View source for British Freedom Party

[[File:250px-British Freedom.JPG|right|200px]]The [[British Freedom Party]] (BFP) was a short-lived far-right political party in the UK. It was formed by disillusioned former members of the [[British National Party]] in October 2010.<ref>[http://www.searchlightmagazine.com/index.php?link=template&story=335 New BNP appointments will not stop party sinking], ''Searchlight'', December 2010.</ref>
The party was de-registered by the [[Electoral Commission]] in December 2012<ref>[http://i.imgur.com/WS9hx.png Extract from Register of Political Parties] Electoral Commission, acc 9 August 2013</ref> after failing to return the annual registration form and £25 fee by the due date of 31 October 2012.<ref>Sonia Gable, [http://www.searchlightmagazine.com/blogs/searchlight-blog/british-freedom-party-deregistration-the-truth-%E2%80%93-exclusive], Searchlight magazine, 19 December 2012 15:53, acc 9 August 2013</ref>

The party's initial entry in the Register of Political Parties listed its officers as party leader [[Peter Mullins]], nominating officer [[Peter Stafford]] and treasurer [[Simon Bennett]].<ref>British Freedom Party, Regulated Entity Profile, the Electoral Commission, accessed 25 November 2011.</ref>

==Counterjihad links==
===Counterjihad London conference 2011===
The BFP quickly developed links with the anti-Muslim [[Counterjihad]] movement. Members including [[Peter Mullins]], [[Lee Barnes]], [[Simon Bennett]] and [[George Whale]] attended [[Counterjihad London 2011]].<ref>[http://britishfreedom.org/british-freedom-representatives-attend-international-counterjihad-meeting/ British Freedom Representatives Attend International Counterjihad Meeting], British Freedom Party, 27 September 2011.</ref>  

The party's website reported on its attendance at the conference on its website:

:This was a golden opportunity for party representatives to meet, socialise and discuss with leading international figures, including the creators of influential blogs such as [[Tundra Tabloids]] (Finland), [[Gates of Vienna]] (USA) and [[Vlad Tepes]] (Sweden), leaders of the [[English Defence League]], also delegates from Austria, Canada, France, Denmark, Germany and Italy.

:On Saturday evening and through much of Sunday, we informally debated issues of Muslim influence and extremism in the West and the different strategies and actions that our respective nations might apply in order to curb and neutralise the growing menace of militant Islam. Though there was some healthy disagreement, all participants came away from the meeting with a renewed determination to meet the threat head on, and not to shirk our collective responsibility to defend Western values and freedoms for future generations of Europeans.

===Former UKIP-er appointed chairman===

On 9 November 2011, the party announced a new officer board, including former [[UKIP]] candidate and counterjihad activist [[Paul Weston]] as chairman, [[George Whale]] as national nominating officer, and [[Richard Bateman]] as treasurer.<ref>[http://britishfreedom.org/new-executive-council-announced/ New Executive Council Announced], British Freedom Party, 9 November 2011.</ref>

===Merger with the EDL===

Following a meeting on 19 November 2011, it was announced that [[English Defence League]] leader "[[Tommy Robinson]]" " proposed an association between the EDL and BF.<ref>[http://britishfreedom.org/the-english-defence-league-and-british-freedom/ The English Defence League and British Freedom], British Freedom Party, 19 November 2011.</ref> This pact proposed that EDL members could stand as election candidates under the British Freedom Party name, under suitable circumstances.<ref name="indy">Kevin Rawlinson, [www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/english-defence-league-prepares-to-storm-local-elections-6267740.html English Defence League prepares to storm local elections], The Independent, 25 November 2011|</ref> In April 2012 it was announced that the EDL leader, [[Tommy Robinson (English Defence League)|Tommy Robinson]], would become deputy party leader. According to ''[[The Guardian]]'' he would focus on anti-Islamic strategies.<ref> Mark Townsend, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/apr/28/britain-far-right-anti-islamic Britain's far right to focus on anti-Islamic policy], ''The Guardian'' 28 April 2012</ref>

Paul Weston was replaced as chairman in early January 2013 by the former EDL deputy leader  [[Kevin Carroll]].<ref>[http://britishfreedom.org/kev-carroll-becomes-british-freedom-chairman/ Kevin Carroll becomes British Freedom chairman] BritishFreedom.org (link now dead)</ref>

==External resources==
*Kevin Rawlinson, [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/angry-face-of-farright-protest-prepares-to-storm-local-elections-6267740.html Angry face of far-right protest prepares to storm local elections], ''The Independent'', 25 November 2011.
*[http://uaf.org.uk/2011/11/leaked-call-reveals-ex-bnp-cabal-had-edl-in-their-sights-for-months/ Leaked call reveals ex-BNP cabal had EDL in its sights for months], Unite Against Fascism, 28 November 2011.

==Contact==
The BFP's website appears to have ceased publishing (as of August 2013).

==Notes==
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[[Category:Far Right]]
[[Category:Counterjihad]]
[[Category:Islam Critics]]