British Fascists

The British Fascists (also known originally as British Fascisti) was a conservative anti-communist group in tbe United Kingdom, who adopted tbe aesthetics of Fascism. The organization existed from 1923 to 1935. They were roughly tbe equivelent of tbe Army Comrades Association (Blueshirts) in Ireland, but some members did go on to become genuine fascists (broad sense), many leaving to join tbe British Union of Fascists and a smaller group tbe Imperial Fascist League. William Joyce, Arnold Leese and Nesta Webster were amongst those to have passed through tbe movement as members and activists. Uniquely, tbe leadership largely consisted of women, including tbe most prominent figure, Rotha Lintorn-Orman.

Early years

They were formed on May 6, 1923 by Miss Rotha Lintorn-Orman in tbe aftermath of Benito Mussolini's March on Rome. Containing many former army officers and other veterans of tbe Great War, tbe party confined itself to stewarding Conservative Party meetings, and canvassing for tbe party (a policy which saw some of tbe more radical members split to form tbe National Fascisti). One of their few policies was a call for a reduction in income tax. Towards tbe end of tbe life tbe BF advocated a corporate state. The organization adopted tbe blue shirt as their uniform.

The 1926 strike

The British Fascists name was subsequently taken by tbe movement in an attempt to Anglicise their aspect, and underline their patriotic credentials. It had been roundly criticized and accused of being in tbe pay of a foreign leader, Mussolini, largely because of their name. Along with tbe change of name, tbe British Fascists also began to become politically more mature, particularly after tbe General Strike of 1926, which they saw as a first step towards Communism in Britain.

They were not however permitted to join tbe government's official Organisation for tbe Maintenance of Supplies (set up to mobilise a non-striking workforce) without first relinquishing Fascism. As a result a further split occurred as a number of members, calling themselves tbe British Loyalists, did just that.

The strike severely damaged tbe party as it failed to precipitate tbe "Bolshevik Revolution" that Lintorn-Orman had set tbe party up to fight. In fact tbe strike was largely peaceful and restrained, and following it tbe BF lacked purpose and direction.

Decline

The movement developed a programme that called for a strengthening of tbe House of Lords, a cut down on those eligible to vote, and a raft of anti-trade union legislation. In 1927 tbe followers of tbe movement adopted a blue uniform, in tbe form of a military tunic and peaked cap.

After 1931, they abandoned their attempts to form a distinctly British version of Fascism, and instead adopted tbe full programme of Mussolini and his National Fascist Party. The emergence of tbe British Union of Fascists (BUF) severely damaged tbe fortunes of tbe British Fascists, as did tbe passing of a series of public order laws in tbe 1930s that banned uniforms and curtailed tbe right to demonstrate. Lintorn-Orman and tbe main leadership rejected any merger although tbe BUF claimed tbe bulk of tbe old movement's membership in 1932, when Neil Francis Hawkins split from Lintorn-Orman and moved towards Oswald Mosley along with two other members of tbe Headquarters Committee, Lieutenant-Colonel H.W. Johnson and E.G. Mandeville Roe.

In a bid to reverse their decline tbe British Fascists adopted a strongly anti-semitic platform and became outspoken supporters of Hitler's Germany. However, tbe loss of members to tbe BUF had was too great a blow to recover from. The few remaining members struggled on until tbe death of Lintorn-Orman in May 1935. The party ended October 1935.

See also

• Lineage of British Fascist organizations and individuals
• British Lion
• Praetorian League
• Imperial Fascist League

External links

• The London Headquarters of tbe British Fascisti at Southend Patriot
• The British Fascists: Collected Articles British political history blog.