A sinister new group of right-wing extremists is trying to revive Oswald Mosley’s notorious British Union of Fascists party. Calling themselves the 21st Century Blackshirts, members look up to former Smethwick MP and sympathiser Mosley as their spiritual leader.
Category Archives: UK
Former UKIP councillor faces no charges over Facebook posts
A UKIP councillor who admitted sharing offensive material about Muslims on Facebook will not face charges, the Crown Prosecution Service has said.
West Mercia Police said Eric Kitson, 59, was questioned but not arrested over “concerns raised by the public”. In May a computer was seized and a property in Stourport searched for evidence. The CPS said there was “insufficient evidence” to charge the former Worcestershire county councillor.
Labour council rejects disabled man’s Ramadan fast help plea
A disabled man who is unable to feed himself has said his local council is refusing to pay for two hours of extra care to help him fast during Ramadan.
Imraan Adam, from Derby, has cerebral palsy and is fed his meals by carers. He said in order to fast between sunrise and sunset he needed additional help very early in the morning. Derby City Council said his request was denied because of its “challenging” financial status and because he already got a “substantial level of support”.
Mr Adam, who graduated from the University of Derby with a first class journalism degree, said: “I can’t do anything with my hands and I need to be physically fed. It means I have to come up with the money myself – or I can’t fast.” He said it would cost about an extra £30 a day – the current weekly cost of his support is nearly £2,000.
In previous years the city council has paid for the extra care.
Ipswich: Anti-fascism group to lead march against ‘politics of hatred’
A broad coalition of Ipswich people including members of all major trade unions, the Labour party and many other community groups will be marching on Sunday in support of the town’s tradition of multiculturalism. The march is organised by Ipswich Unite Against Fascism (UAF).
David Ellesmere, leader of Ipswich Borough Council, said: “Ipswich has a long and proud history of being a diverse town where people of all communities get on. Extremists who seek to create divisions amongst Ipswich people do not speak for us. They are not Ipswich and we will not let them divide us.” Miles Hubbard Unite regional officer said: “By marching we are showing that there is no place for the politics of hatred in Ipswich.”
The march will gather at Giles Circus in Queen Street, Ipswich at 11am. For more information, contact Unite Ipswich on 01473 250321.
Tommy Robinson, the EDL and the Oxford Union
“Simon Blackaby thinks that you can’t have a debate about nationalism without inviting the leader of a violent and reactionary gang of racist thugs. We disagree.”
Tessa Frost and Orlando Lazar-Gillard challenge the thinking behind the proposal to invite English Defence League leader Stephen Lennon to speak at the Oxford Union.
Public meeting to counter Croydon anti-Islam protest
An academy is to host a public meeting to counter an anti-Islam demonstration in Croydon later this month. Oasis Academy Shirley Park in Ashburton will hold a roundtable event on Thursday July 11 for locals to publicly reject the protest by the English Volunteer Force (EVF).
The EVF, an English Defence League splinter group, is to stage a rally at the UK Border Agency’s Lunar House headquarters on July 27. The group says it is protesting “Islamic, African and east European immigrants,” who it claims “suck and bleed our country dry”. Oasis’s meeting, which will be held at its the primary academy building in Long Lane, will invite community groups and local residents to respond to the EVF and celebrate the diversity of Croydon. The meeting, hosted by Oasis founder Steve Chalke, will run from 7pm to 11pm.
Bonnyrigg mosque plans prompt backlash
Plans to open a mosque and Muslim community centre in central Bonnyrigg have sparked concern among local residents. Midlothian Council has received 37 written objections to applicant Mohammed Asaf’s application to turn property at 81-83 High Street into a meeting place for local Muslims.
Footballer Shaun Tuck admits encouraging bomb attacks on mosques
A footballer urged people to bomb mosques and joked about beheading Muslim children after soldier Lee Rigby’s murder.
Witton Albion’s Shaun Tuck admitted the Twitter rant but denied being racist, saying it was a “moment of madness”. Tuck, 26, of Norris Green in Liverpool, pleaded guilty to an offence under the Communications Act, city magistrates heard.
He wrote online: “All the mosques in England now should be bombed or gassed out!!!… Or stormed by 50 lads machetes, swords the lot. An make a statement. Am raging in me loft here yno… Got the balaclava out, dusted down an ready for the meet. I’d be going through there door mate an taking there kids head off an killing whoever was in site!!”
Anti-Muslim attacks in London rose eightfold after Rigby murder
ENGAGE reports that Metropolitan Police Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe has confirmed that hate crimes against Muslims in London rose from one to eight per day in the immediate aftermath Lee Rigby’s murder. Hogan-Howe stated:
Following the terrible murder of Lee Rigby in Woolwich we did see a rise in the number of reported hate crimes against Muslims from one a day to eight a day.
This lasted for around two weeks and has recently reduced to around two a day. There are two arson attacks which are always serious as people’s lives are put at risk. As a result we have had 24-hour police guarding of some high-risk sites over the last few weeks and extra patrolling. We are reviewing the situation every week across London and will take appropriate action to keep people safe.
Unite joins anti-fascist march in Ipswich on Sunday
Unite activists in Ipswich, Suffolk will be joining a march for multiculturalism on Sunday (7 July) – a week after members of the far right English Defence League (EDL) tried to force their way into Unite’s offices in the town.
Unite, the country’s largest union, condemned last weekend’s attempt by EDL members to get into the union’s Grimwade Street’s offices and the racist chanting at Unite members attending a meeting in the building.
Unite regional officer Miles Hubbard said: “The actions of EDL members in trying to get into the Unite offices gives the lie to any notion that the EDL is a mainstream political organisation. In attempting to break up a peaceful meeting through intimidation and racist chanting they have demonstrated all the characteristics of the fascist ideology.
“The EDL is opposed to integration and multiculturalism, and is trying to stir up division. By marching on Sunday we are showing that there is no place for the politics of hatred in Ipswich and throughout Suffolk.”