Britain First ‘battle bus’ seized by police – again

NOTE: This article was published on 7 October 2025So here’s how it unfolded. A week ago, British fascism’s village idiot Paul Golding drove his Britain First ‘battle bus’ around Manchester bearing a banner saying ‘Keir Starmer is a wanker” (Oh, how we laughed!). He was stopped by Greater Manchester Police for behaviour likely to cause…

NOTE: This article was published on 7 October 2025
The Britain First ‘battle bus’ hauled away by Greater Manchester Police

So here’s how it unfolded.

A week ago, British fascism’s village idiot Paul Golding drove his Britain First ‘battle bus’ around Manchester bearing a banner saying ‘Keir Starmer is a wanker” (Oh, how we laughed!).

He was stopped by Greater Manchester Police for behaviour likely to cause offence, served with a Section 59 order and clearly warned – twice – that of he did it again in the next 12 months , the van would be seized.

Police warn Golding what will happen if he repeats the exercise

So, two days later, with those words still ringing in his ears, he drove it up to the Labour Party conference in Liverpool where, to everyone’s shock and surprise (not really), the police promptly impounded it.

Cue outrage and disbelief from Golding and his partner in crimes against humour, Ashlea Simon.

Golding drives his bus to Manchester only to have it seized again

It was released to him shortly afterwards, after the payment of a fairly sizeable sum, whereupon he promptly repeated the exercise.

This time motoring up to Manchester, where he put his juvenile humour on parade first at the Crest Hotel, scene of recent anti-migrant demonstrations, and then at the Conservative Party conference.

Where, surprise, surprise, especially given that it was the same police force which had issued the original Section 59 warning, the vehicle was again impounded.

And again, we were treated to interminable whines of outrage from Mr Golding. And Ms Simon.

Until this, we regarded UKIP’s Nick Tenconi as the clown prince of British fascism. Now we’re not so sure.


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

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

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

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

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

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

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