Homeland Party (United Kingdom)
Homeland Party | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chairman | Kenny Smith |
| Founded | May 2023 |
| Split from | Patriotic Alternative |
| Ideology | British nationalism Ethnic nationalism |
| Political position | Far-right |
| Colours | GreenWhite |
| Slogan | "Family, Community, Homeland" |
| Website | |
| www | |
The Homeland Partyis a minorfar-right,British nationalistpolitical party in the United Kingdom. It was founded as a group in May 2023 by the activistKenny Smith,and registered as a party in January 2024.[1]
Organisation[edit]
The Homeland Party was formed predominantly by Scottish members who had abandoned the far-rightPatriotic Alternative(PA).[2]Its chairman is Kenny Smith, who founded it in May 2023.[2][3]He was previously the national administration officer for PA, and the head of administration and an unsuccessful electoral candidate for theBritish National Party(BNP).[4][5][6]
The party's other registered officers also have connections with PA. Jerome O'Reilly was reportedly the Welsh regional organiser[7]and Ant Burrows East Midlands regional organiser for the group.[8]
The group first attempted to register as a political party in May 2023, but its application was rejected in August 2023 for being incomplete.[9][10]It was registered as a political party in January 2024.[11]
Political position[edit]
The group has been described as far-right byThe National,[1]although its official website rebuts the use of the term and states its perspective onnationalism,emphasisingself-determination,sovereigntyand the principle of anation-statebased onancestry.[12]
Election results[edit]
UK local elections[edit]
2024[edit]
| Council | Ward | Candidate | Votes | % | Position | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hart District | Hartley Wintney | Rodger Robertson[13] | 355 | 13.5% | Hart District Councillor[14] | 3rd |
Connections to neo-Nazism and terrorism[edit]
The party's nominating officer, Anthony Burrows, was found in court to have shared links to terrorist material.[15][16]Its founding members include former national officers, regional organisers and regional officers of PA.
In April 2023, Judge Manley ruled against Alec Cave, a prominent member of the party and the host for much of the party's video content,[17]in an employment tribunal relating to comments made by him about the actorJohn Boyega.[18]In her ruling Judge Manley said of Cave's views, "This is not just a belief that is shocking, offensive or disturbing to others, though it may well be all those things. It is a belief that, in at least some respects, is akin toNazism."[19]
In October 2023, it was reported that David Gardner, a member of the party and treasurer of Forfar Community Council, had made racist and antisemitic comments and had taken part in a neo-Nazi chat group under a pseudonym.[20][21]Garden responded to the article, describing it as a "hit piece".[22]
Later in October 2023, it was reported that James Munro, a member of the party, had been involved in the neo-Nazi group Scottish Nationalist Society.[23]The party responded that "Munro had been involved as a disenfranchised teenager but has since grown up".[citation needed]
References[edit]
- ^ab"Leading Scottish writers and actors back anti-racism rally outside Erskine hotel".The National.19 May 2023.Retrieved26 June2023.
- ^abMackay, Neil(7 May 2023)."How UK far right extremists have been shattered by a Scottish-led rebellion".The Herald.Archived fromthe originalon 27 May 2023.Retrieved27 May2023.
- ^Morrison, Hamish (24 April 2023)."New far-right party 'eyeing power' following split from Patriotic Alternative".The National.Archivedfrom the original on 27 May 2023.Retrieved27 May2023.
- ^Hume, Tim (27 April 2023)."'Dangerous': The UK's Most Powerful Fascist Group Has Just Split in Two ".Vice.Archivedfrom the original on 27 May 2023.Retrieved27 May2023.
- ^Taylor, Matthew; Cobain, Ian; Evans, Rob (3 February 2007)."Revealed: the front organisation set up by BNP members to raise money in the US".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Archivedfrom the original on 27 May 2023.Retrieved27 May2023.
- ^Briggs, Billy (22 March 2023)."Patriotic Alternative Scotland voices support for man who pleaded guilty to terror charges".The Ferret.Archivedfrom the original on 27 May 2023.Retrieved27 May2023.
-"Far-right extremists attempt 'hijack' of protest against asylum seeker hotel".The National.1 February 2023.Archivedfrom the original on 27 May 2023.Retrieved27 May2023. - ^Shipton, Martin (30 August 2023)."Neo-nazi worked for Welsh exam body WJEC".Nation.Cymru.Retrieved15 February2024.
- ^Davis, Gregory; Lawrence, David (26 November 2021)."Patriotic Alternative: Britain's Fascist Threat"(PDF).Hope Not Hate.Retrieved15 February2024.
- ^"FOI 077-23"(PDF).Electoral Commission. 19 July 2023. p. 95. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 17 August 2023.Retrieved17 August2023.
- ^"Party registration decisions".Electoral Commission. Archived fromthe originalon 17 August 2023.Retrieved17 August2023.
- ^"Registration summary - Homeland Party".The Electoral Commission.Retrieved1 February2024.
- ^"Party Policy".Homeland Party.Retrieved5 November2023.
- ^"Councillor joins the Homeland Party".Homeland Party.Retrieved4 May2024.
- ^"district election".Hart Council.Retrieved4 May2024.
- ^"Registration summary - Homeland Party".The Electoral Commission.Retrieved14 February2024.
- ^Martin Naylor (29 August 2023)."Man's alleged links to far-right group see shotgun appeal fail".The Derby Telegraph.ISSN0307-1235.Retrieved14 February2024.
- ^Homeland Party's channelonYouTube
- ^Murrer, Sally (22 May 2023)."Right-wing 'English nationalist' loses discrimination case after being sacked by Open University in Milton Keynes over tweet to Star Wars actor".Milton Keynes Citizen.Retrieved16 February2024.
- ^"A. Cave v The Open University"(PDF).26 May 2023.Retrieved16 February2024.
- ^Mann, Jamie (15 October 2023)."Far right Homeland activists gain Scottish community councils seats".The Ferret.Retrieved16 February2024.
- ^Mann, Jamie (15 October 2023)."Politicians urge probes into councillors over far-right allegations".The National.Retrieved16 February2024.
- ^"Democracy – but only for the left".Homeland Party. 15 October 2023.Retrieved16 February2024.
- ^Mann, Jamie (29 October 2023)."Former Scots neo-Nazi group member involved in Homeland".The Ferret.Retrieved16 February2024.