abroad. Cotterill, who had been involved with the nazi National Alliance while living in America, was subsequently deported because his fundraising also contravened US law. Upon his return to England he fell out with the BNP, Griffin seemingly unwilling to reward his endeavours with a commensurate party position. Disaffected, Cotterill moved to Blackburn, Lancashire where he formed the EFP.[3]
Cotterill and Michael Johnson were elected to Blackburn Council under the England First banner in May 2006. The two men fell out in December 2006, after Cotteril posted a YouTube video that portrayed Jesus making an offensive hand gesture and attacking Islam. Johnson left the party in March 2007. Cotteril anounced he was standing down from the council, and as party leader at around the same time.[4]
England First and the English Democrats
In May 2009, according to party's website, members of England First canvassed for the English Democrats Party in the European elections.[5]
People
Officers
- Steve Smith - has reportedly replaced Cotterill as leader.[6]
- Mark Cotterill - still registered with the Electoral Commission as Leader, Nominating Officer.[7]
- Maureen Birks - Treasurer
- Simon Bennett - Campaigns Officer[8]
- Peter Rushton, editor of magazine, Heritage and Destiny.[9]
Contact
- Website: http://efp.org.uk/
Notes
- ↑ Brief Manifesto, England First, accessed 10 November 2009.
- ↑ England First Party, Register of Political Parties, Electoral Commission.
- ↑ David Williams, English nationalist rival moves in on BNP territory, Searchlight Magazine, March 2008.
- ↑ David Bartlett, England First pair quit party, Lancashire Telegraph, 5 March 2007.
- ↑ English Nationalists Campaigning In Lancashire, England First, 5 May 2009.
- ↑ Chris Hopper, Disturbance after ex-Burnley BNP councillor's funeral, Lancashire Telegraph, 31 July 2008.
- ↑ England First Party, Register of Political Parties, Electoral Commission.
- ↑ England First Party, Register of Political Parties, Electoral Commission.
- ↑ John Tyndall Memorial Meeting, England First Party, accessed 10 November 2009.
