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Andrew Brons

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Andrew Brons
President of theBritish Democratic Party
Assumed office
9 February 2013
LeaderJames Lewthwaite
Preceded byPosition Established
Member of the European Parliament
forYorkshire and the Humber
In office
14 July 2009 – 26 May 2014
Preceded byRichard Corbett
Succeeded byRichard Corbett
Chairman of theNational Front
In office
1980–1984
DeputyRichard Verrall
Preceded byJohn Tyndall
Succeeded byMartin Wingfield
Personal details
Born
Andrew Henry William Brons

(1947-06-03)3 June 1947(age 77)
Hackney,London, England
Political partyBritish Democratic Party(since 2013)[1][2]
Other political
affiliations		BNP(2005–2012),
National Front(1967–1999),
BNP (1960)(1965–67),
NSM(1964–65),
Children2 daughters
Residence(s)Spofforth,North Yorkshire,England.[3]
Alma materUniversity of York
OccupationRetired college lecturer,Harrogate College of Further Education[3]
Websiteandrewbronsmep.eu/

Andrew Henry William Brons(born 3 June 1947) is a British politician and former MEP. Long active infar-right politicsin Britain, he was elected as aMember of the European Parliament(MEP) forYorkshire and the Humberfor thefascistBritish National Party(BNP) at the2009 European Parliament electionand held the seat until May 2014. He was the chairman of theNational Frontin the early 1980s. He resigned the BNP whip in October 2012 and became patron of the far-rightBritish Democratic Party.[4]He did not seek re-election in 2014.[5]

Family background and early life[edit]

Brons, who hasEnglishandGermanancestry, was born inHackney,East London,two years after the end of theSecond World War.He spent most of his childhood inSidcup,on the outskirts of London, before his family moved toHarrogatewhen he was eleven years old. He attendedHarrogate Grammar Schooluntil the age of sixteen, when he left to join the civil service, where he remained for 16 months before sitting part-time A-Levels in law and economics atHarrogate College.He studied politics at theUniversity of York,and graduated in 1970.[6]

After graduation, Brons started working as a lecturer at Harrogate College in 1970, and worked there until 2005; lecturing in A-Level law and government, and politics.[7]He has two daughters.[6]

Political career[edit]

Early activity[edit]

Brons began his political career in 1964 when, aged seventeen, he joined theNational Socialist Movement(NSM),[8]aNeo-Naziorganisation founded onAdolf Hitler's birthday byColin Jordan.In 1980,Searchlightpublished two letters Brons had written in 1965 toFrançoise Dior,Jordan's wife, in which he mentioned meeting an NSM member who "mentioned such activities as bombing synagogues", stating in response to this that: "On this subject I have a dual view, in that I realise that he is well intentioned, I feel that our public image may suffer considerable damage as a result of these activities. I am however open to correction on this point."[9][10]The second letter requested materials such as aswastika,a copy of theHorst-Wessel-Lied,and posters and stickers in furtherance of Brons' goal of forming a local NSM group.[11]

Questioned in 2009 about his membership of the National Socialist Movement, Brons said, "People do silly things when they are seventeen.Peter Mandelsonwas once a member of theYoung Communist Leaguebut we don't continue to call him a Communist. "[12]Brons was forced to return to the issue in March 2011 when – on theBBC'sDaily Politicsprogramme –Dominic Carman,theLiberal Democratcandidate for the2011 Barnsley Central by-election,called Brons, in his absence, a "Nazi and an admirer ofAdolf Hitler".[13]In response Brons released a statement on his website, stating:

"It is on record that I was a member of the National Socialist Movement between the ages of seventeen and eighteen. I am now sixty-three, nearly sixty four – forty six years ago, nearly half a century! From the age of eighteen, I have been a committed supporter ofParliamentary democracyand therule of law.The parties of which I have been a member, since then, have all been committed to democracy. Many Labour politicians have been members of theCommunist Partyin their teens, twenties and even thirties.Denis Healeywas a member of the Communist Party at the height of theStalinist purges.Would anybody be allowed to call Mr. Healey an avowed Communist and admirer ofJoseph Stalin?"[14]

National Front[edit]

In 1965, Brons joinedJohn Bean'sBritish National Party(not the same as the current incarnation), which later merged with theLeague of Empire Loyaliststo form theNational Front(NF) in 1967.[15]Brons was voted onto the National Front's national directorate in 1974, and "as the NF's education officer, he hosted seminars on racial nationalism and tried to give its racism a more" scientific "basis."[16]

Brons contestedHarrogatefor the National Front in both February and October 1974 general elections, polling 1,186 votes (2.3%) inFebruaryand 1,030 (2.3%) inOctober.WhenLabour'sRoy Jenkinsresigned his parliamentary seat on appointment asEuropean CommissionPresident in early 1977,[17]Brons contested theBirmingham Stechford by-electionfor the National Front.[18]He polled 2,955 votes (8.2%), forcing theLiberalcandidate into fourth place.

