Stuff world :
The man arrested in relation to British MP Jo Cox’s murder is believed to have connections with a right-wing group that criticised the European Union.
Thomas Mair, who is reportedly the man responsible for the attack, is named as a supporter of the London-based faction of the Springbok Club in one of the organisation’s newsletters. Mair was also described by locals and family as a “loner” with a history of mental health problems.
Jo Cox, a member of parliament for Britain’s opposition Labour Party, dies after
having been stabbed and shot in her northern English constituency. The club, which supports the South African apartheid regime, advocates and works towards “the re-establishment of civilised rule in Southern Africa”, according to its website.
Witnesses to the fatal attack said they heard Mair shout “Britain First” as the MP was shot and then stabbed.
However, the organisation Britain First, which was founded by former members of the British National Party, has denied that Mair was associated with it and say they condemn the killing.
“It is the intention of Federalist forces in Europe to destroy the great nation states not only by concentrating over-riding power at the top, but also be establishing enhanced regional centres of power as secondary tiers of authority.” The club said Mair was one of its earliest supporters and subscribers to associated publication SA Patriot. The Springbok Club’s latest newsletter on the Brexit said people had the opportunity to “remain entrapped in the artificial and retrograde European Union, or to regain their sovereign independence”. “In view of all these catastrophically detrimental effects which have resulted from membership of the EU, it is difficult – almost impossible in fact – to understand why any British voter would want to remain in the EU.”
The hard-right club also said it regarded New Zealand’s decision to “retain its true national flag” during the recent flag referendum as a “victory”. Formed in 2011 by ex-members of the British National Party, Britain First has grown rapidly to become the UK’s most prominent far-Right group.
It insists it is not a racist party but campaigns on a familiar anti-immigration platform, calling for the return of “traditional British values” and the end of “Islamisation”. Its website reads: “Britain First is opposed to all mass immigration, regardless of where it comes from – the colour of your skin doesn’t come into it – Britain is full up.” Although it claims to have just 6000 members, Britain First has built an army of online fans, using social media to push innocuous causes, such as ending animal cruelty or promoting Remembrance Day poppies, and asking users to “like” its messages. It now has more than 1.4 million “likes” on Facebook, more than any other British political party, and has carried out invasions of mosques and “Christian patrols” for publicity.
A January march targeted Dewsbury near Jo Cox’s Batley and Spen constituency and featured 120 Britain First members carrying crucifixes and Union flags. She wrote on Twitter at the time: “Very proud of the people of Dewsbury and Batley today – who faced down the racism and fascism of the extreme right with calm unity.”
Paul Golding, its leader, opposed Sadiq Khan in the London mayor election and announced “militant direct action” against elected Muslim officials after Mr Khan won.
Golding yesterday denied any links to the killing suspect and claimed the media had “an axe to grind”.
The man arrested in relation to British MP Jo Cox’s murder is believed to have connections with a right-wing group that criticised the European Union.
Thomas Mair, who is reportedly the man responsible for the attack, is named as a supporter of the London-based faction of the Springbok Club in one of the organisation’s newsletters. Mair was also described by locals and family as a “loner” with a history of mental health problems.
Jo Cox, a member of parliament for Britain’s opposition Labour Party, dies after
having been stabbed and shot in her northern English constituency. The club, which supports the South African apartheid regime, advocates and works towards “the re-establishment of civilised rule in Southern Africa”, according to its website.
Witnesses to the fatal attack said they heard Mair shout “Britain First” as the MP was shot and then stabbed.
However, the organisation Britain First, which was founded by former members of the British National Party, has denied that Mair was associated with it and say they condemn the killing.
“It is the intention of Federalist forces in Europe to destroy the great nation states not only by concentrating over-riding power at the top, but also be establishing enhanced regional centres of power as secondary tiers of authority.” The club said Mair was one of its earliest supporters and subscribers to associated publication SA Patriot. The Springbok Club’s latest newsletter on the Brexit said people had the opportunity to “remain entrapped in the artificial and retrograde European Union, or to regain their sovereign independence”. “In view of all these catastrophically detrimental effects which have resulted from membership of the EU, it is difficult – almost impossible in fact – to understand why any British voter would want to remain in the EU.”
The hard-right club also said it regarded New Zealand’s decision to “retain its true national flag” during the recent flag referendum as a “victory”. Formed in 2011 by ex-members of the British National Party, Britain First has grown rapidly to become the UK’s most prominent far-Right group.
It insists it is not a racist party but campaigns on a familiar anti-immigration platform, calling for the return of “traditional British values” and the end of “Islamisation”. Its website reads: “Britain First is opposed to all mass immigration, regardless of where it comes from – the colour of your skin doesn’t come into it – Britain is full up.” Although it claims to have just 6000 members, Britain First has built an army of online fans, using social media to push innocuous causes, such as ending animal cruelty or promoting Remembrance Day poppies, and asking users to “like” its messages. It now has more than 1.4 million “likes” on Facebook, more than any other British political party, and has carried out invasions of mosques and “Christian patrols” for publicity.
A January march targeted Dewsbury near Jo Cox’s Batley and Spen constituency and featured 120 Britain First members carrying crucifixes and Union flags. She wrote on Twitter at the time: “Very proud of the people of Dewsbury and Batley today – who faced down the racism and fascism of the extreme right with calm unity.”
Paul Golding, its leader, opposed Sadiq Khan in the London mayor election and announced “militant direct action” against elected Muslim officials after Mr Khan won.
Golding yesterday denied any links to the killing suspect and claimed the media had “an axe to grind”.
