Britain First
Britain First is a small far-right political movement founded by ex-BNP activist Jim Dowson in 2011.[1]
The group had links through Dowson to the Protestant Coalition in Northern Ireland, until they reportedly fell out in September 2013.[2]
In July 2014, founder Jim Dowson quit the group, after it released a series of videos showing leader Paul Golding and others entering mosques and intimidating imams. Dowson said it had been 'overrun' by 'racists and extremists' and said of Golding: 'I think he is fooling himself and lots of people that Britain First is a Christian group. Sadly, it has just become a violent front for people abusing the Bible.'[3]
In January 2016 Golding was found guilty of harassment of a Muslim woman and of wearing a political uniform signifying association with a political organisation.
Contents
High Court Ban
In August 2016 Britain First is banned from Luton and all mosques in England and Wales for the next three years following a High Court case brought by Bedfordshire police. The officers accused the anti-Islam party of creating 'community tensions' by their activism. The ban applies to the leaders of the party, but activists for the anti-Islam group are also effectively subject to the ban, as leader Paul Golding, 34, and his deputy Jayda Fransen, 30, are even prohibited from directing their campaigners to the town. This includes its so-called "Christian patrols". [4]
High Court Ban Breach
On September 8th Paul Golding is investigated over a suspected High Court injunction breach. Activists filmed themselves entering an Islamic centre accused of being home to a 'radical' Imam in Cardiff on January 20, and the leader was reportedly present during this action. [5]
People
- Paul Golding - Chairman. Former head of publicity for the BNP
- Andrew McBride – Deputy Chairman
- Jim Dowson – Administration Manager
- Graeme Thomas – Communications Officer[6]
- Jayda Fransen - deputy leader in March 2016[7]
Website
Social media
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/BritainFirst (active)
External resources
- Ewan Palmer, Far Right Britain First Party 'Invade' East London Mosque, May 19, 2014 17:27 BST
Notes
- ↑ Britain First, Hope Not Hate, accessed 18 January 2014.
- ↑ Dowson dumped, Hope Not Hate, 6 September 2013.
- ↑ Nick Sommerlad, Britain First founder quits over mosque invasions which attract racists and extremists', The Mirror, 27 July 2014
- ↑ Paul Wright, '- Britain First banned from Luton and all mosques in England and Wales after police High Court victory', International Business Times, August 16, 2016. Last Accessed 08 September 2016.
- ↑ Paul Wright, '- Britain First leader investigated over Cardiff 'mosque invasion' and suspected High Court injunction breach' International Business Times, September 8, 2016. Last Accessed 13 September 2016.
- ↑ People, Britain First, accessed 18 January 2013.
- ↑ Britain First’s Jayda Fransen Is Having A Nightmare On Twitter, Huffington Post, 28 March 2016, accessed 2 June 2016
- ↑ Britain First's Twitter account reported that its website was offline 'for some unexplained reason' that even its technical team were 'struggling to explain' shortly after it launched a video on 'Christian Patrols' on 2/3 February 2014.
