Liberty GB: Difference between revisions

Liberty Great Britain
Liberty Great Britain
Chairman	Paul Weston
Founded	March 2013
Dissolved	November 2017
Merged into	For Britain
Headquarters	Regent Street, London
Ideology	Hard Euroscepticism; Right-wing populism; National conservatism; Social conservatism;
Political position	Far-right
Website
	libertygb.org.uk (Archive)
	Politics of United Kingdom; Political parties; Elections;

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Liberty Great Britain or Liberty GB was a minor far-right^[4] British nationalist political party founded and led by Paul Weston that described itself as "counter-jihad".^[5]

Liberty GB was anti-immigration, anti-Islamic and traditionalist.^[6] The group's Facebook page described it as "patriotic counter-jihad party for Christian civilisation, Western rights and freedoms, British culture, animal welfare and capitalism".

History

Foundation by Paul Weston

Paul Weston, the founder, was a former member of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) and was that party's candidate in Cities of London and Westminster at the 2010 general election.^[7] He left UKIP over what he described as its failure to address issues related to Islam in Britain, and took over the British Freedom Party (BFP) from Peter Mullins. That party formed an alliance with the far-right English Defence League. Weston left the BFP in 2013. He has predicted that within 20 years there will be a war in Britain between the white working class and immigrants. He is married to a Romanian and claims to have been a deep sea diver, a pilot in Africa and a property developer in the Czech Republic.^[8]

It was registered with the Electoral Commission by Weston and George Whale on 5 March 2013.^[9]

2014 European election

Liberty GB stood three candidates in the 2014 European Parliament election in the South East England constituency: Weston, Enza Ferreri (Liberty GB's media officer) and Jack Buckby (Liberty GB's outreach officer).^[10] Buckby founded the "National Culturists" while at university in Liverpool in 2012.^[11] Its three candidates received 2,414 votes (0.11%), placing it 14th of the 15 parties contesting the election.^[12]

2014 Paul Weston arrest

On 26 April 2014, Weston was arrested while addressing passers-by outside Winchester Guildhall. A member of the public complained to police and he was detained after failing to move on under a dispersal order. He was further arrested on suspicion of religious or racial harassment.^[8]^[13] Weston's speech quoted from Winston Churchill's 1899 book, The River War, about Churchill's experiences as a British army officer in Sudan; the passage quoted was critical of Islam. Weston is a former UKIP candidate who left that party over what he described as its failure to address issues related to Islam in Britain, and then joined the British Freedom Party.^[8]

2014 Tim Burton radio host trial

Tim Burton, a radio presenter who was a member of Liberty GB, was acquitted of charges of racially aggravated harassment on 4 May 2014 at Birmingham magistrates' court. He had tweeted comments about Fiyaz Mughal OBE, a Muslim campaigner of Tell MAMA UK.^[3]

2016 Batley and Spen by-election

Following the killing of the incumbent Labour MP Jo Cox, Liberty GB contested the Batley and Spen by-election (the Conservative Party, Liberal Democrats, Green Party and UKIP declined to contest it). The party's candidate was Jack Buckby, who was a member of the youth division of the British National Party (BNP) under Nick Griffin before leaving the party. He says he left because he believed that the BNP was too racist.^[14] Buckby polled just over 1% of the vote; he lost his deposit, as did all the candidates except the winner, the Labour candidate Tracy Brabin.

Dissolution by Paul Weston

Paul Weston dissolved the party in November 2017, choosing instead to back Anne Marie Waters' new party, For Britain.^[15]

Electoral performance

General election, 7 May 2015

The party contested three constituencies, obtaining a total of 418 votes.

