Has neo-nazi posted racist propaganda from jail?

NOTE: This article was published on 12 November 2025The convicted nazi James Costello is due to be released on license from prison this month. And already his comrades in Patriotic Alternative are crowing about it. But his Telegram feed has promoted material which ought to give the prison service and the probation service second thoughts…

NOTE: This article was published on 12 November 2025
Convicted nazi, James Costello

The convicted nazi James Costello is due to be released on license from prison this month. And already his comrades in Patriotic Alternative are crowing about it.

But his Telegram feed has promoted material which ought to give the prison service and the probation service second thoughts about his suitability to be let out early.

Costello was jailed in November 2023 after being convicted of multiple charges of inciting racial hatred. He was sentenced to 5 years and is due to be released on license later this next month.

Race hate material

He was arrested after members of the public in Liverpool reported to the police stickers published by the Creativity Movement saying, “Proud to be white?” which appeared on lamp posts in 2021.

When police investigated the website it led them to Costello, and when they raided his home, they discovered large quantities of race hate material.

Costello’s Telegram feed with post promoting the creativity movement.

But a Telegram account bearing Costello’s name posted a link to the same Creativity Movement material only last June – despite Costello being barred from political activity while in jail, and likely to face a ban on such activity for a period of time even when he is released.

Under his name

His feed contains a number of far-right posts which have been forwarded, usually by PA or by PA’s deputy leader Laura Towler, but the Creativity Movement post appears solely under Costello’s name.

The Creativity website which it promoted describes its function as “Straightening out the white man’s thinking” and says it aims to “Secure the Survival, Expansion, and Advancement of the White Race”.

The website promoted in James Costello’s Telegram feed

Costello claimed to be a “reverend” in the movement which was originally named the Church of the Creator, a notorious US-based white nationalist, antisemitic group established in 1973 by white supremacist Ben Klassen, who originated the idea of “racial holy war”.

Its current leader Matt Hale is serving 40 years for attempting to incite the murder of a US federal judge.

‘Jew parasite’

In a section titled “The nature of the jew” the Creativity website also declares that “The fight against the Jew parasite is far more than simply a political, or even religious, fight.

“It is at its root a biological one, for regardless of whatever political ideology or supposed religious conviction this or that particular Jew embraces, he still remains at his core a parasite among humanity”. 

Patriotic Alternative members demonstrate support for Costello outside Strangeways prison. Leader mark Collett and his deputy Laura Towler are at the far right.

It is quite possible of course, that with the prison and probation services overwhelmed as we know they are, this has simply been overlooked.

However, it is surely something they will now want to look into and consider before he is turned loose early, having served less than half his sentence.


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

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 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

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 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

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