Leadership[edit]

Following the poor showing by the National Front at the1979 general election,andJohn Tyndall's subsequent departure, Brons became Chairman of the NF in 1980[16]and in doing so broke with his former mentor. Brons, though, led the NF in name only. InitiallyMartin Webster,National Activities Organiser, exerted the most influence, before thePolitical Soldierwing of the party became more important. Brons tended to support theFlag Groupalthough he lost influence toIan Andersonand faded from his leading position. Nevertheless, Brons had links to the Political Soldier wing and is credited with having introduced the concept ofdistributisminto the party, which formed a central part of the new ideology of the NF.[19]Brons co-edited the NF journalNew Nation,withRichard Verrall,the author of a work ofholocaust denial,Did Six Million Really Die?[16]

Brons edited the National Front's1983 general electionmanifesto, which "called for a global apartheid to prevent the 'extinction' of whites everywhere."[20]The manifesto declared that "The National Front rejects the whole concept of multiracialism. We recognise inherent racial differences in Man. The races of Man are profoundly unequal in their characteristics, potential and abilities."[20]

On at least two occasions in the early-1980s, Brons' far-right activities caused difficulties for his employer: on 24 June 1981, more than 500 student andAnti-Nazi Leaguecampaigners marched through Harrogate, taking over the college building where Brons was teaching; six protesters were arrested.[21]In February 1982, more than 300 protesters clashed with 100 National Front supporters outside Brons' classroom in central Harrogate, and in the process two students were stabbed and six people arrested.[22]

In October 1983, Brons called upon the principal of Harrogate College as a character witness,[7]when Brons was convicted by magistrates of using insulting words and behaviour likely to cause a breach of the peace and fined £50.[23]Brons had been leading a group leafleting in Leeds city centre. A shop assistant reported that the group had been shouting "National Front" and makingclenched fist salutes,while an unnamed policeman is supposed to have heard "white power" and "death to Jews".[24]When a police officer of Malaysian origin asked the group to disperse, the policeman said that Brons replied: "I am aware of my legal rights. Inferior beings like you probably do not appreciate the principle of free speech,"[25]- an allegation which Brons has always denied.[26]His appeal toLeeds Crown Courtwas unsuccessful.[24]

Although Brons continued as a leading member and even wrote a number of articles for thePolitical Soldier-supportingNationalism Today,he was generally opposed to the positions of the'official' National Frontand resigned from the chairmanship in November 1984.[27][28]He left the 'official' party altogether in 1986 but, unlike Webster who had been expelled in 1984, Brons became involved with theFlag Group,an NF Fronde.[29]It was Brons who, in 1987, approached Tyndall with a view to an electoral alliance between the Flag Group and the modernBritish National Partybut the proposed deal fell through and was repudiated byMartin WingfieldinThe Flagnewspaper.[30]

British National Party[edit]

After leaving the 'official' National Front, in 1986, Brons chiefly dedicated himself to the duties of his lectureship at Harrogate College until his retirement in 2005.[24]However, he maintained his membership of the National Front (as the Flag Group became known on the dissolution of the 'official' party in 1989) until 1999. Upon his retirement, Brons joined the BNP in 2005.[12][31]He subsequently wrote at least two articles for the BNP's official magazineIdentity.[32]

Brons had a "tentative agreement" to return to work at Harrogate College in September 2009.[7]He had however been selected as BNP lead candidate for theEuropean Elections 2009in theYorkshire and the Humber constituency,[31]and upon becoming the BNP's firstMember of the European Parliamenthe declined the college's offer.

Brons stood as a parliamentary candidate for theKeighley constituencyat the2010 general election.[33][34]He came fourth in the election with 1,962 votes.[34]

In August 2010, Brons and fellow members of the BNP Policy Committee were asked by the chairman and advisory council to carry out a consultation of members about possible changes to the party's constitution,[35]with particular reference to two areas, governance of the party nationally and the rules for internal elections. On 8 November, his findings were published online.[36]

At the end of May 2011, Brons announced that he would seek nomination for theleadership of the British National Partyin an internal election which would have been held in the autumn. Following constitutional changes rushed through byNick Griffin,the leadership election was brought forward to the summer. Brons was narrowly defeated, receiving 1,148 votes to Griffin's 1,157.[37][38]

On 16 October 2012, Brons resigned the BNP whip following disputes with the party leader Griffin, stating that Griffin had described him "in a text to his attack dogs as 'vermin'". He continued as an MEP[39]until 2014 when he did not stand for re-election.

