‘Worried of Keswick’

Like many of my generation, my involvement in combatting far-right and fascist parties began in the 1970s, with campaigning against the neo-Nazi National Front. I was present on what became known as the Battle of Red Lion Square on 15 June 1974, when Kevin Gately was killed. Then there was the neo-Nazi BNP to confront in the 1980s – and, up here in Cumbria, during 2012-14, when we successfully prevented the BNP leader from retaining his MEP seat.

Since then, there have been numerous protests and marches against fascist ‘Robinson’ and, more recently, against Farage’s creeping fascist party. Yet, as worrying as the NF, BNP and EDL were, I have never been more concerned about the rise of the far right than I am now. And I know I’m not alone in having such growing concerns.

Together Alliance

Such concerns are despite the brilliant turn-out, on 28 March, of 500,000 people who attended the ‘Together Alliance’ – which dwarfed ‘Robinson’s UTK rally in September last year. The Together Alliance event was a remarkable organising achievement – especially, as unlike fascist ‘Robinson’, we did not have billionaires like Musk throwing £millions into our coffers.

‘Stop Reform UK’ Campaign

As well as the Together Alliance having the potential to develop into a much more focussed anti-far right movement, determined to tackle the far right head-on, we also have the newly announced ‘Stop Reform UK’ campaign.

This will supplement the good work already being done by such groups as Stand Up to Racism,  Unite Against Fascism and Hope Not Hate.

Despite all these positive aspects, if asked to write a half-term report on the left’s actions to block the far right and creeping fascism, my judgement would be as follows:

“Quite good progress – but could do much better.”One area where things could be improved concerns adopting the 1970s’ policy of ‘No Platform for fascists’ – in all its elements: including in getting large numbers to block far-right mobilisations.

‘Popular Front vs. United Front

One area currently being discussed within sections of the left is that concerning the need for a United Front of working-class parties, as opposed to more broadly-based Popular Fronts, which include centre-right liberal groups as well as radical left-wing parties.

Much of this current debate relates to the early 1930s, when Trotsky and his supporters argued for a United Front between the SPD and the KPD, to confront the rising Nazi Party. At the time, the SPD and KPD were mass working-class parties – with 1 million and 400,000 members, respectively. In addition, Germany’s trade unions were strong, with some 7 million members.

But here’s a spoiler-alert: there are no mass working class parties today, nor are the trade unions as strong as they were in the 1970s. We thus have to work with what we’ve got. Right now, the Together Alliance has the potential to turn into a movement which eventually recognises that fascism – and creeping fascism – are strongly linked to the capitalist system itself. It’s up to the left to try to bring about that change.

Your Party

However, opposing the far right – by turning out in large numbers on demos, and pointing out the lies peddled by the likes of Farage and ‘Robinson’ – though hugely important, is nowhere near enough. We need to offer a positive vision of how the future could be much better for the 99%. Essentially, that’s a job for a radical left party. A year ago, I – no doubt like many others – had hoped that Your Party was going to fulfil that role.

However, via a combination of delay and divisions, the leadership of Your Party has managed to spaff away some 750,000 potential members against the metaphorical wall. Many of these have gone into the Green Party instead.

We desperately need a party – with a recognisable name and logo – that operates across the nations of England, Wales and Scotland. The far right – whether Refuk, Restore Britain or UKIP – have this. And they also have a set of policies to offer, which they claim will improve things should they become part of the UK government.

With a general election due in 2029 – a mere three years away – or possibly earlier, all that Your Party is currently offering working people is a disparate collection of various local community coalitions and Independents. In most areas, there will not be a single official Your Party candidate – and thus no opportunity of significantly spreading the party name or logo. And, as far as I know, only Zarah Sultana has identified herself as a Your Party MP. If a party has at least 2 MPs, it qualifies for some Short Money – but it seems Jeremy Corbyn, despite being elected as YP Parliamentary Leader, still lists himself as an Independent. To be quite honest, I do not know why we bothered to have vote on a party name!

One hand behind our backs

To be even more frank, Your Party’s continued failure to put itself forward as a potential UK government is letting all anti-fascists down – it’s like trying to fight an increasingly vicious enemy with one hand tied behind our backs.

This is an unforgiveable failure on Your Party’s part. Because, as several people have recently argued – including Simon Pearson – the situation in the UK is perhaps now shifting from ‘creeping fascism’ into outright fascism. As Pearson has argued, “Fascism is not defined by vintage uniforms. It is defined by function: a mass movement, rooted in crisis, that fuses nationalism, conspiracy, racism and violence into a political force capable of disciplining society on behalf of capital.” In some ways. ‘Robinson’s UTK rally last year can be seen as “a fascist movement in motion.”

Again, to quote Pearson: “We must be blunt: this is no longer about whether Britain can ‘go fascist.’… The only question is whether it will be stopped.” Elsewhere, Pearson has emphasised the importance of paying close attention to what is happening right now, and the dangers inherent in not keeping up with changing situations and developments.

Furthermore, the threat doesn’t just come from the ‘usual suspects’of Refuk and UKIP – it also comes from Lowe’s Restore Britain. 

Restore Britain – a breakaway from Refuk – is, in some ways, a more dangerous threat than Refuk, and has been attracting more and more extreme figures, including fascists and ethnonationalists. Significantly, Lowe has refused to disavow them.

To stop both outright fascism, and creeping fascism, we need a left political party that, quite frankly, acts like it is a potential UK government. Time for Your Party’s leaders to stop dithering and, instead, to act!

Full spectrum resistance: tactical voting

Regardless of what Your Party decides to do, the threat – from both creeping fascism and outright fascism – is serious enough for anti-fascists to use all and every political weapon available. Such methods include electoral alliances/pacts/agreements – e.g., the Gorton & Denton by-election, which saw co-operation between Your Party and the Green Party prevent an expected Refuk win. While the New Popular Front in France, in 2024, stopped Le Pen getting into government.

As an important – if unpopular – weapon against an existential threat is tactical voting. As Rebecca Solnit, correctly, pointed out in 2016, voting isn’t a Valentine – it’s a chess move.

Such a tactic can be difficult – but, as the 2025 by-election in Runcorn showed, it’s sometimes to act while ‘holding our noses’! I suspect that, after the result was announced, there were at least 7 lefties in Runcorn who started to wonder whether ‘political purity’ was such a good idea after all – given that it resulted in yet another Refuk MP, and yet more publicity and money for Farage. As bad as the Labour candidate was, she was not as bad as the Refuk winner.

I have no hesitation in stating publicly that, in my constituency, should it be a straight fight between the sitting Labour MP and a Refuk or Restore Britain candidate, I will vote for the Labour candidate. Only idiots throw away a useful weapon when confronted by a dangerous situation.

Lessons of history

To conclude, the lessons of history are clear on the need to confront creeping fascism/fascism in every way we can. The 2025 film, Nuremberg, has two different characters voicing very timely warnings about fascism – how it came to power in Germany in 1933; and how fascism is likely to manifest itself in the future:

“You want to know why it happened here? People let it happen. Because they didn’t stand up until it was too late.”

And if you think the next time it happens, we’re going to recognize it because they’re wearing scary uniforms, you’re out of your damn mind.”

Finally, it’s appropriate to end with the warnings sounded by Trotsky – one of the most perceptive interpreters of fascism – at the end of 1931:

“Should fascism come to power, it will ride over your skulls and spines like a terrific tank. Your salvation lies in merciless struggle. … Make haste, …, you have very little time left.”