Advocacy group warns of rising far-right extremism in Britain

By Mehmet Solmaz

BIRMINGHAM, England (AA) - London-based advocacy group Hope Not Hate (HNH) says over the past year, the country has seen the radical right emerge as a major force in the UK, especially within the ruling Conservative Party.

In its annual report, titled The State of HATE 2024, the group argues that there is a growing mood of pessimism among the population and this is leading to deteriorating attitudes to democracy and the political system.

Nick Lowles, HNH’s CEO, said: “The sense of pessimism and declinism that is very evident in our polling is likely to lead to a change in government. But at the same time this very same mood could turn on a new administration if it is not seen as delivering meaningful change quickly, and this could open the door for an increasingly confident radical right – either from a more rightwing Conservative party or an outside populist movement.”

The report noted a rise in anti-migrant activism and asked if Conservative voters are “falling out of love with democracy”; 48% of people intending to vote Conservative at the next election said they would prefer “having a strong and decisive leader who has the authority to override or ignore parliament” over “having a liberal democracy with regular elections and a multiparty system.”

A third of those who took part in the 25,000-person poll by Focaldata thought that “in certain circumstances violence can be necessary to defend something you strongly believe in.”

“The threat of far-right terrorism remains very real. Last year, we saw a record number of far-right activists and sympathisers convicted of terror-related offences. While some of this can be explained by more aggressive policing, it is also symptomatic of the growing extremism of some elements of the far right and the availability of terrorist propaganda online,” Lowles said in the report.

According to the report, anti-migrant activism continues to dominate the far-right agenda, with at least 123 specifically anti-migrant demonstrations and 158 visits to accommodation by so-called “migrant hunters” during 2023.

“Last year saw real growth in the Radical Right, inside and outside the Conservative Party.”

The report stated that the most visible example of the growing influence of Radical Right politics in Britain is the transformation happening within the Conservative Party, most notably in its rhetoric around the issue of immigration.

A controversial plan that seeks to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda while their claims are being assessed was ruled unlawful by the UK’s highest court, as they found the East African country is not a safe place for asylum seekers to be housed.

The government then changed the bill, assuring that Rwanda is safe to house asylum seekers. The bill is currently waiting to be voted at the House of Lords before coming back to the parliament for ratification or amendment.

HNH said the Conservative Party members are increasingly open to radical right ideas and a majority would welcome the infamous Eurosceptic and far-right politician Nigel Farage joining the party.