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'{{pp-pc1|expiry=July 6, 2016}} {{Use British English|date = March 2012}} {{Use dmy dates|date = December 2012}} {{Infobox political party |country = the United Kingdom |name_english = Britain First |name_native = |logo = [[File:Britain First New.jpg|200px]] |leader = [[Paul Golding]]<ref name=PaulGolding>{{cite web|title=About Paul Golding|url=http://www.britainfirst.org/people/paul-golding/|publisher=Britain First|accessdate=3 July 2014}}</ref> |chairman |secretary_general = |foundation = 2011 |split = [[British National Party]] |dissolution = |membership_year = |membership = |headquarters = London<ref name=comm>{{cite web|title=Britain First|url=http://search.electoralcommission.org.uk/English/Registrations/PP2214|publisher=[[Electoral Commission]]|accessdate=19 April 2015}}</ref> |newspaper = |youth_wing = | ideology = {{unbulleted list | [[British nationalism]],<ref name=bn>{{cite web|title=Britain First: A Future For British Children|url=http://www.britainfirst.org/about-us/|publisher=Britainfirst.org|accessdate=21 May 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131223191446/http://www.britainfirst.org/about-us/|archivedate=23 December 2013}}</ref> | [[British unionism]],<ref>Britain First: [http://www.britainfirst.org/britain-first/northern-ireland-politics-rocked-by-launch-of-new-unionistloyalist-political-party/ "Northern Ireland politics rocked by launch of new Unionist/Loyalist political party"], press statement (no date). Retrieved 15 May 2014.</ref> | [[Euroscepticism]],<ref name=Principles>Britain First [http://www.britainfirst.org/statement-of-principles/ Statement of Principles]</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=European elections: Party-by-party guide|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27218759|accessdate=19 May 2014|newspaper=[[BBC News]]|date=8 May 2014|quote=On its website, the party promises to promote a "robust and confrontational" message about the need to leave the European Union, end immigration and put British workers first.}}</ref> | [[Christian fundamentalism]]<ref>{{Citation |first=Dominic |last=Kennedy |title=The religious zealot who hands Bibles to Muslims |date=24 May 2014 |newspaper=The Times |url= http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/faith/article4098919.ece |accessdate=10 July 2014}}</ref> | [[Fascism]]<ref name="Adam Bienkov">{{cite web|url=http://www.politics.co.uk/news/2014/06/19/britain-first-the-violent-new-face-of-british-fascism|title=Britain First: The violent new face of British fascism|author=Adam Bienkov|work=politics.co.uk}}</ref><ref name="Telegraph.co.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/world-war-one/11207973/The-loathsome-Britain-First-are-trying-to-hijack-the-poppy-dont-let-them.html|title=The loathsome Britain First are trying to hijack the poppy – don’t let them|date=4 November 2014|work=Telegraph.co.uk}}</ref><ref name="Lamiat Sabin">{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/fascist-group-britain-first-to-start-direct-action-on-mail-and-sun-journalists-over-lynda-post-9817774.html|title='Fascist' group Britain First to start 'direct action' on Mail and Sun journalists over Lynda Bellingham post|author=Lamiat Sabin|date=25 October 2014|work=The Independent}}</ref> <!--DO NOT ADD ANY IDEOLOGIES TO THIS, OR ANY OTHER, ARTICLE WITHOUT RELIABLE SOURCES--> }} |position = [[Far-right politics|Far-right]]<ref name="independent">{{cite news | work = [[The Independent]] | title = Far right extremist group Britain First threatens to arrest Islamist cleric Anjem Choudary | first = Paul | last = Gallagher | url = http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/far-right-extremist-group-britain-first-threatens-to-arrest-islamist-cleric-anjem-choudary-8634812.html | date = 28 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |first=Adam |last=Bienkov |title=Britain First: The violent new face of British fascism |date=19 June 2014 |website=politic.co.uk |url=http://www.politics.co.uk/news/2014/06/19/britain-first-the-violent-new-face-of-british-fascism |accessdate=10 July 2014}}</ref> |international = |european = |europarl = |colorcode = {{Britain First/meta/color}} |colours = {{colour box|Red}}{{colour box|White}}{{colour box|Blue}}<br>Red, white and blue |website = {{URL|http://www.britainfirst.org/}} |seats1_title = [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] |seats1 = {{Composition bar|0|650|hex=#993366}} |seats2_title = [[House of Lords]] |seats2 = {{Composition bar|0|724|hex=#993366}} |seats3_title = [[European Parliament]] |seats3 = {{Composition bar|0|73|hex=#993366}} |seats8_title = [[Local government in the United Kingdom|Local government]] |seats8 = {{Composition bar|0|21259|hex=#993366}}<!--Parish and town councillors do not count to this total, this is for principal authority seats--> }} '''Britain First''' is a far-right,<ref name="independent"/><ref name="far-right">{{cite news | work = [[The Daily Telegraph]] | title = Electoral Commission sorry for extremist party use of Lee Rigby slogan | url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10789891/Electoral-Commission-sorry-for-extremist-party-use-of-Lee-Rigby-slogan.html | date = 26 April 2014}}</ref><ref name=four>{{cite news|title=Britain First: inside the extremist group targeting mosques|url=http://www.channel4.com/news/britain-first-far-right-anti-muslim-extremists-mosques|accessdate=20 June 2014|work=[[Channel 4 News]]|date=19 June 2014}}</ref><ref name="ibt">{{cite news | work= [[International Business Times]] | url = http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/who-are-britain-first-far-right-party-invading-mosques-1449289 | title = Who are Britain First? The Far-Right Party 'Invading' Mosques | first = Ewan | last = Palmer | date = 20 May 2014}}</ref><ref name="times">{{cite news | work = [[Sunday Times]] | url = http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/article1414751.ece | title = Far right invades mosques to hand out Bibles | first = Dipesh | last = Gadher | date = 25 May 2014}}</ref> and [[British nationalism|British nationalist]]<ref name=bn/> political party and movement formed in 2011 by former members of the [[British National Party]].