Constituency	Candidate	Votes	%
Birmingham Ladywood	Timothy Burton	216	0.6^[16]
Lewisham West and Penge	George Whale	44	0.1^[17]
Luton South	Paul Weston	158	0.4^[18]

2016 Batley and Spen by-election

Constituency	Candidate	Votes	%
Batley and Spen	Jack Buckby	220	1.1^[19]

References

^ "The closure of Liberty GB". Liberty GB. 27 November 2017. Archived from the original on 11 December 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
^ "Liberty GB – An Insight into the 'Group'". TellMAMA. 14 January 2014.
- Micklethwaite, Jamie (27 April 2015). "Sydenham and Forest Hill hustings cancelled after candidates allegedly refuse to appear at event with Liberty GB member George Whale". News Shopper.
- Dearden, Lizzie (5 February 2016). "Former Ukip candidate and Pegida UK leader says 'Muslims should not hold political power' and claims Syrian refugees do not exist". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2022-06-14.
- Commons, Jess (5 October 2015). "Why You Need To Watch The Documentary Exploring If Britain Actually Is Racist". The Debrief. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
^ ^a ^b Mike Lockley (4 May 2014). "Radio host cleared over 'scumbag' tweet jibe to Musilm [sic] campaigner". Birmingham Mail.
^ Siobhan Fenton. "Jo Cox: Former BNP politician Jack Buckby to contest by-election for murdered MP's Batley and Spen seat". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2022-06-14. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
^ Lee, Benjamin (4 September 2015). "A Day in the "Swamp": Understanding Discourse in the Online Counter-Jihad Nebula" (PDF). Democracy and Security. 11 (3): 248–274. doi:10.1080/17419166.2015.1067612. S2CID 62841363. Open source version
^ Sonia Gable (12 March 2013). "Liberty it isn't". Searchlight. Archived from the original on 3 May 2014.
^ Kevin Rawlinson (25 November 2011). "English Defence League prepares to storm local elections". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2022-06-14. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
^ ^a ^b ^c Martin Evans (28 April 2014). "Election candidate arrested over Churchill speech". The Daily Telegraph.
^ "Liberty GB registration record". Electoral Commission.
^ "South East Euro Candidates 2014". UK Polling Report. Archived from the original on 2014-06-30. Retrieved 2014-05-08.
^ Matthew Francey (20 February 2013). "Jack Buckby is proud to be Britain's next Nick Griffin". Vice.
^ "Vote 2014 – South East". BBC News. 26 May 2014.
^ "Euro candidate Paul Weston arrested over Islam remarks". BBC News. 28 April 2014.
^ Cowburn, Ashley (20 June 2016). "Jo Cox: Liberty GB Move to Contest Labour MP's Former Seat Branded 'Obscene' and 'Contemptible'". www.independent.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2022-06-14. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
^ "An Important Announcement from Paul Weston Concerning the Future of Liberty GB". Liberty GB. Archived from the original on 4 December 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
^ "ELECTION 2015 Birmingham Ladywood". BBC News. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
^ "ELECTION 2015 Lewisham West & Penge". BBC News. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
^ "ELECTION 2015 Luton South". BBC News. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
^ Samantha Gildea (21 October 2016). "Batley and Spen by-election: Labour's Tracy Brabin elected as new MP". Huddersfield Examiner. Archived from the original on 21 October 2016.

External links

Official website

[1] "The closure of Liberty GB". Liberty GB. 27 November 2017. Archived from the original on 11 December 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2018.

[2] "Liberty GB – An Insight into the 'Group'". TellMAMA. 14 January 2014.
- Micklethwaite, Jamie (27 April 2015). "Sydenham and Forest Hill hustings cancelled after candidates allegedly refuse to appear at event with Liberty GB member George Whale". News Shopper.
- Dearden, Lizzie (5 February 2016). "Former Ukip candidate and Pegida UK leader says 'Muslims should not hold political power' and claims Syrian refugees do not exist". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2022-06-14.
- Commons, Jess (5 October 2015). "Why You Need To Watch The Documentary Exploring If Britain Actually Is Racist". The Debrief. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2016.

[BMail-3] Mike Lockley (4 May 2014). "Radio host cleared over 'scumbag' tweet jibe to Musilm [sic] campaigner". Birmingham Mail.

[4] Siobhan Fenton. "Jo Cox: Former BNP politician Jack Buckby to contest by-election for murdered MP's Batley and Spen seat". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2022-06-14. Retrieved 19 June 2016.

[5] Lee, Benjamin (4 September 2015). "A Day in the "Swamp": Understanding Discourse in the Online Counter-Jihad Nebula" (PDF). Democracy and Security. 11 (3): 248–274. doi:10.1080/17419166.2015.1067612. S2CID 62841363. Open source version

[6] Sonia Gable (12 March 2013). "Liberty it isn't". Searchlight. Archived from the original on 3 May 2014.

