Gary Raikes Explained

Gary Raikes
Birth Date:10 August 1958
Birth Place:Bristol, England
Office:Leader of the New British Union
Predecessor:Party founded

Gary Raikes (born 10 August 1958)[1] is the leader of the New British Union (NBU),[2] a neo-fascist group that claims to be a revival of Sir Oswald Mosley's British Union of Fascists. [3] He was previously the leader in Scotland of the British National Party (BNP) and then Britain First.[4]

In the 2007 Scottish elections, Raikes was a BNP candidate in the North East Scotland region.[1]

Raikes was the BNP's prospective candidate for East Renfrewshire for the 2010 general election. When the BNP decided not to contest the seat,[5] he stood in Aberdeenshire West & Kincardine instead, receiving 513 votes (1.1%).[6]

Raikes' New British Union was formed in 2013. He has said on YouTube that the NBU does not intend to seek power through the ballot box, but would adapt to the conditions around it and maintain its fascist purity. Its constitution says that the NBU aims to be a registered political party[7] but it has not registered with the Electoral Commission.[8]

The party expounds a number of fascist policies and supports fascist groups such as Golden Dawn in Greece. It took part in a rally outside the Greek Embassy in London in support of Golden Dawn. It has few members, and has been accused of appointing to regional officer posts people who were not members or supporters. Raikes has been photographed dressed in full fascist uniform and members are encouraged to dress in Blackshirt style uniforms.[9]

In 2024, The Times reported that 41 of the Reform UK candidates for the 2024 general election were Facebook friends with Raikes.[10]

Elections contested

Scottish Parliament election

UK general elections

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Scotland Euros . UK Polling Report . https://web.archive.org/web/20101221123908/http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/guide/scotland-european-elections/ . 21 December 2010 . 14 September 2023.
  2. Web site: Home page . New British Union.
  3. News: Neo-Nazi group target Elgin as they look to create UK's first fascist town dubbed 'Citadel 1' . . 27 February 2015 . 1 July 2015.
    - News: Bassey, Amardeep . Sinister and dangerous: Trio quit new fascist party after Mercury investigation . . 14 July 2014 . 1 July 2015.
  4. Web site: BNP and UKIP hope for first seats . . 30 April 2010 . 1 July 2015.
    - Book: Bowd, Gavin . Fascist Scotland . Birlinn . 2013 . 978-1-7802-7052-4 . Google Books.
  5. News: BNP withdraws candidate from Scottish seat . Jewish Chronicle . 19 April 2010 . 23 October 2013.
  6. News: Election 2010 - Aberdeenshire West & Kincardine . BBC News . 2010.
  7. Book: Paul Jackson . https://books.google.com/books?id=DTCuDAAAQBAJ&dq=%22gary+raikes%22&pg=PT129 . Surveying the contemporary extreme right in Britain: networking and fragmentation . Jérome Jamin . L'éxtrême droite en Europe . 9782802755548 . Editions Bruylant . Brussels . 2016 . Google Books.
  8. Web site: New British Union search result . Electoral Commission . 4 July 2024.
  9. News: New British Union . https://web.archive.org/web/20181023160608/http://www.glasgowhopenothate.org/newbritishunion.html . 2018-10-23 . Glasgow Hope not Hate . 23 October 2013.
    - News: Amardeep Bassey . Sinister and dangerous: Trio quit new fascist party after Mercury investigation . Birmingham Mail . 14 July 2013 . 23 October 2013.
    - News: Amardeep Bassey . Right-wing extremists launch bid to revive Fascist party . Birmingham Mai . 7 July 2013 . 24 January 2019.
    - News: Billy Briggs . Blackshirt bedroom fascist plots to infiltrate Scottish local councils . Daily Record . 19 January 2019 . 24 January 2019.
  10. News: Finton Hogan . Tom Witherow . 11 June 2024 . Reform UK candidates are Facebook 'friends' with fascist leader . The Times . 2024-06-13 . subscription.

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