Member of the European Parliament[edit]

Upon election to the European Parliament, Brons and his fellow BNP MEPNick Griffinwere heavily critical of any legislation, current or pending, which they saw as designed to reduce the national sovereignty and independence of member states or to have a negative impact on Britain. He was a member of theConstitutional Affairs Committee[40]and a substitute for theCivil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee.[41]

Committee on Croatia[edit]

On entering theEuropean ParliamentBrons was designated to theDelegation to the EU-Croatia Joint Parliamentary Committee[42]this being a joint delegation to create dialogue with theCroatian Parliamentat the timeCroatia was a candidate country.On 29/30 March 2010, the delegation including Brons met inZagreb,[43]Brons spoke in the Croatian Parliament on the state of play of the accession negotiations andEU-Croatia relationsin the presence of representatives of theCroatian Government.He went on to say:

"I am sometimes seen as somebody who exaggerates when I say that Croatia is about to surrender its independence so I shall let the Croatian people make that judgment. Unfortunately, they have not yet been consulted directly. I just hope that that consultation will be carried out freely and fairly. However, I note that the rules for referendums in the Constitution, the goal posts if you like, are being changed to facilitate a 'Yes vote'."

Although having, made a direct speech as a warning to the Croatian Parliament, Brons ended with anabstentionin voting to continue negotiations. He justified this by stating:

"I should like my abstention to be placed on record. I shall not vote against Croatia's accession because that might imply that I have some right to act on behalf of Croatian opponents of accession, when I clearly have no such right. The Croatian people must decide for themselves. Furthermore, It might imply that I am somehow hostile to Croatia, when I am emphatically not hostile."

The remaining members of the committee voted unanimously in favour.

On 30 November 2010, Brons again spoke of the negative impact that EU accession would have on the Croatian people, this time in the European Parliament. He used the opportunity to express his concerns over the double standards of the EU in relation to theLisbon Treaty;he also questioned member states governments' and media impartiality regarding the EU Question,[44]saying:

"The referendum on accession must be free, fair and final. The debate must be conducted with full participation and media coverage for both sides of the debate. I do not want to prejudge the Croatian media but our experience in the UK in 1975 was that there was complete media support for EEC membership and a deluge of propaganda in favour of (continued) membership."

British Democratic Party[edit]

In November 2012, Brons and several other ex-BNP activists formed theBritish Democratic Partywith himself as president of the party.[1][2]

Elections contested[edit]

UK Parliament elections

Date of election Constituency Party Votes % Ref
Feb 1974 Harrogate National Front 1,186 2.3
Oct 1974 Harrogate National Front 1,030 2.3
1977 by-election Birmingham Stechford National Front 2,995 8.2
1979 Bradford North National Front 614 1.3
1983 Leeds East National Front 475 1.1
2010 Keighley British National Party 1,962 4.1 [34]

European Parliament elections

Date of election Region Party Votes % Result Ref
2009 Yorkshire and the Humber British National Party 120,139 9.8 Elected [45]

See also[edit]

Wikinews has related news:

References[edit]

