Veteran fascist organiser joins Restore Britain

The fascist faction’s power inside Restore Britain was emphasised on Monday evening in Loughton, Essex. A founding meeting of Restore’s Epping Forest branch was attended by one of the most notorious racist political organisers of the last forty years. Nazi election organiser Eddy Butler, who began his political career in the National Front but is…

Eddy Butler signs up to Restore Britain

The fascist faction’s power inside Restore Britain was emphasised on Monday evening in Loughton, Essex.

A founding meeting of Restore’s Epping Forest branch was attended by one of the most notorious racist political organisers of the last forty years.

Nazi election organiser

Eddy Butler, who began his political career in the National Front but is best known as organiser of the nazi BNP’s election campaigns in East London.

He can be seen in the photo above trying to hide behind a placard at the left of the back row. We have circled his head for ease of identification.

Eddy Butler
Eddy Butler – in his BNP days

Butler unsuccessfully challenged Nick Griffin for the BNP leadership, then joined the English Democrats, before lending his skills in racist rabble rousing to Anne Marie Waters’ Islamophobic party For Britain.

Now 63, Butler had been in semi-retirement politically since Waters closed down For Britain in 2022.

But Searchlight always thought he was likely to make a comeback as soon as any far-right party became electorally credible once again.

Exploiting asylum issue

Butler was among the first far-right activists to spot a chance to exploit the asylum issue in Epping.

He and his wife Sue Clapp, a fellow ex-BNP activist, repeatedly attended demonstrations at The Bell Hotel where he was photographed on one occasion with Reform MP and former Tory minister Robert Jenrick.

Jenrick with Eddie Butler
Eddy Butler (with sunglasses) at a protest at the Bell Hotel, Epping, with Robert Jenrick

But now here he is with Restore, already publicly endorsed by some of his closest political allies such as Julian Leppert, former BNP councillor, more recently a local councillor and mayoral candidate for the British Democrats.


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

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

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

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