Charlie Veitch and friends attack Palestine march

NOTE: This article was published on 14 June 2025At a large Palestine march in Manchester city centre today, YouTube clickbait merchant Charlie Veitch and a handful of his hangers-on tried to attack the front of the procession despite being told by police and stewards not to. Deliberately seeking to cause trouble, and obviously great offence,…

NOTE: This article was published on 14 June 2025
Charlie Veitch – far-right click bait merchant

At a large Palestine march in Manchester city centre today, YouTube clickbait merchant Charlie Veitch and a handful of his hangers-on tried to attack the front of the procession despite being told by police and stewards not to.

Deliberately seeking to cause trouble, and obviously great offence, he walked right to the front of the march sticking his mobile phone in everyone’s faces.

More sinister

More sinister, perhaps, is the gap-toothed Tommy Robinson live stream thug, partially pictured with Veitch above, who was filming everything and photographing the organisers.

No doubt “Tommy” would be proud. But given that these are public events, to which all are invited, and the organisers public figures, one can only speculate as to their intention here.

Starting trouble

At events like this, everyone is filming everyone else. Fair enough. But, apart from Veitch and his set, nobody is trying to start trouble. Veitch appears to be popular with thugs and kids on bikes. But when he’s regularly seen with thugs at Britain First and similar events, one can only conclude the worst. But because Veitch is well known it works against him.

Event organisers know who he is. And they know because we have reported upon his nefarious activities. Apart from one minor scuffle lasting only a few seconds, Veitch failed again.


Peter Hain

Peter Hain, founder of the ANL and friend of Searchlight

British Jews have been persecuted over the centuries; British blacks since the Windrush generation of the 1950s; British Muslims, especially after the Islamist 9/11 and then 7/7 terrorist attacks in New York 2001 and London 2005. But until the last few years there has not been a simultaneous threat against all three British communities of Jewish, Black and Muslim Britons – meaning the need for Searchlight has never been greater.

Peter Hain
Labour peer, former MP and Cabinet Minster

Nick Davies

Nick Davies

To investigate fascists takes real courage and unusual commitment. The government, police, mainstream media occasionally take a look, but in the UK only Searchlight have kept at it, relentlessly and admirably, regardless of threat or obstacle. It’s journalism that matters. A rare thing.

Nick Davies
Multi-award-winning investigative journalist and writer

Paul Holborow

Paul Holborow

In the campaign against the National Front, Searchlight provided a rich and utterly reliable basis for much ANL propaganda – particularly with reference to the two leading NF figures, John Tyndall and Martin Webster. The appearance of Tyndall in full nazi uniform, drawn from the archives of Searchlight, was a key part of ANL propaganda, coupled with deeply damaging nazi quotes from Webster.

Paul Holborow
Founding member of the ANL and National Organiser 1977-81

Alf Dubs

Lord Alf Dubs

Searchlight’s voice is more important than ever, and I am delighted that it will now be available to a wider audience than ever before in its new incarnation online. Searchlight has been extremely helpful over the years in exposing the far right, corruption, criminality and the murky links between organised crime and powerful interests in the UK and abroad. I wish Searchlight the very best.

Alf Dubs
Labour peer, former MP and Cabinet Minister, and Kindertransport child

Paul Nowak

Paul Nowak

The essence of trade unionism is solidarity, fairness and equality – for all workers – from all backgrounds. That’s why our fight against the far-right has always been part of our movement’s DNA. Searchlight is an incredibly important resource for trade unions and members to understand the contemporary tactics of far-right activity. Their work and intelligence gathering over the years have been incredibly insightful for the work we do, and how we fight the scourge of fascism.

Paul Nowak
TUC General Secretary

Professor Colin Holmes

Professor Colin Holmes
Everyone who wants to understand contemporary racism and its historical background needs to read Searchlight.
Professor Colin Holmes
University of Sheffield

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