Extremism

Our work on far right extremism in Britain aims to understand the risk factors and drivers of far right behaviour and to support and suggest practical steps to counteracting its appeal.

The aim is to gain a better understanding of the profile of far right supporters and what motivates them, as well as the relationship between far right and other forms of extremism.

Our Research

Our work has three strands:

1. Literature Review: A literature and conceptual review on the drivers, conditions and frameworks for understanding far right extremism in the UK
2. Case Studies: In-depth analysis and research on Far Right support in two case study areas, Barking and Dagenham and Stoke on Trent. Both are areas where far right support has increased in recent years, but with different socio-economic contexts.
3. Policy Recommendations: Our report will suggest what further action political parties, government, local authorities and local organisations might take to counteract the appeal of extremism and address gaps that other organisations are unable to fill.

The Far Right in the UK Today

Although the Far Right is electorally weak in the UK compared to other countries in Europe, its popularity has grown in recent years:

• In the 2006 local elections, the BNP fielded 356 candidates and more than doubled its number of councillors – from 20 before the local elections, to 49 after the local elections. Overall 235,000 people voted BNP in May 2006.
• In Barking and Dagenham the BNP is now the second largest party after Labour. The BNP won 12 local council seats here in the 2006 local elections.
• Polling evidence from the London Elections Study suggests that 23% of Londoners either have voted or would consider voting for the BNP in future.
• In the 2005 General Election, the BNP polled 192,850 votes, gaining an average of 4.2% across the seats they stood in, and 0.7% nationwide - a 0.5% rise from the 2001 election.

For more information please contact rushanara.ali(AT)youngfoundation.org