Raheem Kassam - Revision history

Melissa Jones at 01:26, 19 February 2018

2018-02-19T01:26:04Z

Melissa Jones at 01:23, 19 February 2018

2018-02-19T01:23:36Z

Melissa Jones at 01:20, 19 February 2018

2018-02-19T01:20:13Z

Melissa Jones: CPAC 2018 pic added/typos fixed

2018-02-19T01:17:57Z

CPAC 2018 pic added/typos fixed

Clementine Boucher: /* Aftermath */

2016-10-06T14:47:13Z

Aftermath

Clementine Boucher: /* UKIP role */

2016-10-06T14:34:12Z

UKIP role

Clementine Boucher: /* UKIP role */

2016-10-06T14:21:30Z

UKIP role

Clementine Boucher at 14:05, 6 October 2016

2016-10-06T14:05:49Z

Hilary Aked: /* Return to Breitbart */

2016-06-02T09:51:49Z

Return to Breitbart

Hilary Aked: /* Return to Breitbart */

2015-12-16T18:23:52Z

Return to Breitbart

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 [[File:Raheem Kassam CPAC 2018.jpg|400px|thumb|right|Promotional poster of Kassam posted on Twitter by the American Conservatives Union for CPAC 2018]]
-'''Raheem Kassam''' is a former senior political adviser to  [[Nigel Farage]], leader of [[UKIP]]. Since leaving his role with Farage after the 2015 general election, Kassam has worked with the London outlet of the right-wing US-based news and opinion website [[Breitbart]].
+'''Raheem Kassam''' is a former senior political adviser to  [[Nigel Farage]], leader of [[UKIP]]. Since leaving that role after the 2015 general election, Kassam has worked with the London outlet of the right-wing news and opinion website [[Breitbart News]].
-He was previously the national director of [[Student Rights - Tackling Extremism on Campus]]<ref>[http://www.studentrights.org.uk/about/ About], Student Rights - Tackling Extremism on Campus, accessed 18 December 2010.</ref> and a campaigns director at its parent think-tank the [[Henry Jackson Society]]<ref name="LI"> [https://uk.linkedin.com/in/raheemkassam Raheem Kassam] ''Linkedin'', accessed 13 January 2015 </ref> as well as a research fellow at the [[Bow Group]] think tank. <ref> [http://www.bowgroup.org/content/research-team Research Team], undated, accessed 18 May 2012 </ref>
+Kassam was previously the national director of [[Student Rights - Tackling Extremism on Campus]]<ref>[http://www.studentrights.org.uk/about/ About], Student Rights - Tackling Extremism on Campus, accessed 18 December 2010.</ref> and a campaigns director at its parent think-tank the [[Henry Jackson Society]]<ref name="LI"> [https://uk.linkedin.com/in/raheemkassam Raheem Kassam] ''Linkedin'', accessed 13 January 2015 </ref> as well as a research fellow at the [[Bow Group]] think tank. <ref> [http://www.bowgroup.org/content/research-team Research Team], undated, accessed 18 May 2012 </ref>
-Kassam is also a fellow for two US anti-Muslim think tanks [[Gatestone Institute]] and the [[Middle East Forum]].
+Kassam is also a fellow for two US anti-Muslim think tanks, the [[Gatestone Institute]] and the [[Middle East Forum]]. His fellowship at the latter is named after Trump mega-donor [[Robert Shillman]].
 ==Education==