<ref name="ibt"/> The party is led by a former BNP councillor [[Paul Golding]], and was founded by [[Jim Dowson]], an [[Pro-life|anti-abortion]] campaigner linked to [[Ulster loyalism|Ulster loyalist]] militants.<ref name="independent"/> Britain First campaigns primarily against [[Immigration to the United Kingdom since Irish independence|immigration]], [[multiculturalism]] and what it sees as the [[Islamisation]] of the [[United Kingdom]], and advocates the preservation of [[British culture|traditional British culture]]. The group is inspired by Ulster loyalism and has a [[vigilante]] wing called the "Britain First Defence Force". It attracted attention by taking [[direct action]] such as protests outside homes of alleged Islamists, and what it describes as "[[Sharia patrols (London)#Responses|Christian patrols]]" and "invasions" of British mosques,<ref name="ibt"/><ref name="times"/> and has been noted for its [[internet activism|online activism]].<ref name=trending/> The group's claim to be Christian has been condemned by all major denominations of the faith in the UK.<ref name=christian/> It has contested elections to the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]], the [[European Parliament]] and the [[Mayor of London|mayoralty of London]], but has not held any elected posts. ==History== Britain First was created by [[Jim Dowson]], who ran a call centre in [[Dundonald]], East Belfast, for the [[British National Party]] (BNP). Dowson's links with the BNP as a fundraiser ended acrimoniously in October 2010 when he was accused of groping a female activist.<ref>[http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/bnp-money-man-quits-after-1074247 BNP money man quits after model accuses him of groping her in hotel room]. ''[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]]''. 31 October 2010.</ref><ref>[http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/exposed-scottish-bnp-no2-unmasked-3607390 Exposed: Scottish BNP No.2 unmasked as man behind Britain First Defence Force's sickening invasion of mosques]. ''[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]]''. 26 May 2014.</ref> A former [[Calvinist]] minister,<ref name=four/> Dowson is a Scottish [[Christian fundamentalism|Christian fundamentalist]]. Based in [[Ballygowan]], [[Northern Ireland]], he also led an [[Pro-life|anti-abortion]] campaign, the [[UK Life League]]. Other former officials from the British National Party joined Dowson in the formation of Britain First. Its current chairman Paul Golding, had been a councillor in [[Sevenoaks]], Kent, in 2009–11 representing the BNP,<ref>Sophie Madden, [http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/9069403.Ex_Swanley_BNP_councillor_heads_new_nationalist_movement/ "Former BNP Councillor Paul Golding heads Britain First nationalist movement"], ''News Shopper'', 8 June 2011</ref> as well as the BNP's Communications Officer.<ref>[http://www.bnp.org.uk/category/person/paul-golding BNP website]</ref> Britain First was launched through the "British Resistance" website in May 2011.<ref name="Intro">[http://thebritishresistance.co.uk/pp-news/980-introducing-britain-first Introducing Britain First] British Resistance. 26 May 2011</ref> Others involved in Britain First's launch included the former South East regional organiser of the BNP, Andy McBride, and Kevin Edwards, a former BNP councillor and organiser in Wales. In November 2015, Britain First claimed that its [[Facebook]] page had over a million<!--This is from the reference. Please find another reference if you wish to change the figure instead of merely changing the number--> "likes", more than any other British political party<ref>{{cite news|last1=Withnall|first1=Adam|title=Britain First far-right group claims to be 'first political party' to reach 1 million likes on Facebook|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/britain-first-far-right-group-claims-to-be-first-political-party-to-reach-1-million-likes-on-a6728991.html|accessdate=14 November 2015|work=The Independent|date=10 November 2015}}</ref> and the British Prime Minister, [[David Cameron]].<ref name=trending>{{cite news|last1=Tomchak|first1=Anne-Marie|title=#BBCtrending: The rise of Britain First online|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-29525146|accessdate=9 October 2014|work=[[BBC News]]|date=9 October 2014}}</ref> [[Hope not Hate]] estimates that two million people per day interact with material from the Britain First Facebook page.<ref name=huffarrest/> At the end of November, Facebook briefly closed the Britain First page for breaching its community guidelines. The group also had to remove two photos published without permission.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Britain First is trying to accuse Facebook of fascism|url = http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/britain-first-claims-fascist-facebook-has-closed-down-group-s-page-on-social-network-a6754651.html|website = The Independent|accessdate = 1 December 2015|language = |date = 30 November 2015|last = Eleftheriou-Smith|first = Loulla-Mae}}<br>- {{Cite web|title = Facebook reverts ban on Britain First under 'hate speech' rules|url = http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/11/30/facebook-shuts-down-far-right-group-britain-first-under-hate-speech-rules/|website = Pink News|accessdate = 1 December 2015|date = 30 November 2015|last = Duffy|first = Nick}}</ref> It later called Facebook "fascist".