[7] Kevin Rawlinson (25 November 2011). "English Defence League prepares to storm local elections". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2022-06-14. Retrieved 13 December 2011.

[tele-8] Martin Evans (28 April 2014). "Election candidate arrested over Churchill speech". The Daily Telegraph.

[9] "Liberty GB registration record". Electoral Commission.

[10] "South East Euro Candidates 2014". UK Polling Report. Archived from the original on 2014-06-30. Retrieved 2014-05-08.

[11] Matthew Francey (20 February 2013). "Jack Buckby is proud to be Britain's next Nick Griffin". Vice.

[12] "Vote 2014 – South East". BBC News. 26 May 2014.

[13] "Euro candidate Paul Weston arrested over Islam remarks". BBC News. 28 April 2014.

[14] Cowburn, Ashley (20 June 2016). "Jo Cox: Liberty GB Move to Contest Labour MP's Former Seat Branded 'Obscene' and 'Contemptible'". www.independent.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2022-06-14. Retrieved 21 June 2016.

[15] "An Important Announcement from Paul Weston Concerning the Future of Liberty GB". Liberty GB. Archived from the original on 4 December 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2017.

[16] "ELECTION 2015 Birmingham Ladywood". BBC News. Retrieved 22 October 2016.

[17] "ELECTION 2015 Lewisham West & Penge". BBC News. Retrieved 22 October 2016.

[18] "ELECTION 2015 Luton South". BBC News. Retrieved 22 October 2016.

[19] Samantha Gildea (21 October 2016). "Batley and Spen by-election: Labour's Tracy Brabin elected as new MP". Huddersfield Examiner. Archived from the original on 21 October 2016.