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[File:Raheem Kassam CPAC 2018.jpg|400px|thumb|right|Promotional poster of Kassam posted on Twitter by the American Conservatives Union for CPAC 2018]]
-'''Raheem Kassam''' was a former senior adviser to the leader of [[UKIP]], [[Nigel Farage]]. Since leaving his role with Farage, after the 2015 general election, Kassam has been working with the London outlet of the right-wing US-based news and opinion website [[Breitbart]].
+'''Raheem Kassam''' is a former senior political adviser to  [[Nigel Farage]], leader of [[UKIP]]. Since leaving his role with Farage after the 2015 general election, Kassam has worked with the London outlet of the right-wing US-based news and opinion website [[Breitbart]].
-He was formerly the national director of [[Student Rights - Tackling Extremism on Campus]]<ref>[http://www.studentrights.org.uk/about/ About], Student Rights - Tackling Extremism on Campus, accessed 18 December 2010.</ref> and a campaigns director at its parent think-tank the [[Henry Jackson Society]]<ref name="LI"> [https://uk.linkedin.com/in/raheemkassam Raheem Kassam] ''Linkedin'', accessed 13 January 2015 </ref> as well as a research fellow at the [[Bow Group]] think tank. <ref> [http://www.bowgroup.org/content/research-team Research Team], undated, accessed 18 May 2012 </ref>
+He was previously the national director of [[Student Rights - Tackling Extremism on Campus]]<ref>[http://www.studentrights.org.uk/about/ About], Student Rights - Tackling Extremism on Campus, accessed 18 December 2010.</ref> and a campaigns director at its parent think-tank the [[Henry Jackson Society]]<ref name="LI"> [https://uk.linkedin.com/in/raheemkassam Raheem Kassam] ''Linkedin'', accessed 13 January 2015 </ref> as well as a research fellow at the [[Bow Group]] think tank. <ref> [http://www.bowgroup.org/content/research-team Research Team], undated, accessed 18 May 2012 </ref>
 ==Education==
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 <references/>
-[[Category:Neocons|Kassam, Raheem]][[Category:Think Tanker|Kassam, Raheem]][[Category:Islam Critics|Kassam, Raheem]][[Category:UKIP|Kassam, Raheem]]
+[[Category:Neocons|Kassam, Raheem]][[Category:Think Tanker|Kassam, Raheem]][[Category:Islam Critics|Kassam, Raheem]][[Category:UKIP|Kassam, Raheem]][[Category:Henry Jackson Society|Kassam, Raheem]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:20, 19 February 2018
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−	[[File:Raheem Kassam CPAC 2018.jpg\|400px\|thumb\|right\|~~Raheem~~ Kassam]]	+	[[File:Raheem Kassam CPAC 2018.jpg\|400px\|thumb\|right\|Promotional poster of Kassam posted on Twitter by the American Conservatives Union for CPAC 2018]]
	'''Raheem Kassam''' was a former senior adviser to the leader of [[UKIP]], [[Nigel Farage]]. Since leaving his role with Farage, after the 2015 general election, Kassam has been working with the London outlet of the right-wing US-based news and opinion website [[Breitbart]].		'''Raheem Kassam''' was a former senior adviser to the leader of [[UKIP]], [[Nigel Farage]]. Since leaving his role with Farage, after the 2015 general election, Kassam has been working with the London outlet of the right-wing US-based news and opinion website [[Breitbart]].

