British Movement

British Movement
File:British Movement Emblem.png
Political position	National Socialism
Leader	Colin Jordan (1961—1975) Michael McLaughlin (1975—1983) Stephen Frost (1984—present)
Country	United Kingdom
Existence	1968–present
Affiliation	World Union of National Socialists
Colours	Red, white, blue
Website	britishmovement.info

The British Movement (BM) is a British National Socialist organisation founded in 1968 by Colin Jordan, originating from the National Socialist Movement (UK, 1962).

History

The British Movement contested the UK general elections in 1970 and in February 1974. The party failed to attract much support in those elections. Most of the fascist vote went to the National Front (NF). The group's highest result was the 2.5% share which Jordan captured in Birmingham, Aston in 1970.

It published two journals: British Patriot and British Tidings. After Jordan left, Michael McLaughlin became the leader of the party in 1975.

Support for the British Movement grew in the late 1970s and early 1980s when the National Front fragmented. The British Movement was particularly popular with youths and white power skinheads who had previously supported the National Front. The British Movement began to concentrate less on mainstream politics and more on provocative marches.

Decline of the British Movement

In 1980, Ray Hill, who had been a leading member of the British Movement under Jordan before emigrating to South Africa, rejoined the group and soon became one of its leading figures. Hill was later revealed to be a mole for the anti-fascist magazine Searchlight. Soon after rejoining the BM, Hill criticized what he claimed was McLaughlin's dictatorial style of leadership, and accused McLaughlin of wasting BM funds on himself. Hill, who was a popular figure with pro-native skinheads due to his own propensity for street violence, was expelled in 1982 and immediately sued McLaughlin. Hill fought the case with the legal services of his ally Anthony Reed Herbert. McLaughlin was forced to call on party funds, leaving the BM in a shaky financial situation.

About half of the members followed Hill out and joined the newly-launched British National Party in 1982. The party failed to contest the 1983 general election, although a single candidate had attempted to stand in Peterborough as a Labour Party candidate; he was barred by the returning officer after several signatures on the nominating papers were found to be invalid. The BM failed to recover from the split and the financial hardships, and McLaughlin announced the group's liquidation in September 1983.

1984 to the present day

A group calling itself the British Movement continued to operate after McLaughlin folded the initial BM. The new group attempted to act as a rallying-point for white power skinheads, although this role was later filled more successfully by Blood and Honour. The new BM re-emerged during the mid 1990s by becoming heavily involved in the distribution of white power music. Although a British Movement still exists, it has a tiny, largely inactive, membership. It holds an annual general meeting, occasionally publishes a pamphlet, sometimes (usually quarterly) publishes the magazine Broadsword, and maintains an Internet-based publication, Sunwheel.

See also

• National Socialist Movement (UK, 1962)
• Colin Jordan
• Lineage of British Nationalist organizations and individuals

External links

www.britishmovement.info

• Colin Jordan Interviewed by British Movement - Internet Archive