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| British Freedom Party | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chairman | Paul Weston |
| Founded | October 2010 |
| Headquarters | Bristol |
| Ideology | British nationalism |
| Political position | Far-right |
| Website | |
| http://britishfreedom.org | |
The British Freedom Party (BFP) is a right wing political party Opponents claim it to be a Far right political party, registered on 18 October 2010 by a group that broke away from the British National Party (BNP). The English Defense League founder Stephen Lennon became joint vice chair along with fellow Kevin Carroll, also of the English Defence League, both men are on the party Executive Council.
Breakaway from the BNP
The BFP was formed in 2010 by disaffected members of the BNP. The causes were growing dissatisfaction over the lack of transparency regarding BNP accounting returns and misgivings about the conduct of the BNP leader, Nick Griffin. General dissatisfaction within the ranks of BNP members led to an increasing number of resignations. A number of these resigned members, as well as certain ex-BNP members who had been expelled from the party by Griffin, went on to found the British Freedom Party.
The BFP was registered on 18 October 2010 by Peter Mullins (2010-2011 party leader), Peter Stafford (nominating officer) and Simon Bennett (treasurer). The present chairman is Paul Weston, a former UK Independence Party candidate in Cities of London and Westminster. Weston has described the party as "central" in orientation. It has formed a pact with the English Defence League, whereby candidates from that organisation may stand for election under the 'British Freedom Party' name given suitable circumstances.
In April 2012, it was announced that English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson would be named deputy party leader.
Mission statement
The stated objectives of the British Freedom Party are "to defend and restore the freedoms, traditions, unity, identity, democracy and independence of the British people, to establish full sovereignty over all our national affairs by restoring the supremacy of the British Parliament, to withdraw from the European Union, to promote democratic British nationalist principles, to promote the social, economic, environmental and cultural interests of the British people and to preserve and promote the ancestral rights and liberties of the British people as defined in the British Constitution."
The party also gives a 20 Point Plan on its main website highlighting some of its key policies. They range from economic to social issues, but the party's manifesto gives no promise of implementation if it was to gain power. Some of the points are as follows:
- Introduce a US style First Amendment guaranteeing Free Speech
- Leave the European Union
- Abolish the Human Rights Act
- Halt any further immigration for a period of five years
- Deport foreign criminals, seditious dual nationality Islamists and illegal immigrants
- Abolish all multicultural and equality quangos
- Halt and turn back all aspects of the Islamisation of Britain, including Sharia finance
- Drastically reduce crime – criminals should fear the consequences of their behaviour
Membership
According to the party's official return to the Electoral Commission, at the end of 2010 the party had 62 members. The report continues "Our membership to date is approximately 149", but no date is actually provided.
References
- ^ Kevin Rawlinson & Paul Cahalan, "Far right unites in European initiative", The Independent, 27 February 2012
- ^ British Freedom Party leader to speak in Toronto
- "British Freedom Party, Official Web Site". British Freedom Party. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
- "Tommy Robinson Joins British Freedom". British Freedom Party. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
- ^ Electoral Commission ref PP889
- BBC News, "BNP accounts to be investigated", 14 April 2010
- Matthew Taylor, "BNP leader Nick Griffin isolated after election disasters", The Guardian, 20 May 2011
- Matthew Taylor, "BNP's London assembly man resigns whip", The Guardian, 13 August 2010
- ^ Kevin Rawlinson (25 November 2011). "English Defence League prepares to storm local elections". The Independent. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
- "Michael Coren interviews Paul Weston". The Arena. 8 December 2011.
- Townsend, Mark (28 April 2012). "Britain's far right to focus on anti-Islamic policy". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
- "British Freedom Party Mission Statement". British Freedom Party.
- http://britishfreedom.org/about/20-point-plan/
- British Freedom Party Statement of Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2010 page 3 (at the Electoral Commission)