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-[[File:Raheem Kassam.png|300px|thumb|right|Raheem Kassam]]
+[[File:Raheem Kassam CPAC 2018.jpg|400px|thumb|right|Raheem Kassam]]
-'''Raheem Kassam''' was a former senior adviser to the leader of [[UKIP]], [[Nigel Farage]]. Since leaving his role with Farage, after the 2015 general election, Kassam has been working with the London outlet of the right wing US-based news and opinion website [[Breitbart]].
+'''Raheem Kassam''' was a former senior adviser to the leader of [[UKIP]], [[Nigel Farage]]. Since leaving his role with Farage, after the 2015 general election, Kassam has been working with the London outlet of the right-wing US-based news and opinion website [[Breitbart]].
 He was formerly the national director of [[Student Rights - Tackling Extremism on Campus]]<ref>[http://www.studentrights.org.uk/about/ About], Student Rights - Tackling Extremism on Campus, accessed 18 December 2010.</ref> and a campaigns director at its parent think-tank the [[Henry Jackson Society]]<ref name="LI"> [https://uk.linkedin.com/in/raheemkassam Raheem Kassam] ''Linkedin'', accessed 13 January 2015 </ref> as well as a research fellow at the [[Bow Group]] think tank. <ref> [http://www.bowgroup.org/content/research-team Research Team], undated, accessed 18 May 2012 </ref>
 ==Education==
-Kassam attended Bishopsholt School and then [[Westminster University]] where he studied politics.<ref>Josh Neicho, [http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/rainbow-tories-the-geek-the-fundraiser-and-the-tanzanian-immigrants-son-6450892.html Rainbow Tories: the geek, the fundraiser and the Tanzanian immigrants son], ''Evening Standard'', 6 October 2011, accessed 10 January 2013</ref> His Student Rights bio also says he worked for a time at [[Lehman Brothers]].<ref>[http://www.studentrights.org.uk/about_us About Us], Student Rights, accessed 10 January 2013</ref>
+Kassam attended Bishopsholt School and then [[Westminster University]] where he studied politics.<ref>Josh Neicho, [http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/rainbow-tories-the-geek-the-fundraiser-and-the-tanzanian-immigrants-son-6450892.html Rainbow Tories: the geek, the fundraiser and the Tanzanian immigrants' son], ''Evening Standard'', 6 October 2011, accessed 10 January 2013</ref> His Student Rights bio also says he worked for a time at [[Lehman Brothers]].<ref>[http://www.studentrights.org.uk/about_us About Us], Student Rights, accessed 10 January 2013</ref>
 ==Activities==
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 GreenCEASE produced an amusing film entitled [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NL3KNFOJ3Y
-'Inside the Anti-Growth Lobby'] attempting to  portray the 2012 sustainability conference 'Planet Under Pressure' in London as somehow sinister, as well as a 'movie trailer' called 'Green Imperialism' featuring clips from the Forest Stewardship Council's 2012 conference in Dusseldorf.  But most hilarious is a short called 'World Domination' in which Kassam claims the WWF and other groups are restraining the development of poor countries - complete with visuals of a plastic panda running rampage across a map of the world. While it lasted, GreenCEASE railed against 'climate alarmists', advocating instead what it called 'climate realism' and, most damningly, opposed pursuing what it called 'anti-growth' environmental policies, in its words, 'before the science is settled'.
+'Inside the Anti-Growth Lobby'] attempting to portray the 2012 sustainability conference 'Planet Under Pressure' in London as somehow sinister, as well as a 'movie trailer' called 'Green Imperialism' featuring clips from the Forest Stewardship Council's 2012 conference in Dusseldorf.  But most hilarious is a short called 'World Domination' in which Kassam claims the WWF and other groups are restraining the development of poor countries - complete with visuals of a plastic panda running rampage across a map of the world. While it lasted, GreenCEASE railed against 'climate alarmists', advocating instead what it called 'climate realism' and, most damningly, opposed pursuing what it called 'anti-growth' environmental policies, in its words, 'before the science is settled'.
 The project, however, was short-lived and seems to have had little impact. Its Twitter activity petered out slowly, grinding to an apparent halt in March 2013. Kassam did not respond to questions about his own views on anthropogenic climate change, or on whether GreenCEASE had any other members, continues to exist or why it stopped. But it seems likely that it proved difficult and unrewarding to propagate such discredited doubt-mongering ideas anywhere but on the fringes and within the pre-existing denial movement.
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 ===Breitbart London===
-In February 2014 the Guardian reported that Kassam would join 'green-baiter' [[James Delingpole]] as part of the team working for a new London outlet of the right wing US-based news and opinion website [[Breitbart]].<ref>Roy Greenslade, [http://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2014/feb/17/digital-media-dailytelegraph James Delingpole and Raheem Kassam head Breitbart's new London team], The Gaurdian, 17 February 2014</ref>
+In February 2014 the Guardian reported that Kassam would join 'green-baiter' [[James Delingpole]] as part of the team working for a new London outlet of the right wing US-based news and opinion website [[Breitbart]].<ref>Roy Greenslade, [http://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2014/feb/17/digital-media-dailytelegraph James Delingpole and Raheem Kassam head Breitbart's new London team], The Guardian, 17 February 2014</ref>
 ===UKIP role===
 In October 2014, Kassam's own news site, [[Breitbart London]], announced that he would be leaving the organisation to start working as 'senior adviser' to [[United Kingdom Independence Party]] (UKIP) party leader [[Nigel Farage]]. The move followed Kassam's work on a number of UKIP puff-piece for the right wing media outlet. According to the write-up, the role was 'the first of its kind as UKIP grows and professionalises' and Kassam was 'set to lead on advising Mr Farage in developing party messaging, strategy, fundraising and publicity'.<ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-London/2014/10/23/Breitbart-London-Editor-Becomes-Senior-Aide-to-UKIPs-Nigel-Farage BREITBART LONDON EDITOR BECOMES SENIOR AIDE TO UKIP'S NIGEL FARAGE], Breitbart News, 23 October 2014, accessed 27 October 2014</ref>
-The right wing [[Spectator]] magazine mocked the the appointment, calling Kassam 'troublesome', 'wildly self-important', and a 'professional wind-up merchant'. Columnist [[Steerpike]] noted that the fawning tone of the anonymous [[Breitbart London]] announcement, including the line:
+The right wing [[Spectator]] magazine mocked the appointment, calling Kassam 'troublesome', 'wildly self-important', and a 'professional wind-up merchant'. Columnist [[Steerpike]] noted that the fawning tone of the anonymous [[Breitbart London]] announcement, including the line:
 ::'Breitbart understands from senior UKIP sources that Kassam was picked specifically for his political nous and campaigning prowess'.
