The National Front is a far right-wing British Political party that had its heyday during the 1970s and '80s. Opponents of the National Front consider it to be a neo-Fascist organization.
The NF's current National Chairman is Tom Holmes.
It was founded on February 7 1967 under the chairmanship of Arthur K. Chesterton, a cousin of the novelist G.K. Chesterton and former leader of the League of Empire Loyalists, with the purpose of fighting immigration and multi-culturalist policies in Britain. It grew during the 1970s and had as many as 20,000 members by 1974. It did particularly well in local elections and polled an incredible 44% in Deptford (with a splinter group) almost beating the incumbent Labour candidate, who only won due to the split. Similarly it came third in three parliamentary by-elections, trouncing the Liberals.
Its electoral base were largely blue-collar workers and the self-employed who resented immigrant competition in the labour market. The party fought on a platform of opposition to communism, support for Ulster loyalism, anti-European Economic Community, was anti-liberal and most notoriously demanded the compulsory repatriation of New Commonwealth immigrants. The chief ideologue of the NF (and editor of Spearhead from 1976-80) was Richard Verrall. A common site in the 70s, it was well-known for its noisy demonstrations particularly in London where it often faced far-left and communist counter-marchers.
1979 was a disastrous year for the National Front, it was totally eclipsed by the rise to prominence of the newly re-invigorated Conservative party under Margaret Thatcher whose tough right-wing stance on law and order plus immigration saw support haemorrage. Its leaders John Tyndall and Martin Webster split in 1980; a further blow to NF. The former went on to form the British National Party (1982) which has since pushed out the NF as the dominant far-right party in Britain.
Schisms led to the foundation of several other right-wing political parties, including the British National Party. The fortunes of the National Front have subsequently waned, although it still exists as a small party, and fielded 7 candidates at the 1997 General Election.