<ref>{{cite web | title=Facebook took Britain First's page down. But then it gave it back | website=The Independent | date=30 November 2015 | url=http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/britain-first-facebook-page-restored-hours-after-far-right-group-accused-social-network-of-being-a6754851.html | accessdate=2 December 2015 | author=Andrew Griffin}}<br>- {{cite web | last=Duell | first=Mark | title=Far-Right group Britain First accuses Facebook of 'fascism' | website=Mail Online | date=30 November 2015 | url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3339943/Far-Right-group-Britain-accuses-Facebook-fascism-page-briefly-taken-down.html | accessdate=2 December 2015}}</ref> ===National People's Party=== In November 2011, Britain First announced the registration of a political party, the "National People's Party", with Golding named as leader, Edwards as nominating officer and McBride as treasurer.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.britainfirst.org/about-us/people/ |title=The Britain First Leadership Team |publisher=Britain First |date=21 November 2011 |accessdate=20 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.britainfirst.org/britain-first/national-peoples-party-authorised-by-electoral-commission/ |title=National People's Party official public launch |publisher=Britain First |date=21 November 2011 |accessdate=20 April 2013}}</ref> However the [[Electoral Commission (United Kingdom)|Electoral Commission]] register shows Britain First listed itself from November 2011 as a political party, with the same roles for the three officers, and no current or past listing for a National People's Party,<ref name="EC">Register of political parties at [http://electoralcommission.org.uk Electoral Commission] website</ref> so it is not clear whether the National People's Party has a separate existence. The Britain First website carries a constitution for the Party stating, among other things, that "The campaign group Britain First will ... be entitled to put forward a representative to sit on the Standing Committee", a six-person group "tasked with the direction of the Party and running all its affairs".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britainfirst.org/constitution/|title=National People's Party constitution|work=britainfirst.org}}</ref> ===Northern Ireland offshoot=== The principal figures in Britain First, Dowson and Golding, launched a new political party in [[Northern Ireland]] in April 2013.<ref name="Young">Connla Young, [http://www.irishnews.com/news/union-flag-protesters-launch-new-party-1250590 "Union flag protesters launch new party"], ''[[The Irish News]]'', 25 April 2013</ref> Dowson was registered with the [[Electoral Commission (United Kingdom)|Electoral Commission]] as the [[Protestant Coalition]]'s leader, and Golding as its treasurer.<ref name="EC"/> However, Dowson stated at the launch that the Coalition had no one leader.<ref name="Young"/> Golding had flown into Belfast in December 2012 to help co-ordinate [[Belfast City Hall flag protests|protests]] over the decision by [[Belfast City Council]] to limit the flying of the [[Union flag]] over [[Belfast City Hall]].<ref>Deborah McAleese, [http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/former-bnp-man-and-nick-griffin-excrony-paul-golding-flies-to-belfast-for-loyalist-flag-protest-29005554.html "Former BNP man and Nick Griffin ex-crony Paul Golding flies to Belfast for loyalist flag protest"], ''[[Belfast Telegraph]]'', 15 December 2012</ref> Dowson had been prominent in the protests, and at the time of the launch, was awaiting trial for public order offences, as was another of the Coalition's founders, [[Willie Frazer]].<ref name="Young"/> The website and logo of the Protestant Coalition closely resembled those of Britain First, although neither site explicitly mentioned an organisational link.<ref>A comparison of the sites as of 24 April 2013 is shown [http://web.archive.org/web/20130815134230/http://atheismnorthernireland.com/2013/04/24/the-shambolic-genesis-of-the-protestant-coalition/ here].</ref> ===Departure of Jim Dowson=== In July 2014, founder Jim Dowson left Britain First. The ''[[Daily Mirror]]'' and ''[[The Independent]]'' wrote that Dowson left because of the party's "mosque invasions", which he considered to be “provocative and counterproductive”, as well as “unacceptable and unchristian” and "just as bad" as [[Anjem Choudary]]. Paul Golding reacted to this by saying that Britain First was, "as far as right-wing organisations go, relatively scandal-free”.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Sommerlad|first1=Nick|title=Britain First founder quits over mosque invasions which attract ''racists and extremists''|url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/britain-first-founder-quits-over-3923810|accessdate=29 July 2014|work=[[Daily Mirror]]|date=27 July 2014}}<br>- Lizzie Dearden, [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/britain-first-founder-jim-dowson-quits-over-mosque-invasions-and-racists-and-extremists-9632770.html "Britain First founder Jim Dowson quits over mosque invasions and 'racists and extremists'"], ''The Independent'', 28 July 2014</ref> Britain First itself denied the ''Mirror''{{'s}} story, calling it "chief communist newspaper and lover of all things anti-British". The party claimed to have published a farewell letter from Dowson, in which he cited fatigue and the safety of his family as his reasons to leave.