 The Spectator suggested that UKIP could now adopt 'vicious American-style attack politics' and suggested that 'if UKIP is trying to be popular, they could hardly have picked a more unsuitable hire'.<ref>[http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/2014/10/breitbarts-loss-is-nigel-farages-gain-or-is-it/ Breitbart’s loss is Nigel Farage’s gain – or is it?], Spectator, 23 October 2014, accessed 27 October 2014</ref>
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 After Kassam's contract with [[UKIP]] expired, he returned to his previous role at [[Breitbart]].<ref> Steer Pike [http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/steerpike/2015/06/another-day-another-ukip-unresignation/ http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/steerpike/2015/06/another-day-another-ukip-unresignation/] ''Spectator'', 9 June 2015, accessed 10 June 2015.</ref>
-In September 2015 he conducted an 'exclusive' 40 minute interview for Breitbart London with [[Stephen Yaxley-Lennon]], the founder and former leader of the [[English Defence League]]. Kassam wrote admiringly that Lennon 'expressed regret over some of the decisions he made when he was an “angry” young man, but his demeanour, and depth of analysis during the interview shows that this is a long time behind him'.<ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/london/2015/09/11/exclusive-tommy-robinson-interview-i-dont-regret-forming-the-edl-i-wholeheartedly-regret-the-effect-it-has-had/ EXCLUSIVE: Tommy Robinson Interview – ‘I Don’t Regret Forming the EDL, I Wholeheartedly Regret the Effect It Has Had’], Breitbart London, 11 September 2015</ref>
+In September 2015 he conducted an 'exclusive' 40-minute interview for Breitbart London with [[Stephen Yaxley-Lennon]], the founder and former leader of the [[English Defence League]]. Kassam wrote admiringly that Lennon 'expressed regret over some of the decisions he made when he was an “angry” young man, but his demeanour, and depth of analysis during the interview shows that this is a long time behind him'.<ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/london/2015/09/11/exclusive-tommy-robinson-interview-i-dont-regret-forming-the-edl-i-wholeheartedly-regret-the-effect-it-has-had/ EXCLUSIVE: Tommy Robinson Interview – ‘I Don’t Regret Forming the EDL, I Wholeheartedly Regret the Effect It Has Had’], Breitbart London, 11 September 2015</ref>
 ===Middle East Forum===
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 He briefly considered running for candidacy in July, believing himself to be supported by [[Nigel Farage]]: 'Farage knows and he told me by way of third party that it was a good idea.' However, he did add: '[I] don’t know if that is true or not, to be honest.' <ref> Harriet Agerholm, [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nigel-farage-ukip-leadership-raheem-kassam-breitbart-editor-leader-bid-a7120281.html Editor of right-wing news site considers Ukip leadership bid and suggests he has Nigel Farage's backing], ''The Independent'', 5 July 2016. Accessed 06 October 2016. </ref> Instead of running, he supported  [[Steven Woolfe]], before he was disqualified on a technicality. <ref name=torunfor> [http://www.breitbart.com/london/2016/10/05/breitbarts-raheem-kassam-run-ukip-leader/ Breitbart’s Raheem Kassam To Run For UKIP Leader], ''Breitbart'', 05 October 2015. Accessed 06 October 2016. </ref>
-Kassam announced his intention to run for leader of [[UKIP]] on October 5th 2016, following [[Diane James]]’s resignation the day before.
+Kassam announced his intention to run for leader of [[UKIP]] on 5th October 2016, following [[Diane James]]’s resignation the day before.
 Talking to ''Guido Fawkes'', Kassam said, 'I, like ordinary UKIP members, am so tired of the chicanery at the top of this party. There is so much corruption. There is so much duplicity. [...] I’m clear about what I stand for: a strong, united UKIP, free of the Tory splitters,' and 'I want to Make UKIP Great Again'. Kassam and his campaign team have since set up a website, [MakeUKIPGreatAgain.com Make UKIP Great Again'], which they say is for 'members who want a return to UKIP at its best' and 'who want Nigel's legacy continued'. <ref> [http://makeukipgreatagain.com Make UKIP Great Again, About], ''MakeUKIPGreatAgain'', accessed 06 October 2016. </ref>
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 ==Views==
 ===Neoconservatism===
-According to the ''Evening Standard'', Kassam calls himself 'a [[Michael Gove]] Conservative' and cites his school reforms and his 'staunch and unapologetic'  views on foreign policy as the reason. He also stated that [[Margaret Thatcher]] is one of his idols  but called himself 'a bigger fan' of former US senator and Republican [[Barry Goldwater]]'.
+According to the ''Evening Standard'', Kassam calls himself 'a [[Michael Gove]] Conservative' and cites his school reforms and his 'staunch and unapologetic'  views on foreign policy as the reason. He also stated that [[Margaret Thatcher]] is one of his idols but called himself 'a bigger fan' of former US senator and Republican [[Barry Goldwater]]'.
-Kassam is also strongly Atlanticist and has said: 'I want to see an unbreakable bond with the US. It has led the way, showing how a country can flourish unashamedly in favour of democracy, free markets and the live-and-let-live attitude.'<ref>Josh Neicho, [http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/rainbow-tories-the-geek-the-fundraiser-and-the-tanzanian-immigrants-son-6450892.html Rainbow Tories: the geek, the fundraiser and the Tanzanian immigrants son], Evening Standard, 6 October 2011, accessed 10 January 2013</ref>
+Kassam is also strongly Atlanticist and has said: 'I want to see an unbreakable bond with the US. It has led the way, showing how a country can flourish unashamedly in favour of democracy, free markets and the live-and-let-live attitude.'<ref>Josh Neicho, [http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/rainbow-tories-the-geek-the-fundraiser-and-the-tanzanian-immigrants-son-6450892.html Rainbow Tories: the geek, the fundraiser and the Tanzanian immigrants' son], Evening Standard, 6 October 2011, accessed 10 January 2013</ref>
 ===Pro-Israel===
-Kassam has publicly supported Israel in both print and television media, including criticising Stephen Hawking for choosing to boycott a scientific conference in the country<ref>[http://www.thecommentator.com/article/3470/an_open_letter_to_stephen_hawking An Open Letter to Stephen Hawking], The Commentator, 8 May 2013</ref> and claiming on BBC News that Jerusalem is 'the capital of Israel'.<ref>[http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/how-do-you-convince-the-bbc-that-jerusalem-is-the-capital-of-israel/ How do you convince the BBC that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel?], The Times of Israel, 20 November 2012</ref>
+[[File:Raheem Kassam.png|300px|thumb|right|Raheem Kassam]] Kassam has publicly supported Israel in both print and television media, including criticising Stephen Hawking for choosing to boycott a scientific conference in the country<ref>[http://www.thecommentator.com/article/3470/an_open_letter_to_stephen_hawking An Open Letter to Stephen Hawking], The Commentator, 8 May 2013</ref> and claiming on BBC News that Jerusalem is 'the capital of Israel'.<ref>[http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/how-do-you-convince-the-bbc-that-jerusalem-is-the-capital-of-israel/ How do you convince the BBC that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel?], The Times of Israel, 20 November 2012</ref>
 ===Support for racial profiling===