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+{{Short description|British far-right political party}}
 {{Infobox political party
 | name = Liberty Great Britain
-| logo = Liberty_GB.png
+| logo = Liberty GB.png
 | colorcode =
 | chairman = [[Paul Weston (politician)|Paul Weston]]
 | spokesperson =
 | foundation = March 2013
+| ideology = {{ubl|[[Euroscepticism#Hard Euroscepticism|Hard Euroscepticism]]|[[Right-wing populism]]|[[National conservatism]]|[[Social conservatism]]}}
-| ideology = Hard [[Euroscepticism]]<br>[[Right-wing populism]]<br>[[Nationalism]]<ref>[https://libertygb.org.uk/news/batley-liberty-gb-candidate-calls-ukip-joint-candidacy "Batley Liberty GB candidate calls on UKIP for joint candidacy"], Liberty GB website,18 September 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2017. ("Liberty GB, the conservative, nationalist party....")</ref><br>[[Social conservatism]]
-| headquarters = [[Regent Street]]<br>[[London]]
+| headquarters = [[Regent Street]], [[London]]
 | international =
-| website = {{url|http://libertygb.org.uk}}
+| website = {{URL|https://web.archive.org/web/20180212150025/https://www.libertygb.org.uk/|libertygb.org.uk}} <small>(Archive)</small>
-| country = the United Kingdom
+| country = United Kingdom
 | deputy chairman =
-| dissolved = November 2017<ref>https://libertygb.org.uk/news/closure-liberty-gb</ref>
+| dissolved = November 2017<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://libertygb.org.uk/news/closure-liberty-gb |title=The closure of Liberty GB|publisher=Liberty GB|date=27 November 2017 |access-date=15 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181211120523/https://libertygb.org.uk/news/closure-liberty-gb |archive-date=11 December 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
 | merged = [[For Britain]]
-| position = [[Far-right]]<ref>[http://tellmamauk.org/liberty-gb/ "Liberty GB – An Insight into the ‘Group’"], ''TellMAMA'', 14 January 2014<br>- Jamie Micklethwaite, [http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/12910415.Sydenham_and_Forest_Hill_hustings_cancelled_due_to_presence_of__far_right_wing__candidate/ "Sydenham and Forest Hill hustings cancelled after candidates allegedly refuse to appear at event with Liberty GB member George Whale"], ''News Shopper'', 27 April 2015<br>- Lizzie Dearden, [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/former-ukip-candidate-and-pegida-uk-leader-paul-weston-says-muslims-should-not-hold-political-power-a6856086.html "Former Ukip candidate and Pegida UK leader says 'Muslims should not hold political power' and claims Syrian refugees do not exist"], ''The Independent'', 5 February 2016<br>- Jess Commons, [http://www.thedebrief.co.uk/things-to-do/tv-and-film/why-you-need-to-watch-the-documentary-exploring-whether-britain-actually-is-racist-20151054648 "Why You Need To Watch The Documentary Exploring If Britain Actually Is Racist"], ''The Debrief'' 5 October 2015<br>- Mike Lockley, [http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/radio-host-cleared-over-scumbag-7069475 "Radio host cleared over 'scumbag' tweet jibe to Musilm campaigner "], ''Birmingham Mail'', 4 May 2014</ref>
+| position = [[Far-right]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tellmamauk.org/liberty-gb/|title=Liberty GB – An Insight into the 'Group'|website=TellMAMA|date=14 January 2014}}<br />- {{cite news|url=http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/12910415.Sydenham_and_Forest_Hill_hustings_cancelled_due_to_presence_of__far_right_wing__candidate/|first=Jamie|last=Micklethwaite|title=Sydenham and Forest Hill hustings cancelled after candidates allegedly refuse to appear at event with Liberty GB member George Whale|work=News Shopper|date=27 April 2015}}<br />- {{cite news |first=Lizzie |last=Dearden |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/former-ukip-candidate-and-pegida-uk-leader-paul-weston-says-muslims-should-not-hold-political-power-a6856086.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220614/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/former-ukip-candidate-and-pegida-uk-leader-paul-weston-says-muslims-should-not-hold-political-power-a6856086.html |archive-date=2022-06-14 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Former Ukip candidate and Pegida UK leader says 'Muslims should not hold political power' and claims Syrian refugees do not exist |work=The Independent |date=5 February 2016 }}<br />- {{cite news|first=Jess|last=Commons|url=http://www.thedebrief.co.uk/things-to-do/tv-and-film/why-you-need-to-watch-the-documentary-exploring-whether-britain-actually-is-racist-20151054648|title=Why You Need To Watch The Documentary Exploring If Britain Actually Is Racist|website=The Debrief|date=5 October 2015|access-date=21 February 2016|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303105031/http://www.thedebrief.co.uk/things-to-do/tv-and-film/why-you-need-to-watch-the-documentary-exploring-whether-britain-actually-is-racist-20151054648|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=BMail>{{cite news|author=Mike Lockley|url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/radio-host-cleared-over-scumbag-7069475 |title=Radio host cleared over 'scumbag' tweet jibe to {{sic|Mus|ilm|nolink=y}} campaigner|work=Birmingham Mail|date=4 May 2014}}</ref>