<ref>{{cite web|last1=McBride|first1=Andrew|title="DON’T BELIEVE THE MEDIA LIES!" – STATEMENT FROM DEPUTY LEADER ANDY MCBRIDE|url=https://www.britainfirst.org/dont-believe-media-lies-statement-deputy-leader-andy-mcbride/|publisher=Britain First|accessdate=29 July 2014}}</ref> ==Leader== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" ! width=10%|General Secretary ! width=10%|Took Office ! width=10%|Left Office |- | [[Paul Golding]] | 2011 | ''Incumbent'' |} ==Electoral history== ===2014 European elections=== Britain First registered with the [[Electoral Commission (United Kingdom)|Electoral Commission]] on 10 January 2014.<ref name=comm/> In 2014, the party registered the phrase "Remember [[Murder of Lee Rigby|Lee Rigby]]" for use in the [[2014 European elections]]. The chair of the Electoral Commission later issued an apology "for the offence that has been caused" by accepting the registration.<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/04/26/electoral-commission-britain-first-lee-rigby_n_5217680.html "Electoral Commission Issues Grovelling Apology After Extremist Party, Britain First, Uses Lee Rigby Slogan"], ''[[Huffington Post]]'', 26 April 2014<br>- [http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/lee-rigbys-mother-outraged-after-7037042 "Lee Rigby's mother outraged after political party allowed to use his name on ballot papers"], ''[[Manchester Evening News]]'', 26 April 2014</ref> When questioned by [[Andrew Neil]] on the BBC's ''Daily Politics'' of the offence caused to Rigby's mother, Paul Golding said "We apologise to the mother of Lee Rigby, but it was a major act of terrorism, it was a big public event. He was a serving soldier".<ref name=dailypol/> Britain First stood candidates for the [[European Parliament election, 2014 (United Kingdom)|2014 European elections]] in [[Wales (European Parliament constituency)|Wales]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Vote 2014: European election candidates for Wales|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-27127311|accessdate=12 May 2014|newspaper=[[BBC News]]|date=28 April 2014}}</ref> and [[Scotland (European Parliament constituency)|Scotland]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Vote 2014: European election candidates for Scotland|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-27128651|accessdate=12 May 2014|newspaper=[[BBC News]]|date=28 April 2014}}</ref> It encouraged English supporters, in the absence of a Britain First candidate, to instead vote for the [[English Democrats]] or the [[UK Independence Party]] (UKIP), while warning against voting for the BNP.<ref>{{cite web|title=WHO TO VOTE FOR TOMORROW IF NOT BRITAIN FIRST?|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=473136309498302&set=vb.300455573433044&type=2&theater|work=Britain First|publisher=[[Facebook]]|accessdate=21 May 2014}}</ref> The party came 8th of 11 in Wales, with 6,633 votes (0.9%),<ref>{{cite web|title=Vote 2014 - Wales|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/eu-regions/W08000001|publisher=[[BBC News]]|accessdate=25 May 2014}}</ref> and 7th of 9 in Scotland with 13,639 votes (1.02%, more than the BNP).<ref>{{cite web|title=Vote 2014 - Scotland|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/eu-regions/S15000001|publisher=[[BBC News]]|accessdate=26 May 2014}}</ref> ===Rochester and Strood by-election, 2014=== Britain First stood its first parliamentary candidate for the [[Rochester and Strood by-election]] on 20 November 2014, nominating its Deputy Leader, Jayda Fransen. The party had been active in nearby [[Gillingham, Kent|Gillingham]] in opposition to a planned mosque.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Francis|first1=Paul|title=George Osborne, Theresa May and Chris Grayling to visit Rochester and Strood ahead of by-election caused by Mark Reckless' defection to Ukip|url=http://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/top-tories-to-hit-campaign-25513/|accessdate=24 October 2014|work=Kent Online|date=18 October 2014}}</ref> Britain First's campaign for the by-election drew attention when the party uploaded a photo of Fransen together with local activists from the [[UK Independence Party]] (UKIP). UKIP responded by saying that the activists were not aware of the implications of the photograph, while Fransen said that the UKIP activists asked for the photo and that she was under the impression there were strong similarities between the two parties.<ref name=ukip>{{cite news|last1=Dearden|first1=Lizzie|title=Britain First accuses Ukip of 'playing political game' with snub over Rochester photo|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/britain-first-accuses-ukip-of-playing-political-game-with-snub-over-rochester-photo-9824058.html|accessdate=29 October 2014|work=[[The Independent]]|date=28 October 2014}}</ref> [[Royal Mail]] refused to deliver a leaflet for the party because it believes it to be illegal. The company said it could refuse to carry election mail if it considered the contents threatening or abusive.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-29858335 "Britain First Rochester election mail leaflet dubbed illegal"], ''BBC News'', 31 October 2014</ref> [[UKIP]] won the by-election. Britain First finished 9th of 13 candidates, with 56 votes (0.14%), finishing below the [[Official Monster Raving Loony Party|Monster Raving Loony Party]] (with 151 votes, 0.38%) and above the Patriotic Socialist Party (with 33 votes, 0.08%).<ref>Medway Council: [http://www.medway.gov.uk/pdf/Rochester%20and%20Strood%20By-election.pdf "Rochester and Strood Constitu ency Parliamentary By-Election 20 November 2014"]. Accessed 7 April 2015.</ref> At the count, the ''BBC News'' reporter [[Nick Robinson]] was criticised for taking a [[selfie]] with Fransen, stating that he did not know who she was and that he would check before appearing in any future photographs.