PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Anti-racists raise alarm at launch of new far-right party ‘For Britain’
Stand Up To Racism is concerned by the announcement that the notorious, anti Muslim, failed UKIP candidate, Anne Marie Waters, is launching a new political party, For Britain (FB).
It is notable that the ex English Defence League leader and convicted racist thug, Tommy Robinson, is backing Waters. Water spoke alongside Robinson at a violent racist march in Manchester, in June. Both had previously tried to launch a UK version of the racist, German body, Pegida. This attracted few beyond EDL supporters of Robinson and collapsed, partly due to anti fascist opposition.
Alongside Waters in this venture will be ex fascist BNP member, Jack Buckby.
He disgracefully stood for the constituency of Batley and Spen, which had been that of Jo Cox MP, who was killed by a white supremacist in 2016. Buckby got a derisory vote for the far right Liberty GB.
FB is founded on blatant Islamophobia. Waters has said Islam is “evil” and BF claim Islam has ‘and will continue to have, a profound and negative impact on freedom of speech, law enforcement, and especially the rights and freedoms of women”. FB also stand for a “large reduction in immigration, including a temporary freeze so that illegal migrants already in Britain can be investigated and deported in appropriate”.
For Britain will try, as with other far right groups, to seek to stigmatise Muslims and cyncially exploit any future terror incidents.
Co Convenor of Stand Up To Racism Weyman Bennett said:
“Waters is a dangerous, anti Muslim figure. She and others like Robinson have tried to inflame Islamophobia, for instance, in 2015, where they had to eventually cancel an exhibition of racist cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad. For Britain will look to recruit fascists and racists from the fragmented far right”.
Sabby Dhalu, co Convenor of Stand Up To Racism, said:
“Much of what FB stands is reminiscent of the fascist BNP. For Britain claim “the rights of British citizens should be placed above those of non British people”. Waters and Buckby are hard-right racists who need monitoring and their poison defeated.
Waters is due to speak at this month’s conference of the Traditional Britain Group (TBG), a far-right discussion group. This reveals much about her and For Britain’s racist rhetoric. For Britain should be rejected by all who treasure a multi cultural society”.
Notes to Editors
1 – Buckby works for Rebel Media, a Canadian far-right media group, for whom ex-EDL leader Tommy Robinson also works.
2 – Waters spoke in Dudley in 2015, to a demonstration called by the All Football Firms/ Fans March Against Islamisation rally in Dudley – a splitner group from the EDL. The gathering contained much, anti Muslim abuse. Waters also spoke alongside, Toni Bugle at a Mothers Against radical Islam and Sharia event in 2015. The Daily Mirror called it a “vile, anti Islamic hate rally”.