 | membership =
 | youth_wing =
 }}
-'''Liberty Great Britain''' or '''Liberty GB''' was a [[Far-right politics|far-right]]<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/dead-murdered-labour-mp-batley-and-spen-by-election-bnp-politician-jack-buckby-a7089966.html|title=Jo Cox: Former BNP politician Jack Buckby to contest by-election for murdered MP's Batley and Spen seat|accessdate=19 June 2016|author=Siobhan Fenton|work=[[The Independent]]}}</ref> British nationalist [[political party]] that described itself as [[counter-jihad]].<ref name="Lee">{{cite journal|date=4 September 2015|title=A Day in the "Swamp": Understanding Discourse in the Online Counter-Jihad Nebula|journal=Democracy and Security|volume=11|issue=3|pages=248–274|doi=10.1080/17419166.2015.1067612|last1=Lee|first1=Benjamin}} [http://eprints.lancs.ac.uk/78286/1/a_day_in_the_swamp_author_sub.pdf Open source version]</ref> It was registered with the [[Electoral Commission (United Kingdom)|Electoral Commission]] by [[Paul Weston (politician)|Paul Weston]] and George Whale on 5 March 2013.<ref>[https://pefonline.electoralcommission.org.uk/Search/EntitySearch.aspx Electoral Commission searchable registration database]{{dead link|date=July 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Its three candidates in the [[2014 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|2014 European Parliament election]] in the [[South East England (European Parliament constituency)|South East England constituency]] received 2,414 votes (0.11%).<ref name =BBCNews>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/eu-regions/E15000008 "Vote 2014 - South East"], ''BBC News'', 26 May 2014</ref> Paul Weston dissolved the party in November 2017, choosing instead to back [[Anne Marie Waters]]' new party, [[For Britain]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://libertygb.org.uk/news/important-announcement-paul-weston-concerning-future-liberty-gb|title=An Important Announcement from Paul Weston Concerning the Future of Liberty GB - Liberty GB|website=libertygb.org.uk}}</ref>
+'''Liberty Great Britain''' or '''Liberty GB''' was a minor [[Far-right politics|far-right]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/dead-murdered-labour-mp-batley-and-spen-by-election-bnp-politician-jack-buckby-a7089966.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220614/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/dead-murdered-labour-mp-batley-and-spen-by-election-bnp-politician-jack-buckby-a7089966.html |archive-date=2022-06-14 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Jo Cox: Former BNP politician Jack Buckby to contest by-election for murdered MP's Batley and Spen seat|access-date=19 June 2016|author=Siobhan Fenton|work=[[The Independent]]}}</ref> British nationalist [[political party]] founded and led by [[Paul Weston (politician)|Paul Weston]] that described itself as "[[counter-jihad]]".<ref>{{cite journal|date=4 September 2015|title=A Day in the "Swamp": Understanding Discourse in the Online Counter-Jihad Nebula|journal=Democracy and Security |volume=11 |issue=3 |pages=248–274|doi=10.1080/17419166.2015.1067612|last1=Lee|first1=Benjamin|s2cid=62841363 |url=https://eprints.lancs.ac.uk/id/eprint/78286/1/a_day_in_the_swamp_author_sub.pdf}} [http://eprints.lancs.ac.uk/78286/1/a_day_in_the_swamp_author_sub.pdf Open source version]</ref>
-Weston is a former member of the [[UK Independence Party]] (UKIP), and was that party's candidate in [[Cities of London and Westminster (UK Parliament constituency)|Cities of London and Westminster]] at the 2010 general election.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/english-defence-league-prepares-to-storm-local-elections-6267740.html|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|title=English Defence League prepares to storm local elections|author=Kevin Rawlinson|date=25 November 2011|accessdate=13 December 2011}}</ref> He left UKIP over what he described as its failure to address issues related to [[Islam in the United Kingdom|Islam in Britain]], and took over the [[British Freedom Party]] (BFP) from Peter Mullins. That party formed an alliance with the far-right [[English Defence League]]. Weston left the BFP in 2013. He has predicted that within 20 years there will be a war in Britain between the white working class and immigrants. He is married to a [[Romanians|Romanian]], and claims to have been a [[Deep diving|deep sea diver]], a pilot in Africa and a property developer in the [[Czech Republic]].<ref name=tele>Martin Evans, [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/10792895/Election-candidate-arrested-over-Churchill-speech.html "Election candidate arrested over Churchill speech"], ''The Telegraph'', 28 April 2014</ref>
-Liberty GB was anti-immigration, anti-fundamentalist Islam and traditionalist.<ref name="Gable1">Sonia Gable, [http://www.searchlightmagazine.com/blogs/searchlight-blog/liberty-it-isn%E2%80%99t "Liberty it isn’t"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140503134607/http://www.searchlightmagazine.com/blogs/searchlight-blog/liberty-it-isn%E2%80%99t |date=3 May 2014}} ''[[Searchlight (magazine)|Searchlight]]'', 12 March 2013</ref> The group's Facebook page described it as "patriotic counter-jihad party for Christian civilisation, Western rights and freedoms, British culture, animal welfare and capitalism".