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Swinford|first1=Steven|title=Nick Robinson apologises for Britain First 'selfie'|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/bbc/11245011/Nick-Robinson-apologises-for-Britain-First-selfie.html|accessdate=22 November 2014|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=21 November 2014}}</ref> ===London mayoral election, 2016=== On 27 September 2015, Paul Golding declared that he would stand as a candidate in the [[London mayoral election, 2016|following year's London mayoral election]]. In a Facebook post on the decision, Jayda Fransen wrote that the party's "pro-EU, Islamist-loving opponents" will "face the wrath of the Britain First movement...We will not rest until every traitor is punished for their crimes against our country. And by punished, I mean good old fashioned British justice at the end of a rope!"<ref>{{cite news|last1=York|first1=Chris|title=Britain First's Paul Golding To Stand In London Mayoral Election|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/09/27/britain-first-paul-golding-london-mayoral-election_n_8203000.html|accessdate=25 October 2015|work=Huffington Post|date=27 September 2015}}</ref> ==Protests and actions== ===Action against Islamists=== In May 2013, following the [[murder of Lee Rigby]], Britain First released a video threatening to place Islamist cleric [[Anjem Choudary]] under [[citizen's arrest]] if the [[Metropolitan Police]] would not arrest him.<ref name="independent"/> The ''[[Daily Mail]]'' claimed that the video had instead resulted in Choudary and his family being placed under police protection.<ref>{{cite news|last=Robinson|first=Martin|title=Police rush to home of hate preacher Anjem Choudary to protect him and his family after threats as he blames Cameron's 'crusade' for 'turning young Muslims to terror'|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2333199/Police-rush-home-hate-preacher-Anjem-Choudary-protect-family-threats-blames-Camerons-crusade-turning-young-Muslims-terror.html|accessdate=21 May 2014|newspaper=[[Daily Mail]]|date=30 May 2013}}</ref><ref>Sam Christie, [http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/10453176.VIDEO__Manhunt_launched_by_Swanley_group_leader_to_catch_hate_preacher/ "Manhunt launched by Swanley group leader Paul Golding for hate preacher Anjem"], ''News Shopper'', 30 May 2013</ref> On 5 January 2015, Chelmsford Magistrates Court found Paul Golding guilty of harassing the sister-in-law of a man allegedly linked to the [[7 July bombings]], having mistakenly turned up at her house instead of his. He was fined £325 and a further £100 for wearing a political uniform.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Balls|first1=Sam|title=Britain First leader Paul Golding found guilty of harassment and wearing a political uniform|url=http://www.essexchronicle.co.uk/Britain-leader-Paul-Golding-guilty/story-25808029-detail/story.html|accessdate=5 January 2015|work=[[Essex Chronicle]]|date=5 January 2015}}</ref> ===Christian Patrol=== In February 2014, Britain First conducted what it called the "Christian Patrol"<ref name=Bridger>{{cite news|last=Moore-Bridger|first=Benedict|title=Far-Right group filmed on 'patrol' at East End mosque|url=http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/farright-group-filmed-on-patrol-at-east-end-mosque-9110934.html|accessdate=21 May 2014|newspaper=[[Evening Standard]]|date=6 February 2014}}</ref> in an area of [[London Borough of Tower Hamlets|Tower Hamlets]], East London, with a high Muslim population, to counter continuing [[Muslim Patrol incident|Muslim Patrol]]s which had first come to media attention in 2013.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-21142148 "Homophobic 'vigilante' video appears online"], ''BBC News London'', 22 January 2013<br>- {{cite news|last=|first=|title=London's Holy Turf War|url=https://news.vice.com/videos/londons-holy-turf-war|accessdate=1 May 2014|newspaper=Vice News |date=22 April 2014}}</ref> Around a dozen or so Britain First activists recorded themselves holding a banner proclaiming "We Are The British Resistance" and emptying cans of beer outside a mosque to "bait" Islamic extremists operating in the area. A video uploaded onto social media showing the event gained national media attention in the UK,<ref>{{cite news|last=Gover|first=Dominic|title=London: Far Right Militants Use Ex-Army Jeeps to Mount 'Christian Patrols' in Muslim Districts|url=http://uk.news.yahoo.com/london-far-militants-ex-army-jeeps-mount-39-131458146.html|newspaper=[[International Business Times]]|date=6 February 2014}}</ref> and the patrol was condemned by Muslim and Christian leaders in the area.<ref name=Bridger/> === Entry of mosques and distribution of leaflets and Bibles=== In May 2014, members of Britain First invaded ten [[Bradford]] mosques, as well as ones in [[Glasgow]],<ref name=dailypol>{{cite news|title=Britain First's leader Paul Golding on BNP breakaway|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27427023|accessdate=21 May 2014|newspaper=[[BBC News]]|date=15 May 2014}}</ref> [[Luton]] and [[East London]].<ref name=four/> They made statements of the action of perceived Muslim grooming gangs in the area, accusing the community elders of failing to stop the gangs, while handing out Army Bibles and proselytising Christianity and telling one member to "reject the false prophet [[Muhammad]] and read the Bible". They also went to a [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] office to inform them that "they had been warned".