England First Party

The England First Party (EFP) is a minor far right wing English nationalist political party. It had two councillors on Blackburn with Darwen council between 2006 and 2007.

Formation and policies

They were formed in 2004 by Mark Cotterill who had been the founder and chairman of American Friends of the British National Party (BNP). However, he began to disagree with the BNP politically, and so formed the EFP, after a spell in the White Nationalist Party.

The EFP differs from the BNP in its analysis of the United Kingdom. It criticises British nationalism and supports English nationalism instead. Most members of the EFP are former BNP members like their chairman, Cotterill.

Many critics of the EFP have identified them as a far-right party, many saying they are to the right of even the BNP.cn|date=February 2008

The EFP campaign against the creation of regional assemblies across England, currently supported by the UK's Labour government. They also campaign on issues such as opposing immigration; and opposing the UK's continued membership of the European Union.

The EFP advocate involuntary repatriation programmes to encourage non-White people to emigrate from England, and repeal legislation on equal rights for same-sex unions. "Whilst (due to the European Constitution of Human Rights - ECHR) homosexuality can not be made illegal, gay bars, websites, advertisements and carnivals shall be." Public displays by religions not of European origin would be banned, and the number of non-Christian places of worship would be sigfnificantly reduced in order to protect English culture, and any other non Pagan or Christian religion would be banned by the EFP if public opinion supports this ("other sects, religions and places of worship will be allowed until there is an overwhelming consensus of public opinion and support for them not to"). [ [http://www.efp.org.uk/_pages/localman.html Online Manifesto - Local] , EFP Official Website]

On the economy, the EFP support the gradual nationalisation of most national and public services in attempts to achieve autarky. While not aiming to abolish capitalist ownership, the EFP claim the interests of workers is paramount and subsequently support worker co-operatives. The EFP would also end the connections between trade unions and the Labour Party while encouraging trade union membership. The EFP would re-nationalise the coal mines and would re-open mines which had a "reasonable working life". [ [http://www.efp.org.uk/_pages/localman.html Online Manifesto - Local] , EFP Official Website]

According to the accounts filed with the Electoral Commission the party had 27 full members at year-end 2004 and 85 'supporters'. [ [http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/templates/search/document.cfm/12624 EFP Statement of Accounts for 2004] , Electoral Commission] By the end of 2005 this had increased to 39 paid members and 97 registered supporters. [ [http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/templates/search/document.cfm/16309 EFP Statement of Accounts for 2005] , Electoral Commission]

Elections

In their first electoral test, a local government by-election in February 2004 for the Heysham South ward in Lancaster the EFP polled 14%. In the May 2004 local elections, the EFP contested 3 seats in Blackburn, Preston and Macclesfield, polling an average of 18% of the vote.

2 candidates contested the May 2006 local elections in Blackburn, polling an average of 37% of the vote and both were elected as councillors. In a by election in the East Rural ward of Blackburn in September 2006, they polled 13%. They also contested a by election in the Danehouse and Stoneyholme ward in Burnley in February 2007, polling 7%. Despite the party campaigning for a ban on mixed-race marriages it was revelaed that one of the two elected councillors had a grandfather from Cameroon. [ [http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/search/755106.African_grandad_of____racist____party_councillor/ African grandad of 'racist' party councillor] from Lancashire Telegraph]

Resignations

In March 2007 the EFP's two councillors announced their intention to quit. Michael Johnson stated that he would be joining a newly created party For Darwen, while Mark Cotterill signalled his intention to stand down as a councillor and party leader at the May 3 local elections. Johnson's move followed a rift with the party after he objected to an anti-Islamic cartoon of Jesus on YouTube, while Cotterill - who remains a leading EFP activist - has put his decision down to a work-related move to Preston. [ [http://www.lancashireeveningtelegraph.co.uk/display.var.1236399.0.england_first_pair_quit_party.php England First pair quit party] "Lancashire Telegraph"]

Current EFP

Following the departure of Cotterill the leadership of the EFP fell to Steve Smith, the former organiser of the BNP in Burnley. The party is standing a handful of candidates in the 2007 local elections. [D, Williams, 'The Rest of the Right', Searchlight, May 2007, p.10]

References

External links

* [http://www.efp.org.uk/ Official website]