+Liberty GB was [[Opposition to immigration|anti-immigration]], [[Islamophobia|anti-Islamic]] and traditionalist.<ref>{{cite web|author=Sonia Gable|url=http://www.searchlightmagazine.com/blogs/searchlight-blog/liberty-it-isn%E2%80%99t|title=Liberty it isn't|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140503134607/http://www.searchlightmagazine.com/blogs/searchlight-blog/liberty-it-isn%E2%80%99t |archivedate=3 May 2014|work=[[Searchlight (magazine)|Searchlight]]|date=12 March 2013}}</ref> The group's ''Facebook'' page described it as "patriotic counter-jihad party for Christian civilisation, Western rights and freedoms, British culture, animal welfare and capitalism".
-==2014 European election==
+== History ==
+=== Foundation by Paul Weston ===
-Liberty GB stood three candidates in the [[2014 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|2014 European Parliament election]] in the [[South East England (European Parliament constituency)|South East England constituency]]: Weston, Enza Ferreri (Liberty GB's media officer) and [[Jack Buckby]] (Liberty GB's outreach officer).<ref>[http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/2015guide/south-east-european-candidates-2014/ South East Euro Candidates 2014], UK Polling Report</ref> Buckby founded the "National Culturists" while at university in [[Liverpool]] in 2012.<ref>Matthew Francey, [https://www.vice.com/en_uk/read/jack-buckby-is-proud-to-be-britains-next-nick-griffin Jack Buckby is proud to be Britain's next Nick Griffin"], ''Vice'', 20 February 2013</ref> It received 2,414 votes (0.11%), placing it 14th of the 15 parties contesting the election.<ref name=BBCNews/>
+Paul Weston, the founder, was a former member of the [[UK Independence Party]] (UKIP) and was that party's candidate in [[Cities of London and Westminster (UK Parliament constituency)|Cities of London and Westminster]] at the 2010 general election.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/english-defence-league-prepares-to-storm-local-elections-6267740.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220614/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/english-defence-league-prepares-to-storm-local-elections-6267740.html |archive-date=2022-06-14 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|title=English Defence League prepares to storm local elections|author=Kevin Rawlinson|date=25 November 2011|access-date=13 December 2011}}</ref> He left UKIP over what he described as its failure to address issues related to [[Islam in the United Kingdom|Islam in Britain]], and took over the [[British Freedom Party]] (BFP) from Peter Mullins. That party formed an alliance with the far-right [[English Defence League]]. Weston left the BFP in 2013. He has predicted that within 20 years there will be a war in Britain between the white working class and immigrants. He is married to a [[Romanians|Romanian]] and claims to have been a [[Deep diving|deep sea diver]], a pilot in Africa and a property developer in the [[Czech Republic]].<ref name=tele>{{cite news|author=Martin Evans|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/10792895/Election-candidate-arrested-over-Churchill-speech.html|title=Election candidate arrested over Churchill speech|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=28 April 2014}}</ref>
+It was registered with the [[Electoral Commission (United Kingdom)|Electoral Commission]] by Weston and George Whale on 5 March 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://search.electoralcommission.org.uk/English/Registrations/PP2032|title=Liberty GB registration record|publisher=Electoral Commission}}</ref>
-===Paul Weston arrest===
-On 26 April 2014, Weston was arrested while addressing passers-by outside [[Winchester]] Guildhall. A member of the public complained to police and he was detained after failing to move on under a dispersal order. He was further arrested on suspicion of religious or racial harassment.<ref name=tele/><ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-27186573 "Euro candidate Paul Weston arrested over Islam remarks"], ''BBC News'', 28 April 2014</ref> Weston's speech quoted from [[Winston Churchill]]'s 1899 book ''[[The River War]]'', about Churchill's experiences as a British army officer in [[Sudan]]; the passage quoted was critical of [[Islam]]. Weston is a former [[UK Independence Party]] (UKIP) candidate who left that party over what he described as its failure to address issues related to [[Islam in the United Kingdom|Islam in Britain]], and then joined the [[British Freedom Party]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/10792895/Election-candidate-arrested-over-Churchill-speech.html |title=Election candidate arrested over Churchill speech |first=Martin |last=Evan |date=28 April 2014}}</ref>
+=== 2014 European election ===
-==Liberty GB radio host trial==