<ref name=dailypol/> In response, the member of parliament for [[Bradford West (UK Parliament constituency)|Bradford West]] [[George Galloway]] said, "This is a grave and national issue. We demand full police action and protection of Mosques and worshippers."<ref>{{cite news|title=Far-right activists hand out Bibles outside mosques in Bradford|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/farright-activists-hand-out-bibles-outside-mosques-in-bradford-9352271.html|accessdate=18 May 2014|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|date=11 May 2014}}</ref> Police are investigating.<ref name=dailypol/> In July 2014, Britain First entered the Crayford Mosque in South London, demanding that its segregated entrances be removed, with Golding saying, "When you respect women we’ll respect your mosques." A volunteer of the local Muslim association called Britain First, "filthy people creating trouble in our society."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Dearden|first1=Lizzie|title=Britain First 'battalion' invades mosque demanding removal of 'sexist' entrance signs|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/britain-first-battalion-invades-mosque-demanding-removal-of-sexist-entrance-signs-9607978.html|accessdate=15 July 2014|work=[[The Independent]]|date=15 July 2014}}</ref> Two addresses were raided in police investigation of this entrance, which led Britain First to protest at [[Bexleyheath]] Police Station. The group sought to gain publicity by stating that Golding was arrested for this protest, although the [[Metropolitan Police]] confirmed that they had spoken with him and no arrests had been made.<ref name=huffarrest>{{cite news|last1=Meredith|first1=Charlotte|title=Britain First Fail Dismally In Attempt To Get Leader Arrested, Say He's Been Arrested Anyway|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/07/16/britain-first-mosque-_n_5591458.html|accessdate=16 July 2014|work=[[The Huffington Post]]|date=16 July 2014}}</ref> ===Rotherham=== In August 2014, after a report which revealed that over [[Rotherham sex grooming case|1,400 children had been sexually abused in Rotherham]], mainly by Pakistani men, Britain First protested inside the headquarters of [[Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council]] with a banner saying "Justice for victims of Muslim grooming".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Palmer|first1=Ewan|title=Rotherham Child Abuse Scandal: EDL and Britain First Stage Protests Following 'Appalling' Report|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/rotherham-child-abuse-scandal-edl-britain-first-stage-protests-following-appalling-report-1463039|accessdate=15 September 2014|work=[[International Business Times]]|date=28 August 2014}}</ref> ===Defence of Nigel Farage=== In May 2014, Britain First announced that it would be deploying "hundreds of ex-[[British Armed Forces|British Forces]]" alongside "several armoured ex-army Land Rovers" to protect the UKIP leader [[Nigel Farage]] after he had been opposed on the street by supporters of Scottish independence.<ref>{{cite news|last1=MacNab|first1=Scott|title='Armoured cars' offered to Farage in Scotland|url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/armoured-cars-offered-to-farage-in-scotland-1-3404216|accessdate=30 November 2014|work=[[The Scotsman]]|date=9 May 2014}}</ref> Whilst acknowledging that UKIP and Britain First were "rival" right-wing organisations, it stated that the two parties remain "patriots together" and as such it was willing to "put our men and our resources at UKIP's disposal".<ref>{{cite web|title=Britain first to deploy armoured patrol vehicles and ex-military volunteers to protect UKIP leader Nigel Farage|url=https://www.britainfirst.org/britain-first-to-deploy-armoured-patrol-vehicles-and-ex-military-volunteers-to-protect-ukip-leader-nigel-farage/|publisher=Britain First|accessdate=30 November 2014}}</ref> In March 2015, a group of anti-UKIP protesters went to a pub where Farage and his family were dining and allegedly scared his children into running away. Later that month Britain First went to that group's meeting in London "to give these traitors their comeuppance". No injuries were reported, but a 48-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault.<ref name=withnall>{{cite news|last1=Withnall|first1=Adam|title=Britain First 'acting like Ukip henchmen' by invading meeting of activists in revenge for pub protest against Nigel Farage|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/generalelection/britain-first-acting-like-ukip-henchmen-by-invading-meeting-of-activists-in-revenge-for-pub-protest-against-nigel-farage-10146379.html|accessdate=31 March 2015|work=The Independent|date=31 March 2015}}</ref> UKIP rejects associations with Britain First, stating "On the fringes of our politics are nutters and we don’t want them anywhere near us".<ref name=ukip/><ref name=withnall/> ===Jews in London=== In 2015, Britain First offered "solidarity patrols" in areas of London with high Jewish populations while blaming anti-Semitism on Islam. The [[Community Security Trust]], an organisation against anti-Semitism, has warned Jews not to become involved with Britain First, and has likened this policy to similar ones by the [[English Defence League]] and the BNP, saying that all of these groups were opposing Muslims more than supporting Jews.<ref name=israel>{{cite news|last1=Ghert-Zand|first1=Renee|title=British Jews say 'no thanks' to nationalist group's support|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/british-jews-say-no-thanks-to-nationalist-groups-support/|accessdate=15 February 2015|work=[[The Times of Israel]]|date=14 February 2015}}</ref> ===Calais=== Britain First visited the French port of [[Calais]] in summer 2015, during a period of attempted mass migration to the United Kingdom [[Migrants around Calais|via the town]]. Afterwards, the party was approached by the documentary maker [[Ross Kemp]] to feature in a documentary film about the contemporary rise in nationalism. The party rejected Kemp's offer, calling him a "leftwing actor", while a producer responded by saying that Kemp listens to all opinions.