One of the most important events in recent British history — and maybe European history — occurred last weekend while I was (alas!) away. On Saturday May 5 two leaders of the English Defence League, Tommy Robinson and Kevin Carroll, joined the Executive Committee of the British Freedom Party.
So it’s official — the EDL and BF will remain separate organizations, but they are now working together. Tommy and Kev just became joint vice-chairmen of the party, under the chairmanship of Paul Weston.
This is a significant turning point for the resistance to Islamization in the UK.
An EDL demo in Luton Town Centre was part of the day’s events. Below is Tommy’s superb speech for the occasion. Many thanks to Vlad Tepes for uploading this video:
If you want an alternate viewpoint, read the Daily Mail’s take on the same event.
Here’s the press release from British Freedom
EDL’s Stephen Lennon and Kevin Carroll Join British Freedom
London, United Kingdom, 5th May 2012 – We are pleased to announce that Stephen Lennon (also known as Tommy Robinson) and Kevin Carroll of the English Defence League have joined the Executive Council of British Freedom.
Mr Lennon and Mr Carroll will share the role of Party Vice Chairman alongside Party Chairman Paul Weston.
This historic development marks the growing cooperation between British Freedom and the English Defence League, thus offering a political voice to the working men and women of this country who have effectively been betrayed by all the main parties – particularly the Labour Party.
The move establishes British Freedom as a new force in British politics – the only party with the strength and determination to call for Britain’s withdrawal from the unelected and totalitarian European Union, to confront militant Islam, halt mass immigration and defend democracy’s most vital ingredient – Free Speech.
British Freedom will also end the deliberately divisive policy of multiculturalism and reverse decades of destructive Political Correctness which exists only to promote division and Socialism – despite the appalling record of Socialist inspired mass murder, war, and the terrible economic, social and environmental carnage witnessed over the last century.
The popular movement that began in Luton three short years ago marked a decisive turning point in this country. It was the moment when British people began to reassert their national pride and identity and started to resist the forces that will, unless stopped, destroy the culture, traditions and precious freedoms of Great Britain that so many, so recently, gave their lives for.
Paul Weston, Stephen Lennon and Kevin Carroll will lead the Party’s assault on corruption, complacency and unaccountability in British (and EU) politics. Together they will provide a powerful voice to a British working class all but abandoned by the mainstream parties; to a middle class whose traditional values have come under relentless attack; and to Britain’s service and ex-service personnel – the ultimate defenders of freedom – who have all too often been taken for granted.
British Freedom will reassert the primacy of British law, culture, values and traditions as the necessary basis for establishing unity in a country increasingly riven by Leftist inspired racial, cultural and religious division.
And the press release from the English Defence League:
EDL Leaders Join British Freedom
This past weekend EDL Leaders Tommy Robinson (Stephen Lennon) and Kevin Carroll each became Joint Vice-Chairman of British Freedom (BF) – the political party headed by Paul Weston, former member of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) and regular contributor to Gates of Vienna blog.
In the announcement on their website, British Freedom summarise their party as the only one with the “strength and determination to call for Britain’s withdrawal from the unelected and totalitarian European Union, to confront militant Islam, halt mass immigration and defend democracy’s most vital ingredient – Free Speech.”
If that sounds like a cause you want to support, EDL members can join British Freedom for half price, whilst serving or former Armed Services personnel can join for free!
The appointments mark the beginning of a new period of cooperation between the EDL and BF, and reflect our hope that together we can make a real difference in the battle against Islamic extremism.
We are confident that British Freedom shares our commitment to protecting the rights and freedoms that our country has long enjoyed, as well as our belief that our national identity is something worth celebrating and defending.
Whilst we certainly share many of the same ideals, both the English Defence League and British Freedom will remain separate and distinct organisations with their own specific goals and Mission Statements.
We recognise that the EDL attracts supporters from all across the political spectrum and we aim to continue representing the views and concerns of our diverse range of supporters as best we can.
Thank you for your continued support.
No Surrender!
The new turbo-charged British Freedom Party will provide some serious competition for its nearest ideological relative, the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP), led by Nigel Farage. It was no surprise when UKIP banned any former members of BF a few months ago.
Funnily enough, Christopher Monckton, a prominent spokesman for UKIP, has just reached out to members of British Freedom, asking them to “come back” to UKIP. According to the Liberal Conspiracy (which has the video), Lord Monckton said:
I wish that the independent minded people who are willing to stand away from the major parties could remember that because we are so few, we should stand together.
And UKIP is, for all its faults, the biggest of the freedom loving, democracy loving, independent minded parties. And I don’t like this splitting off, which is very prone to happen in those smaller parties precisely because you have to be independent minded to start with. And this makes everyone willing to fight and go their own way.
But the British Freedom Party won’t really come to very much, I don’t think, and I would very much like them to come back and join us and we stand together…
After the news of Lord Monckton’s appeal had spread, UKIP issued this statement:
The National Executive Committee of UKIP decided in January to include the BFPO amongst a list of proscribed organisations whose members, and former members are not welcome in UKIP.
“Membership is not available to anyone who is or has previously been a member of the British National Party, National Front, British Freedom Party, British People’s Party, English Defence League, Britain First or the UK First Party. Any applications made from people who are or have been members of these organisations will be refused, and any subscriptions collected will be refunded. By applying for membership you certify that you are not and have never been a member of either of these parties. “
Christopher Moncton [sic] has been out of the country for almost the whole of this year, and it is unlikely that he has been following the details of our NEC meetings. To that end he was entirely mistaken in his view. Members and former members ofteh [sic] BFP are not welcome in UKIP.
Hmm…
Seems to me the cowardly-just-barely-right-of-center hand doesn’t know what the far-right hand is doing.
This is great news! But what I want to know is where are the two EDL embroidered watch hats that I ordered three months ago for $50 dollars american? Eh? Tell me that Tommy me boy!
Respectfully, Frankie the Crip~
Why all this animosity from the UKIP towards the EDL and the BFP? Does this mean the UKIP is in reality just as lenient as the Tories when it comes to mass immigration and Islam?
Wtg Tommy, greetings & best wishes from the continent!
Seems to me that UKIP is merely focused on getting Britain out of the EU, instead of getting Britain’s enemies out of Britain. Or are they already just worried about their own jobs and perks.
So, UKIP takes votes away from the Tories. And British Freedom takes votes away from UKIP. Which means that, under Britain’s first-past-the-post system, the ones with the most to celebrate are Labour and the Lib Dems?
Yeah, “great news”… if you’re a leftist, liberal or Islamist!