  1. ^ab"What is the British Democratic Party?".British Democratic Party. Archived fromthe originalon 18 January 2013.Retrieved17 December2012.
  2. ^ab"Building a new party: Heritage and Destiny".efp.org.uk.Archived fromthe originalon 11 December 2012.Retrieved16 December2012.
  3. ^abDaily Telegraph,9 June 2009,European elections 2009: BNP Andrew Brons profile
  4. ^"Andrew Brons resigns from BNP | Calendar – ITV News".Itv. 12 September 2012.Retrieved17 October2012.
  5. ^Ruby Kitchen,"MEP Andrew Brons to stand down at election"Archived24 April 2014 at theWayback Machine,Harrogate Advertiser,3 April 2014
  6. ^ab"Andrew Brons MEP | Biography".Andrewbrons.eu.Archivedfrom the original on 30 May 2010.Retrieved8 May2010.
  7. ^abcFiona Hamilton,"Anti-BNP movement split over tactics after Nick Griffin egg protest",The Times,13 June 2009
  8. ^Lazenby, Peter (8 June 2009)."BNP wins Yorkshire Euro seat".Yorkshire Post.Leeds.Archivedfrom the original on 11 June 2009.Retrieved8 June2009.
  9. ^"The Front enters the Brons Age: Searchlight puts Brons in Perspective".Searchlight.April 1980. Archived fromthe originalon 27 July 2010.Retrieved8 May2010.
  10. ^Duncan Campbell (8 June 2009)."Andrew Brons: the genteel face of neo-fascism",The Guardian.London.
  11. ^Britten, Nick (9 June 2009)."European elections 2009: BNP Andrew Brons profile".The Daily Telegraph.London.Retrieved17 August2009.
  12. ^abJerome Taylor,"Andrew Brons: The quiet academic with a 'silly' teenage Nazi past",The Independent,9 June 2009. Retrieved 9 June 2009.
  13. ^"Lib Dem by-election loser Dominic Carman's attack on Barnsley".BBC News.9 March 2011.
  14. ^Brons, Andrew (10 March 2011)."Statement from Andrew Brons MEP".andrewbronsmep.eu.Archived fromthe originalon 14 March 2011.Retrieved5 July2017.
  15. ^S. Taylor,The National Front in English Politics,London: Macmillan, 1982, p. 62.
  16. ^abcDuncan Campbell,'Andrew Brons, the genteel face of neo-fascism',The Guardian8 June 2009
  17. ^"1977: Jenkins quits Commons for Brussels".BBC News.3 January 1977.
  18. ^1977 By Election ResultsArchived12 October 2013 at theWayback Machineat by-elections.co.uk, accessed 18 December 2011
  19. ^N. Copsey,Contemporary British Fascism: The British National Party and the Quest for Legitimacy,Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2004, p.33
  20. ^abJamie Doward,"Racist rants of elected BNP man, Andrew Brons, revealed",The Observer,14 June 2009
  21. ^"Beating the Brons Brigade".Searchlight.Retrieved8 May2010.
  22. ^"EXPOSED: BNP man's past".Harrogateadvertiser.net. 12 June 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 20 June 2009.Retrieved17 August2009.
  23. ^Duncan Campbell, "The genteel face of British neo-fascism",The Guardian,page 7, 9 June 2009
  24. ^abcSmithard, Tom (3 June 2009)."Controversy over abuse conviction of BNP candidate".Yorkshire Post.Retrieved8 June2009.
  25. ^Private Eye#1238, 12 June 2009
  26. ^Campbell, Duncan (8 June 2009)."Andrew Brons: the genteel face of neo-fascism".The Guardian.London.Retrieved26 March2010.
  27. ^N. Copsey,Contemporary British Fascism: The British National Party and the Quest for Legitimacy,Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2004, p. 35
  28. ^"Terrified Brons quits as Front chairman".Searchlight.Retrieved8 May2010.
  29. ^N. Copsey,Contemporary British Fascism: The British National Party and the Quest for Legitimacy,Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2004, p. 37
  30. ^N. Copsey,Contemporary British Fascism: The British National Party and the Quest for Legitimacy,Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2004, pp. 36–8
  31. ^ab"Andrew Brons".British National Party. 4 March 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 6 June 2009.Retrieved8 June2009.
  32. ^See, for example, "Something New to Worry Liberals",Identity,November 2007 and "The Elusive Causes of Gun & Knife Crime",Identity,October 2008
  33. ^"Andrew stands for the British National Party in Keighley | Andrew Brons MEP".Andrewbrons.eu. 16 April 2010.Archivedfrom the original on 26 April 2010.Retrieved8 May2010.
  34. ^abc"UK > England > Yorkshire & the Humber > Keighley".Election 2010.BBC. 7 May 2010.Archivedfrom the original on 17 April 2010.Retrieved11 May2010.
  35. ^"Andrew Brons, MEP".Andrewbronsmep.eu. Archived fromthe originalon 21 October 2010.Retrieved17 October2012.
  36. ^"British National Party Constitutional Consultation".bnpconstitutionalconsultation.blogspot.
  37. ^"Nick Griffin re-elected BNP leader ahead of Andrew Brons".BBC News.25 July 2011.
  38. ^"BNP Bear Fight",Searchlightmagazine, August 2011.
  39. ^Ben Quinn,"BNP divisions exposed as Andrew Brons resigns",The Guardian,17 October 2012
  40. ^"Constitutional Affairs – Home".Europarl.europa.eu.Retrieved17 October2012.
  41. ^"Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs – Home".Europarl.europa.eu.Retrieved17 October2012.
  42. ^"Home – by delegation".Europarl.europa.eu. 21 September 2006.Retrieved17 October2012.
  43. ^"Andrew Brons, MEP".Andrewbronsmep.eu. Archived fromthe originalon 19 June 2010.Retrieved17 October2012.
  44. ^"Andrew Brons, MEP".Andrewbronsmep.eu. Archived fromthe originalon 18 July 2012.Retrieved17 October2012.
  45. ^"European Election 2009: Yorkshire and Humber".BBC News.8 June 2009.Retrieved10 March2010.

External links[edit]

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