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hopkins|first1=Steven|title=Britain First Reject Ross Kemp Immigration Film, Saying Move Would 'Drag Them Through Gutter'|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/08/12/britain-first-refuse-to-speak-to-ross-kemp_n_7975478.html|accessdate=18 August 2015|work=Huffington Post|date=12 August 2015}}</ref> At the same time, the organisation were recorded for a [[BBC Three]] documentary titled "We Want Our Country Back".<ref>{{cite news|title=BBC Three has big plans, but are young people still watching?|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/13628499.BBC_Three_has_big_plans__but_are_young_people_still_watching_/|accessdate=1 September 2015|work=[[Herald Scotland]]|date=27 August 2015}}</ref> ==Policies== {{Nationalism sidebar}} Britain First's stated aim is to protect "British and Christian morality", and is "committed to preserving our ancestral ethnic and cultural heritage" while it also "supports the maintenance of the indigenous British people as the demographic majority within our own homeland", that "Genuine British citizens will be put first in housing, jobs, education, welfare and health".<ref name=Principles/> The party self-styles itself as "loyalist".<ref name=israel/> Paul Golding disputes interpretations that Jesus was pacifistic or liberal, justifying his belief by citing Jesus' apparent violence against the money lenders and his statement that he came to bring a sword rather than peace. Christian denominations across the UK have condemned the group as blasphemous to Christian teachings.<ref>{{cite news|last1=York|first1=Chris|title=Britain First Denounced By Every Major Christian Denomination In The UK|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2016/01/29/britain-first-denounced-every-christian-group_n_9111138.html?1454148258|accessdate=1 February 2016|work=Huffington Post|date=30 January 2016}}</ref> Britain First has described [[climate change]] as "another leftwing (sic), anti-capitalist fraud foisted on us".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/OfficialBritainFirst/posts/828547237290539|title=Britain First - Climate change/global warming, another... - Facebook|author=|date=|work=facebook.com}}</ref> It also campaigns against [[Islamism]], immigration and abortion. Under the subheading of "Is Britain First against all Muslims or just extremists?", it claims that: <blockquote>Britain First is not against individual Muslims, but specifically against the doctrine and religion of Islam itself as an ideology. The Koran and Islamic doctrine promotes hatred, violence and intolerance against non-Muslims. "Jihad" is the most talked about issue in the Koran. Women are oppressed in Islam. The death penalty applies to homosexuals. Marriage to children is allowed. Muslims who died fighting non-Muslims are promised 72 virgins in paradise. Sharia Law prescribes stonings and amputations. Halal slaughter is barbaric and evil. We are against these principles of Islam, not individual humans who have been led astray by this barbaric "religion".<ref name=BF1>{{cite web|last1=First|first1=Britain|title=Britain First Homepage - Is Britain First against all Muslims or just extremists?|url=https://www.britainfirst.org/|accessdate=6 April 2015}}</ref></blockquote> Its claimed objective is "to save this country and our people from the EU, politically correct, multicultural insanity that is now engulfing us".<ref name="Intro"/> It said in 2015 that Muslims are the only community not integrating, and that "Jews don't cause any problems".<ref name=israel/> With regards to [[racism]], they state that: "Britain First is home to thousands of patriots from ethnic minorities from all over the world who share our defence of British values and culture. The word "racism" was invented by a communist mass murderer to silence European opposition to "multi-culturalism", so we do not recognise its validity."<ref name=BF1/> This is most likely referring to [[Leon Trotsky]], who used the term in 1933,<ref>{{cite web|first1=Leon|last1=Trotsky|title=What Is National Socialism?|url=http://trotsky.org/archive/trotsky/germany/1933/330610.htm|website=trotsky.org|publisher=The Modern Thinker|accessdate=6 April 2015|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070502150628/http://trotsky.org/archive/trotsky/germany/1933/330610.htm|archivedate=2 May 2007|date=June 1933|deadurl=yes}}</ref> but the word has been used prior to Trotsky.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Denby|first1=Gene|title=The Ugly, Fascinating History Of The Word 'Racism'|url=http://www.npr.org/blogs/codeswitch/2014/01/05/260006815/the-ugly-fascinating-history-of-the-word-racism|accessdate=6 April 2015|date=6 January 2014}}</ref> On the EU, the party claims: <blockquote>The European Union is a leftwing, socialist political project that will eradicate all individual national identities in Europe under an avalanche of mass immigration and political correctness. The EU will destroy political independence across Europe, leaving every country ruled from Brussels by an unelected bureaucracy. In opposing the EU, we and our European sister nations are striving to maintain our ancient cultures and freedoms.