National Action (UK)

National Action was a neo-Nazi^[1][2][3] and British nationalist youth movement. The group was secretive, and had rules to prevent members from talking openly about the organisation.^[1][2]

Members

The National Action flag, inspired by the Sturmabteilung logo and the British Union of Facists flag.

A member known as "Tom", who was 18 years old at the time, was interviewed by The Huffington Post in March 2014. He named José Antonio Primo de Rivera of the Spanish Falange, Alexander Raven Thomson and Oswald Mosley of the British Union of Fascists, and writer Wyndham Lewis as inspiration for National Action.^[1] The group's strategy document twice quoted Adolf Hitler, which "Tom" called "a bit dodgy". He explained it by saying "What has been a successful nationalist movement? Oh it was [the Nazis]...That's why we're using [the Nazis]. They used it and they were able to gain power...Gottfried Feder, who was an economist and a member of the NSDAP, he had some good ideas".^[1]

An investigation by the Daily Mirror found Benjamin Raymond, age 25 in June 2014, to be the leader of National Action. He is a former double-glazing salesman who graduated in Politics from Essex University in 2013.^[2] Another member was found to be 19-year-old Alex Davies of Swansea, who withdrew from a first-year course in philosophy at Warwick University in June 2014 after his involvement in National Action was revealed.^[4] A university spokesman said to the Mirror "Any such allegations are taken seriously."^[2] Davies had joined the Young BNP at 16, but found the group to be in "disarray". He describes the difference between the two groups as: "We're targeting universities regularly. That's something the BNP never had. We've built something in a few months the BNP didn't have in 20 years."^[2]

Policy and actions

National Action held a protest at the statue of Nelson Mandela in London, defacing it with a banana

Davies described the group as "like the BNP but more radical".^[2]

National Action also wanted to reintroduce Section 28, which prohibited the teaching of homosexuality in schools.^[1][2] On immigration, "Tom" says "With coloured people we'd say big no to them coming over. But with [white people] we'd be a bit more lenient".^[1]

While remaining non-violent, National Action distributed propaganda on at least 12 university campuses.^[1][2] In an interview with The National Student, an anonymous organiser for National Action explained why they target universities: "very soon they are going to find out just how hard the system has screwed them – if they knew what we know now we would have an army. The last Labour government aspired to send 50% of 18- to 21-year-olds to university and the total student population has grown exponentially over the past decade. That is 50% of youth who are going to be very angry burger flippers."^[5] He also promised "This year will be a reign of terror",^[5] and described people who are in interracial relationships as "pathetic internet nerds who can't get laid and STD-infested sluts".^[5]

National Action also held a protest at the statue of Nelson Mandela in London, defacing it with a banana,^[2] and protested banks and globalisation at a demonstration in Liverpool.^[2]

In October 2014, Garron Helm, a National Action member from Merseyside, was sentenced to four weeks in prison for sending a message via Twitter to MP Luciana Berger relating to her Jewish background, which was found to be "an offensive, indecent or obscene message".^[6][7] The following month, following Helm's release, 10 National Action activists were arrested in dawn raids on suspicion of conspiring to cause criminal damage to Berger's office; they were all bailed.^[8] National Action's campaign against Berger was supported by US-based neo-Nazi website The Daily Stormer, which offered advice on how to set up untraceable Twitter accounts in order to send abuse.^[9]

In June 2015, 26-year-old member Zack Davies, was found guilty of the attempted murder of a Sikh man in Mold, Flintshire. He claimed this was revenge for the murder of Lee Rigby.^[10]

In August 2015, the group attempted to hold a 'White Man March' in Liverpool. Strong opposition from the Anti-Fascist Network forced organisers to cancel the march before taking refuge in the lost luggage collection point at Lime Street Station. Tensions were raised by a letter to Mayor Joe Anderson threatening race riots; National Action claimed this was a forgery by an agent provocateur.^[11]

Response

"Tom" reported that the group was monitored by the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit.^[1] Gerry Gable, former editor of the anti-fascist magazine Searchlight, said "National Action are highly organised with a lot of foreign money backing them up. They’re not looking to attract thickos who just want a fight, but unfortunately that is all they have at the moment. They want thinkers who are prepared to die for National Socialism."^[12] Scotland Yard are reported to be "very concerned" by the group, but gave the official response "We cannot discuss details of individuals or organisations that may or may not be the subject of an investigation."^[2]

Ian Austin, a Labour Party MP whose adoptive father fled Nazi Czechoslovakia, said of National Action "Seventy years ago, British heroes were fighting to liberate Europe from the scourge of Nazis and fascism. It's absolutely disgusting to see young British people praise Hitler today."^[2]

References