Last Saturday in Central London, a botched effort to arrest Sadiq Khan, London Mayor was made by a group calling themselves the ‘White Pendragons’., Unite Against Fascism reported on 15 January. Leading them was one Davey Russell. Russell, in a previous light called himself DJ Bossman of the EDL.
Russell interviewed former British National Party leader Griffin and Tommy Robinson, ex EDL leader, on his pirate radio station, before it was closed down in 2014. He also fell foul of the charity Help for Heroes, as did the EDL, after claiming to raise funds for them. Russell is also a convicted racist, see below.
Russell and his tiny collection of far right followers form the bizarre, White Pendragons sect. They tried to perform a “Common Law” arrest on Sadiq Khan. Presumably the plan was to drag him to the gallows they had constructed outside.
Given the fact that Jo Cox MP was murdered by a fascist, this has to be taken seriously and many rightly saw the whole episode as threatening and with Islamophobia central to it. Audience members, together with security and police ushered the goons away.
The ‘Pendragons’ (!?) believe in a common Law conspiracy theory. This revolves around the idea that there is a right in Magna Carta to overthrow a government if it is engaged in treason. The accusation of treachery is levelled at those who they believe are involved in a shadowy, Freemason-style, group within the establishment, called “Common Purpose”, in this case, Sadiq Khan.
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.
Professor Colin Holmes
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.
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.
Peter Hain
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.
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.