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 Another gaffe he committed, as Farage was being heavily criticised for his focus on immigrants with HIV, was to advise him to respond to the allegations of ‘neglecting’ the people of South Thanet by reporting the ''Have I Got News for You'' team to the Police. The move undermined Farage’s image as a campaigner for free speech and implied that he was using the Police complaint to silence his critics. <ref>[http://www.thecommentator.com/article/5828/knives_are_out_for_ukip_aides_after_farage_thanet_poll_disaster Knives are out for UKIP aides after Farage Thanet poll disaster], ''The Commentator'', 10 May 2015. Accessed 06 October 2016. </ref> These mistakes led to the loss of that constituency by several thousand votes. <ref name= weirdraheem> [http://www.thecommentator.com/article/5856/farage_urged_to_disown_weird_raheem_kassam_after_repulsive_attack_on_deputy Farage urged to disown "weird" Raheem Kassam after ‘repulsive attack’ on deputy], ''The Commentator'', 15 May 2015. Accessed 06 October 2016. </ref>
-After the election, he complained that UKIP was a party full of 'rag-tag, unprofessional, embarrassing people' with 'no discipline'. ''The Guardian'' reports that Kassam left the party when some of his critics in UKIP called him a poisonous' influence on Farage, pushing the party too far to the right. He disputed this and claimed his detractors were upset by his closeness to Farage during the campaign, trying to stop the UKIP leader playing too big a role in the EU referendum. Kassam also expressed regret at having worked for UKIP in the first place, which he says led to him being made the 'fall guy' in the post-election feud between Farage’s camp and figures such as [[Douglas Carswell]], [[Patrick O’Flynn]] and [[Suzanne Evans]], who wanted the party to move towards the centre. <ref> Rowena Mason, [https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jun/10/raheem-kassam-ukip-nigel-farage-rag-tag-unprofessional-embarrassing-people Raheem Kassam: Ukip full of 'rag-tag, unprofessional, embarrassing people'], ''The Guardian'', 10 June 2015. Accessed 06 October 2016. </ref>
+He energetically refuted what the ''The Commentary'' had reported, complaining that he and Farage were the only professional ones, the rest of UKIP being full of 'rag-tag, unprofessional, embarrassing people' with 'no discipline'. He told ''The Guardian'' that he left the party of his own accord in order to 'bulletproof Nigel', when some of his critics in UKIP called him a 'poisonous' influence on Farage, pushing the party too far to the right. <ref> Rowena Mason, [https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jun/10/ukip-insider-raheem-kassam-we-had-to-lock-hq-doors-because-some-people-were-too-embarrassing-to-be-seen Ukip insider Raheem Kassam: ‘We had to lock HQ doors because some people were too embarrassing to be seen’], ''The Guardian'', 10 June 2015. Accessed 06 October 2016. </ref>
 In May 2015, UKIP leader Nigel Farage came under growing pressure to disown Kassam, described as 'totally weird' by former associates, after an article on the [[Breitbart]] news website attacked the party’s deputy [[Suzanne Evans]], personally accusing her of ‘crying and screaming’. <ref name= weirdraheem/>

