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EDL turned into Frankenstein’s monster – say º£½ÇÖ±²¥ researchers

Two leading experts on the far-right and anti-fascism from º£½ÇÖ±²¥ have commended the Quilliam Foundation for facilitating the departure of Tommy Robinson and Kevin Carroll from the radical right movement the English Defence League (EDL).

Professor Nigel Copsey and Dr Matthew Feldman say the unexpected departure of Robinson and Carroll because they acknowledge the dangers of far-right extremism in the EDL, reinforces what their research has been showing for many years. Last year º£½ÇÖ±²¥ launched the first research unit in Britain dedicated to the study of the far-right and its opposition – the Centre for Fascist, Anti-Fascist and Post-Fascist Studies in the School of Arts & Media.

Robinson and Carroll announced they are stepping down from the EDL amidst concerns over the dangers of far-right extremism. Their decision follows discussions with anti-extremist organisation Quilliam which helped to facilitate their departure.

Dr Feldman said: 'Robinson and Carroll are admitting the movement they created has grown out of control. Like Frankenstein’s monster, it has been attracting smaller more extreme far-right movements who have been attaching themselves to demonstrations and rallies.

'This has led to the growth of what we have called ‘tit for tat extremism’ with the so-called new far-right characterising all Muslims as potential jihadists and Islamist extremists reacting accordingly, for example, on 30 June 2012 when a jihadi Islamist gang plotted to blow up an EDL demonstration in Dewsbury.

'This has made things more tense for communities right up and down the country and has posed a threat to community cohesion which in turn has led to a strain on resources including policing and the criminal justice system.'

The departure of Robinson and Carroll, as well as a number of senior figures from the EDL, raises the prospect of the group falling apart entirely.

Professor Copsey said: 'It is not yet clear what will happen next but it will be difficult for the EDL to continue in the same way as before. We have been warning for a long time about the extremist views of the EDL and for those inside the group to be expressing the same concerns must be a positive step forward.

'However, it is important not to forget that the EDL has always been a loose organisation with a tendency to splinter. These splinter groups will see this development as an opportunity to jostle for advantage.' A recent report by the º£½ÇÖ±²¥ Centre for Fascist, Anti-Fascist and Post-Fascist Studies showed that almost three-quarters of anti-Muslim hate crimes reported to a monitoring organisation are taking place online – with the English Defence League highlighted as the far-right group implicated in the majority of internet attacks.

The report, based on data from Faith Matters’ Tell MAMA (Measuring Anti-Muslim Attacks), project also revealed a surge in anti-Muslim attacks since the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby in Woolwich, rising from an average of 1.5 reported incidents a day, to 6 to 7 reported incidents.

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