SCOTLAND faces the threat of a far-right splinter group forming, according to the UK’s largest annual review of the far-right.
HOPE Not Hate’s State of Hate 2022 report, Britain’s most comprehensive guide to far-right extremism, has found hate groups in rude health and organising in ways “not seen for several years”.
Opposition to Covid lockdowns and accompanying conspiracy theories about the origins of the virus as well as the fallout from Brexit and an “erosion of political trust” have provided a “fertile ground” for extremist groups and ideologies, the report found.
File photo of Patriotic Alternative activists in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria
It identified Patriotic Alternative (PA) as the “dominant force in UK fascist politics” – and warned it could splinter into an independent group in Scotland due to the power of its branch north of the border.
READ MORE: Warning as largest chapter of ‘fascist threat’ group is in Scotland
The report described the Scottish branch as PA’s “most active, hardline and independent”.
Scottish PA made the headlines last year after unfurling a “White Lives Matter” banner at the summit of Ben Nevis and by launching a petition to name a new motorway bridge in Glasgow after Kriss Donald – a white teenager who was killed in 2004 by a gang of men of Pakistani heritage.
But the Gregory Davis, a researcher at HOPE Not Hate, said PA’s “official neutrality” on Scottish independence was a “particularly tricky obstacle for the branch to overcome”.
He added: “Any future referendum [is] sure to split the group’s loyalties.
“The Scottish branch of Patriotic Alternative is the most active within the national organisation.
Patriotic Alternative campaign flyers
“While still drawing only an extreme fringe of far right members, the group is able to turn out activists for flyering and publicity stunts across Scotland, and participates in activities ranging from group fitness sessions to handing out leaflets at anti-vaccine demonstrations.”
READ MORE: 'They are so creepy': Misogynistic abuse at heart of far-right group
The success of the branch and autonomy is a “source of tension” within PA and its Scottish chief Kenny Smith is reputedly in a long-term feud with the PA’s overall leader Mark Collett and is “persistently rumoured to be plotting against him”.
Covid and the UK’s loose anti-lockdown and anti-vaccine movements have also proven useful to PA, the report found.
Simon Crane (also known as Si Borg) is quoted in the report saying PA activists “generally get quite a good reception”, adding: “I think we all thought they’d be rich pickings in the anti-lockdown groups. There’s been a few guys come over, but probably not as many as we’d thought.”
Exclusive polling for the report paints a grim picture of the UK political landscape – with around 74% of Brits saying they feel politicians do not listen to them.
HOPE Not Hate say a cost of living crisis and a proliferation of “hostile rhetoric” around immigration and asylum have created an “increasingly welcome environment for authoritarianism and populism”.
Nick Griffin, outside Strathclyde Police station in Glasgow, after Kriss Donald, 15, was abducted and killed in 2004
The report also found that physical fitness and wellbeing classes were proving a useful vehicle for the far-right to promote its ideology.
READ MORE: Witnesses 'horrified' by Patriotic Alternative banner at Ben Nevis summit
PA has a number of ties to “fascist British fitness groups”, the report found.
The organisation’s CEO Nick Lowes said: “After years in the political wilderness, the crises we’ve collectively faced over the past two years have emboldened cynical far right activists to exploit our fears and uncertainties and return to traditional methods of campaigning.
“In 2021, we saw far right activists marching on our streets, leafleting, and now they are preparing to stand in local elections.
“What we’re looking at is a country that has moved on from Brexit, which marginalised the British far-right, and the fallout from an erosion of political trust.”
He added: “We are particularly worried about the growing numbers of young people being attracted to far-right politics and dangerous conspiracy theories.
"This trend has been happening for several years, but it has been accelerated by Covid conspiracies and the increasingly aggressive anti-lockdown movement.
“The threat is real - the far-right is stirring again, but there is still hope.
“By refusing to accept blatant far-right rhetoric and conspiracy theories as a part of normal discourse, we can prevent fascists and extremists from dividing our society.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel