FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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HOPE hot hate analysis of far-right political parties at 2023 local elections
HOPE not hate has found that:
- Radical- and far-right parties are targeting a larger number of council seats this year, with hundreds more candidates standing across England compared to 2022. However, numbers are still down drastically from 2019, the last time most of these seats were up for election.
- Reform UK, which claims to be ready for a General Election, is fielding a much enlarged slate of 475 candidates, but included in this is an embarrassing number of extreme conspiracy theorists.
- Also fielding additional candidates this year are UKIP, the Heritage Party and the Alliance for Democracy and Freedom.
- The more extreme far-right partiesBritain Firstand British Democrats are targeting eight and five seats respectively and are putting considerable energy into campaigning in their target wards.
Britain First:
- The party is fielding eight candidates, up from three in 2022.
- Party LeaderPaul Goldingis standing in Swanscombe ward in Dartford.
- Deputy LeaderAshlea Simonis standing again in Walkden North ward in Salford, having lost in 2022.
- Britain First are targeting a small number of council seats, but putting a lot of energy into their target areas.
Reform UK:
- Reform UK is fielding 475 candidates this year, up from 124 in 2022.
- Candidates standing for Reform UK have been found to have engaged in COVID and other conspiracies.
- Brian Aspinall standing in Golborne & Lowton West in Wigan who has shared flat earth, QAnon and anti-vax conspiracies.
- Padmini Nissanga, previously elected as a UKIP councillor, standing in Sheppey East in Swale who has shared islamophobic social media posts.
British Democrats:
- A small party that consists almost entirely of ex-BNP official, is standing five candidates.
- Incumbent British Democrat councillor Julian Leppert, first elected as a For Britain councillor, is re-running in Waltham Abbey Paternoster under British Democrats. Leppert is ex-BNP who said he's like Epping to be a"whites-only"town.
Patriotic Alternative:
- Although not registered as a political party, the UK's most active fascist group Patriotic Alternative has been supporting independent candidates David Hyden-Milakovic and Paul Carnell in Cannock Chase where they have been organising anti-migrant protests.
- They have also been supporting Robin Tilbrook of the English Democrats in Shelley ward in Epping Forest.
UKIP:
- Running 46 candidates, a tiny number compared to the 1,300 who stood for the party when these seats were contested in 2019.
Other parties:
- Heritage Party, led by former UKIP official David Kurten, is running 63 candidates.
- Alliance for Democracy & Freedom, led by UKIP official Teck Khong, is running 23 candidates. Mark Vallance, a former UKIP candidate, running for ADF shared islamophobic posts about "eradicating" Muslims.
Georgie Laming, Director of Campaigns at HOPE not hate said:
"Since Brexit, the far-right have not seen much electoral successes. Although there are hundreds more extreme candidates standing this year than in 2022, numbers are still far lower than they were in 2019.
However, the far-right cause divisions in communities wherever they run in elections, even if they aren't successful. As they leaflet and door knock to promote their racist policy platforms, they spread their hateful politics in towns and cities across the country.
We hope that voters reject far-right candidates at the ballot box, and vote for hope over hate."
Notes to editors:
- HOPE not hate is the UK's leading anti-fascist campaign group which monitors and tackles the far-right.
- Spokespeople from HOPE not hate are available for interview.
- If there are questions about far-right political parties or candidates,email HOPE not hate.
Contact:
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HOPE not hate uses research, education and public engagement to challenge mistrust and racism, and helps to build communities that are inclusive, celebrate shared identities and are resilient to hate.