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 ===UKIP role===
-In October 2014, Kassam's own news site, [[Breitbart London]], announced that he would be leaving the organisation to start working as 'senior adviser' to [[United Kingdom Independence Party]] (UKIP) party leader [[Nigel Farage]]. The move followed Kassam's work on a number of UKIP puff-piece for the right wing media outlet. According to the write-up, the role was 'the first of its kind as UKIP grows and professionalises' and Kassam was 'set to lead on advising Mr Farage in developing party messaging, strategy, fundraising and publicity'.<ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-London/2014/10/23/Breitbart-London-Editor-Becomes-Senior-Aide-to-UKIPs-Nigel-Farage BREITBART LONDON EDITOR BECOMES SENIOR AIDE TO UKIP'S NIGEL FARAGE], Breitbart News, 23 October 2014, accessed 27 October 2014</ref>
+*In October 2014, Kassam's own news site, [[Breitbart London]], announced that he would be leaving the organisation to start working as 'senior adviser' to [[United Kingdom Independence Party]] (UKIP) party leader [[Nigel Farage]]. The move followed Kassam's work on a number of UKIP puff-piece for the right wing media outlet. According to the write-up, the role was 'the first of its kind as UKIP grows and professionalises' and Kassam was 'set to lead on advising Mr Farage in developing party messaging, strategy, fundraising and publicity'.<ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-London/2014/10/23/Breitbart-London-Editor-Becomes-Senior-Aide-to-UKIPs-Nigel-Farage BREITBART LONDON EDITOR BECOMES SENIOR AIDE TO UKIP'S NIGEL FARAGE], Breitbart News, 23 October 2014, accessed 27 October 2014</ref>
 The right wing [[Spectator]] magazine mocked the the appointment, calling Kassam 'troublesome', 'wildly self-important', and a 'professional wind-up merchant'. Columnist [[Steerpike]] noted that the fawning tone of the anonymous [[Breitbart London]] announcement, including the line:
@@ Line 87: / Line 87: @@
 After the 2015 general election, Kassam confirmed on Twitter that his contract had expired and he would no longer be working with UKIP.<ref> Channel 4 [http://news.channel4.com/election2015/05/14/update-6234/ Raheem Kassam, key Farage adviser, leaves Ukip], 14 May 2015, accessed 10 June 2015.</ref>
 ==Return to Breitbart==

