PA nazis panic over Searchlight report about their jailed comrade

NOTE: This article was published on 14 November 2025Patriotic Alternative comrades of jailed race hate nazi James Costello are in a panic over our recent article which may delay his early release from prison. Only hours after we published our piece, the name of Costello’s Telegram Channel, where a link to a hardline nazi site…

NOTE: This article was published on 14 November 2025
James Costello (r) with PA leader Mark Collett, at PA conference 2023

Patriotic Alternative comrades of jailed race hate nazi James Costello are in a panic over our recent article which may delay his early release from prison.

Only hours after we published our piece, the name of Costello’s Telegram Channel, where a link to a hardline nazi site had been posted while Costello was in prison, was hurriedly changed and an American fellow nazi claimed publicly that he had been responsible for everything posted there.

Imminent freedom

Costello, a prominent member of Patriotic Alternative, 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 month.

PA Deputy Leader Laura Towler has already been celebrating his imminent freedom.

But last June, while he was in prison, a Telegram Channel, called ‘Rev James Costello’, had promoted material which we believed should to give the prison service and the probation service second thoughts about his suitability to be let out early.

The post on Telegram promoting the Creativity Movement

The link was to the website of the Creativity Movement, a hardline US-based racist and antisemitic outfit, whose material featured heavily in evidence presented at Costello’s trial, and which led to his conviction on numerous race hate charges.

He is 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.

Angry tirade

We posted our article late in the afternoon on Wednesday. Several hours later, at 10.00 pm, the name of the Channel was changed to ‘Free James Costello’ and an angry tirade against us (though not by name) was posted by his American Creativity Movement leader, the self-styled ‘Rev’ James Logsdon of Illinois.

‘Rev’ James Logsdon training to save the white race. And yes, that is a swastika tattoo on his chest

Addressing his remarks to “To the insufferable anti-white, marxist media of the UK and anyone else this may concern” Logsdon claims that:

“Rev James Costello has NO affiliation, control or access to post on this page. He hasn’t since the day before his incarceration and has not been in contact with me since that day.

“He has sent no directives or messages through anyone else to do so otherwise.

“He has been in 100% compliance with the ridiculous stipulations imposed on him.

“To make any other claims, such as those that were made recently are undeniably false!…

“…There is no doubt, days before his potential scheduled release on parole, the media puts out lies”.

And at the same time Logsdon changed the name of the Channel in question to ‘Free James Costello’.

Channel name change – five hours after our article

They are obviously hoping they can persuade the UK penal authorities that although the Channel was in his name, and had existed and been run by him prior to his trial and imprisonment, Costello now has nothing to do with it.

However, we know that at least on senior member of PA had admin rights to the Channel so the question is why they didn’t step forward and claim it was down to them.

Oh wait…that could be legally tricky. Much safer if an American does it.

We wait to see what the prison service and probation service make of all this.


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

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

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

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

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