<ref name=BF1/></blockquote> ==Criticism== ===Ideology=== A number of sources have criticised Britain First on various grounds. Some sources have noted the openly militaristic and violent nature of the group,<ref name="huffingtonpost.co.uk">Charlotte Meredith, [http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/09/21/britain-first-_n_5857250.html "Britain First 'Desecrate' Image Of Fearless Afghan Heroine In 'Ban The Burka' Campaign"], ''Huffington Post UK'', 21 September 2014</ref> particularly in recruiting and training ex-soldiers, and unlawfully wearing political uniforms. Members of the group, including its founder Jim Dowson have stated their desire for a religious war in the UK.<ref>Adam Bienkov, [http://www.politics.co.uk/news/2014/06/19/britain-first-the-violent-new-face-of-british-fascism "Britain First: The violent new face of British fascism"], ''politics.co.uk'', 19 June 2014</ref> In 2016 a petition to the Home Office was launched urging a ban on the group.<ref>Paul Wright, [http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/britain-firsts-holy-war-home-office-condemns-anti-muslim-propaganda-petition-calls-group-1540893 "Britain First's Holy War: Home Office condemns 'anti-Muslim propaganda' as petition calls for group to be banned"], ''International Business Times'', 29 January 2016</ref> A 2014 report on the links between Britain First and terrorist organisations in Northern Ireland noted that behind populist Facebook posts "lies a small but dangerous group of religious fundamentalists intent on starting a 'Holy war'".<ref>Charlotte Meredith,[http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/06/28/britain-first-facebook_n_5539413.html "Britain First's Facebook Page Banned For 'Hate Speech'... Then Put Back Just An Hour Later"], ''Huffington Post UK'', 28 June 2014</ref> In 2016, after the group held "Christian patrols" in a primarily Muslim area of [[Luton]], all major Christian denominations and organisations in the UK rejected Britain First and its ideology. The group was accused of "hi-jacking the name of Jesus Christ to justify hatred and spread fear".<ref name=christian>Chris York, [http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2016/01/29/britain-first-denounced-every-christian-group_n_9111138.html "Britain First Denounced By Every Major Christian Denomination In The UK"], ''Huffington Post UK'', 30 January 2016</ref> ===Misleading photographs=== Britain First has also attracted derision and condemnation for various social media posts such as a post which falsely labelled Afghanistan's first female police officer, Malalai Kakar, who was murdered by the [[Taliban]] as a terrorist and to link the [[burqa]] and terrorism.<ref name="huffingtonpost.co.uk"/> In March 2015 an American veteran stated his intention to sue for libel after the group shared a 'photoshopped' image of him. In the original image, the veteran was holding a sign reading "Boycott bigotry"; in the version shared by Britain First the sign reads, "Boycott bigotry and kill all non-Muslims".<ref>Hasan Faridi, [http://www.yorkshirestandard.co.uk/news/veteran-reports-britain-first-for-defamation-over-fake-photo-10603/ "Veteran reports Britain First for defamation over fake photo"], ''Yorkshire Standard'', 6 March 2015</ref> Britain First also received criticism for posing for a photograph with naval cadets in [[Nottingham]], falsely captioning that their activists were protecting the children.<ref>{{cite news|title=Britain First criticised over Nottingham Sea Cadet poppy photo|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-34760414|accessdate=7 February 2016|publisher=BBC News|date=9 November 2015}}</ref> ===Merchandise issues=== In August 2014, the [[Cabinet Office]] wrote to Britain First requesting that they remove an image of the [[The Crown|British crown]] from their merchandise. The [[Advertising Standards Authority (United Kingdom)|Advertising Standards Authority]] (ASA) had previously requested that the crown be removed from Britain First's online accounts. In response, Golding called the ASA a "toothless [[quango]] with no power which no one takes any notice of" and responded that the group's solicitors had deemed the crown distinct enough to be used without breaching regulations.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Butler|first1=Sarah|title=Government considers steps against Britain First over use of crown|url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/aug/27/government-cabinet-office-first-britain-royal-crown?CMP=twt_gu|accessdate=27 August 2014|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=27 August 2014}}</ref> The ASA published a ruling on 4 March 2015 upholding complaints about use of the crown symbol, and about selling merchandise implying that it was British-made.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.asa.org.uk/Rulings/Adjudications/2015/3/Lionheart-GB/SHP_ADJ_287682.aspx|title=ASA Ruling on Lionheart GB|date=4 March 2015| work=asa.org.uk}}</ref> ==References== {{reflist|30em}} ==External links== {{portal|British politics|Christianity|Conservatism}} *{{Official website|www.britainfirst.org}} {{British political parties}} {{UK far right}} {{Nationalism in the United Kingdom}} [[Category:Eurosceptic parties in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Political parties established in 2011]] [[Category:2011 establishments in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Far-right political parties in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Fascist parties in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Fascism in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:British nationalism]] [[Category:Nationalist parties in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:British National Party breakaway groups]] [[Category:Anti-Islam political parties in Europe]] [[Category:Political organisations based in London]] [[Category:Opposition to Islam in the United Kingdom]]'