Contemporary British Fascism : The British National Party and the Quest for Legitimacy

For the first time since the 1970s when the National Front became Britain's fourth largest political party, the recent electoral success of the British National Party has put Britain's extreme right back on the political map. Nigel Copsey provides a clear and comprehensive analysis of the history of the British National Party and its struggle for political legitimacy. With far-right parties enjoying unprecedented success across Europe, this book also locates its subject in the broader international context. Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgements......Page 10 Introduction......Page 12 1 'Back to Front': John Tyndall and the Origins of the British National Party......Page 16 From League of Empire Loyalist to National Socialist......Page 17 Emerging from the British führer's shadow: from the National Socialist Movement to the National Front......Page 22 Leading from the Front......Page 26 Schism at the 'gay' National Front and the birth of the British National Party......Page 31 Establishing itself: the BNP in its early years......Page 39 The holy grail of 'Nationalist Unity': the British National Party and the challenge of the National Front, 1983–87......Page 43 On or off? The BNP and the electoral trail......Page 49 The 1980s draw to a close: the BNP at the end of the road?......Page 53 3 A False Dawn in Tower Hamlets: The British National Party in the 1990s......Page 61 Making gains at the ballot box......Page 62 'Rights for whites': the BNP and the quest for local legitimacy......Page 66 London's 'secret racists': a helping hand from elsewhere......Page 71 The false dawn......Page 75 Manoeuvring towards the leadership contest......Page 79 4 Fascism on the Fringe: The Ideology of Tyndall's British National Party......Page 86 Conceptualising right-wing extremism......Page 87 Fascism: the revolutionary ideology of the extreme right......Page 90 In search of revolutionary rebirth......Page 93 The racial fascism of the British National Party......Page 98 On the Jewish question......Page 102 'Neither capitalism nor socialism': the British National Party and the new economic order......Page 104 Conclusion: a contemporary British fascism......Page 108 5 New Millennium New Leader: Nick Griffin and the Modernisation of the British National Party......Page 111 Responsibility......Page 112 Professionalism......Page 117 Slinging mud and electing the leader......Page 120 Griffin takes charge......Page 123 Modernisation de-railed?......Page 130 6 Into the Political Mainstream? The 2001 General Election and After......Page 135 Oldham, Burnley and the 2001 General Election......Page 136 Courting the media, winning votes and getting elected......Page 144 The genie is out of the bottle......Page 152 'We don't just win in Lancashire'......Page 155 Right-wing extremism: a rising tide?......Page 162 Explaining the rise of far-right parties in Western Europe......Page 166 The British National Party: similarity and difference......Page 178 Conclusion......Page 184 Notes......Page 189 Select Bibliography......Page 220 B......Page 223 D......Page 224 F......Page 225 H......Page 226 L......Page 227 N......Page 228 R......Page 229 T......Page 230 Y......Page 231 Cover 1 Contents 8 Acknowledgements 10 Introduction 12 1 'Back to Front': John Tyndall and the Origins of the British National Party 16 From League of Empire Loyalist to National Socialist 17 Emerging from the British führer's shadow: from the National Socialist Movement to the National Front 22 Leading from the Front 26 Schism at the 'gay' National Front and the birth of the British National Party 31 2 The Struggle for the Soul of British Nationalism 39 Establishing itself: the BNP in its early years 39 The holy grail of 'Nationalist Unity': the British National Party and the challenge of the National Front, 1983–87 43 On or off? The BNP and the electoral trail 49 The 1980s draw to a close: the BNP at the end of the road? 53 3 A False Dawn in Tower Hamlets: The British National Party in the 1990s 61 Making gains at the ballot box 62 'Rights for whites': the BNP and the quest for local legitimacy 66 London's 'secret racists': a helping hand from elsewhere 71 The false dawn 75 Manoeuvring towards the leadership contest 79 4 Fascism on the Fringe: The Ideology of Tyndall's British National Party 86 Conceptualising right-wing extremism 87 Fascism: the revolutionary ideology of the extreme right 90 In search of revolutionary rebirth 93 The racial fascism of the British National Party 98 On the Jewish question 102 'Neither capitalism nor socialism': the British National Party and the new economic order 104 Conclusion: a contemporary British fascism 108 5 New Millennium New Leader: Nick Griffin and the Modernisation of the British National Party 111 Responsibility 112 Professionalism 117 Slinging mud and electing the leader 120 Griffin takes charge 123 Modernisation de-railed? 130 6 Into the Political Mainstream? The 2001 General Election and After 135 Oldham, Burnley and the 2001 General Election 136 Courting the media, winning votes and getting elected 144 The genie is out of the bottle 152 'We don't just win in Lancashire' 155 7 The British National Party in Comparative Perspective 162 Right-wing extremism: a rising tide? 162 Explaining the rise of far-right parties in Western Europe 166 The British National Party: similarity and difference 178 Conclusion 184 Notes 189 Select Bibliography 220 Index 223 A 223 B 223 C 224 D 224 E 225 F 225 G 226 H 226 I 227 J 227 K 227 L 227 M 228 N 228 O 229 P 229 R 229 S 230 T 230 U 231 V 231 W 231 X 231 Y 231 "No other political party in the history of Britain's fascist tradition has been as successful at the ballot box as today's British National Party (BNP). It has won increasing success at local elections and now threatens to follow the wider European trend and break through into the national arena of mainstream politics." "Contemporary British Fascism offers the first in-depth study of the BNP and its quest for social and political legitimacy. Founded in 1982 and led by John Tyndall until 1999, the 'old' BNP is thoroughly investigated. Nigel Copsey then moves on to discuss Nick Griffin's 'modernisation' strategy as well as the factors behind the party's recent electoral success. In the final chapter, the subject is placed in its wider European context. This is a book that serves as a wake-up call for those who take the party's growing respectability at face value."--BOOK JACKET. No other political party in the history of Britain's fascist tradition has been as successful at the ballot box as today's British National Party (BNP). It has won increasing success at local elections and now threatens to follow the wider European trend and break through into the national arena of mainstream politics. Contemporary British Fascism offers the first in-depth study of the BNP and its quest for social and political legitimacy. Founded in 1982 and led by John Tyndall until 1999, the 'old' BNP is thoroughly investigated. Nigel Copsey then moves on to discuss Nick Griffin's 'modernization' strategy as well as the factors behind the party's recent electoral success. In the final chapter, the subject is placed in its wider European context. This is a thought-provoking book that serves as a wake-up call for those who take the party's growing respectability at face value