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:51, 2 June 2016
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	In September 2015 he conducted an 'exclusive' 40 minute interview for Breitbart London with [[Stephen Yaxley-Lennon]], the founder and former leader of the [[English Defence League]]. Kassam wrote admiringly that Lennon 'expressed regret over some of the decisions he made when he was an “angry” young man, but his demeanour, and depth of analysis during the interview shows that this is a long time behind him'.<ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/london/2015/09/11/exclusive-tommy-robinson-interview-i-dont-regret-forming-the-edl-i-wholeheartedly-regret-the-effect-it-has-had/ EXCLUSIVE: Tommy Robinson Interview – ‘I Don’t Regret Forming the EDL, I Wholeheartedly Regret the Effect It Has Had’], Breitbart London, 11 September 2015</ref>		In September 2015 he conducted an 'exclusive' 40 minute interview for Breitbart London with [[Stephen Yaxley-Lennon]], the founder and former leader of the [[English Defence League]]. Kassam wrote admiringly that Lennon 'expressed regret over some of the decisions he made when he was an “angry” young man, but his demeanour, and depth of analysis during the interview shows that this is a long time behind him'.<ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/london/2015/09/11/exclusive-tommy-robinson-interview-i-dont-regret-forming-the-edl-i-wholeheartedly-regret-the-effect-it-has-had/ EXCLUSIVE: Tommy Robinson Interview – ‘I Don’t Regret Forming the EDL, I Wholeheartedly Regret the Effect It Has Had’], Breitbart London, 11 September 2015</ref>
		+
		+	===Middle East Forum===
		+	In May 2016 Kassam was described as "Shillman-Ginsburg fellow" at the US neoconservative [[Middle East Forum]], which re-published some of his [[Breitbart]] articles.<ref>[http://www.meforum.org/5994/london-mayor-election London Elects a Muslim Mayor Who Defended 9/11 Terrorists], Middle East Forum, 5 May 2016, accessed 2 June 2016</ref>

	==Views==		==Views==