Roy Painter
Roy Painter(born 1933) was a former leading figure on theBritishfar right.
A cab driver, he was a leading member of theConservativesinTottenhamand had stood as a candidate for them in theGreater London Council.A supporter ofEnoch Powell,he was involved with theConservative Monday Club,although he resigned from the group (and the Tories) in 1972 when the Club began a process of removing its most extreme members.[1]Following his resignation, Painter joined theNational Front,rapidly rising to a post on the NF Directorate by 1974.[2]
He made a weak start as a party candidate for the NF inTottenhamat theFebruary 1974 general election;he finished with 1,270 votes (4.1%), behind theNational Independence Partycandidate. An improvement was shown in theOctober 1974 electionwhen he captured 2,211 votes (8.3%) in the same seat. It has been argued that the vote was as much a personal one for Painter, a popular businessman inHaringey,as it was an endorsement of the NF.[3]
He became a prominent figure in the 'populist' wing of the NF, opposingJohn TyndallandMartin Webster.He wrote an article in a 1974 issue ofSpearheadentitled "Let's Make Nationalism Popular" which extolled the virtues of this path. It was followed by a rebuttal from Tyndall who described Painter's arguments as "sheer unadulterated claptrap".[4]Whilst espousing populism, Painter would tell Martin Webster, "I am anational socialistat heart. Only I am careful. "[5]The 'populists', however, began to outvote Tyndall on the Directorate[6]and Painter dismissed Tyndall as a "tin potFührer".[7]
Painter was believed byThe Guardianto be a potential rival leader.[8]However, he instead supportedJohn Kingsley Read.[9]Kingsley Read came under bitter attack from the hardliners who regained control of the party in 1976. "Kingsley Read, Roy Painter and other ex-Conservative populists"[10]left to form the short-livedNational Partyand Painter was appointed its Directorate.[11]
Painter rejoined the Conservatives in 1978, although his role with them was confined to local politics.[12]
Painter continues to be involved on the fringe of the far right. In 2003, withIan Anderson,he addressed a conference organised by theConservative Democratic Alliance.[13]In 2012, he gave a speech entitled "Was Enoch [Powell] right about immigration?" to a seminar organised by Alan Harvey of theSpringbok Cluband a one time chairman of theSwinton Circle,[14]with whom he had been in the National Party.
Elections contested[edit]
| Date of election | Constituency | Party | Votes | % | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 1974 | Tottenham | NF | 1270 | 4.1 | The Guardian,2 Mar 1974 |
| October 1974 | Tottenham | NF | 2211 | 8.3 | The Guardian,12 Oct 1974 |
References[edit]
- ^M. Walker,The National Front,Glasgow: Fontana, 1977, p. 131
- ^Walker, MartinThe National Front,Fontana, 2nd edition 1978 p137
- ^S. Taylor,The National Front in English Politics,London: Macmillan, 1982, p. 42
- ^Walker, MartinThe National Front,Fontana, 2nd edition 1978, p151
- ^Fielding, NigelThe National FrontRoutledge, Kegan and Paul 1981 p25
- ^Thurlow, Richard C. ThurlowFascism in Britain: From Oswald Mosley's Blackshirts to the National Front1998 P253
- ^M. Walker,The National Front,Glasgow: Fontana, 1977, p. 187
- ^Walker, MartinThe National FrontFontana, 2nd edition 1978 p149
- ^M. Walker,The National Front,Glasgow: Fontana, 1977, p. 176
- ^Bean, JohnMany Shades of BlackNew Millennium 1999 p217
- ^M. Walker,The National Front,Glasgow: Fontana, 1977, p. 193
- ^G. Gable,"The Far Right in the United Kingdom" in L. Cheles, R. Ferguson & M. Vaughan (eds.),Neo-Fascism in Europe,London: Longman, 1991, p. 249
- ^Searchlightmagazine, "CDA rejects multiculturalism and moves towards new party", 2003 p47
- ^Springbok Club Cyber Newsletter, June 2012