+Liberty GB stood three candidates in the [[2014 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|2014 European Parliament election]] in the [[South East England (European Parliament constituency)|South East England constituency]]: Weston, Enza Ferreri (Liberty GB's media officer) and [[Jack Buckby]] (Liberty GB's outreach officer).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/2015guide/south-east-european-candidates-2014/|title=South East Euro Candidates 2014|website=UK Polling Report|access-date=2014-05-08|archive-date=2014-06-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140630234127/http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/2015guide/south-east-european-candidates-2014/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Buckby founded the "National Culturists" while at university in [[Liverpool]] in 2012.<ref>{{cite news|author=Matthew Francey |url=https://www.vice.com/en_uk/read/jack-buckby-is-proud-to-be-britains-next-nick-griffin|title=Jack Buckby is proud to be Britain's next Nick Griffin|website=Vice|date=20 February 2013}}</ref> Its three candidates received 2,414 votes (0.11%), placing it 14th of the 15 parties contesting the election.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/eu-regions/E15000008|title=Vote 2014 – South East|work=BBC News|date=26 May 2014}}</ref>
-Tim Burton, a radio presenter who was a member of Liberty GB, was acquitted of charges of racially aggravated harassment on 4 May 2014 at Birmingham magistrates' court. He had tweeted comments about Fiyaz Mughal [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]], a Muslim campaigner of [[Tell MAMA UK]].<ref>Mike Lockley, [http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/radio-host-cleared-over-scumbag-7069475 "Radio host cleared over 'scumbag' tweet jibe to Muslim campaigner"], ''Birmingham Mail'', 4 May 2014</ref>
-==2016 Batley and Spen by-election==
+=== 2014 Paul Weston arrest ===
+On 26 April 2014, Weston was arrested while addressing passers-by outside [[Winchester Guildhall]]. A member of the public complained to police and he was detained after failing to move on under a dispersal order. He was further arrested on suspicion of religious or racial harassment.<ref name=tele /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-27186573|title=Euro candidate Paul Weston arrested over Islam remarks|work=BBC News|date=28 April 2014}}</ref> Weston's speech quoted from [[Winston Churchill]]'s 1899 book, ''[[The River War]]'', about Churchill's experiences as a British army officer in [[Sudan]]; the passage quoted was critical of [[Islam]]. Weston is a former UKIP candidate who left that party over what he described as its failure to address issues related to Islam in Britain, and then joined the British Freedom Party.<ref name=tele />
-Following the [[Killing of Jo Cox|killing of the incumbent]]  Labour MP [[Jo Cox]], Liberty GB contested the [[Batley and Spen (UK Parliament constituency)|Batley and Spen]] by-election (the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]], [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]], Green Party and UKIP declined to contest it). The party's candidate was Jack Buckby, who was a member of the youth division of the [[British National Party]] (BNP) under [[Nick Griffin]] before leaving the party. He says he left because he believed that the BNP was too racist.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Cowburn|first1=Ashley|title=Jo Cox: Liberty GB Move to Contest Labour MP's Former Seat Branded 'Obscene' and 'Contemptible'|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jo-cox-death-labour-mp-seat-batley-and-spen-by-election-liberty-gb-bnp-jack-buckby-a7091141.html|website=www.independent.co.uk|accessdate=21 June 2016|date=20 June 2016}}</ref> Buckby polled just over 1% of the vote; he lost his deposit, as did all the candidates except the winner, the Labour candidate [[Tracy Brabin]].
+=== 2014 Tim Burton radio host trial ===
-==Electoral performance==
+Tim Burton, a radio presenter who was a member of Liberty GB, was acquitted of charges of racially aggravated harassment on 4 May 2014 at Birmingham magistrates' court. He had tweeted comments about Fiyaz Mughal [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]], a Muslim campaigner of [[Tell MAMA UK]].<ref name=BMail />
-===[[2015 United Kingdom general election|General election, 7 May 2015]]===
+=== 2016 Batley and Spen by-election ===
+Following the [[Killing of Jo Cox|killing of the incumbent]] Labour MP [[Jo Cox]], Liberty GB contested the [[Batley and Spen (UK Parliament constituency)|Batley and Spen]] by-election (the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]], [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]], Green Party and UKIP declined to contest it). The party's candidate was Jack Buckby, who was a member of the youth division of the [[British National Party]] (BNP) under [[Nick Griffin]] before leaving the party. He says he left because he believed that the BNP was too racist.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Cowburn|first1=Ashley|title=Jo Cox: Liberty GB Move to Contest Labour MP's Former Seat Branded 'Obscene' and 'Contemptible'|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jo-cox-death-labour-mp-seat-batley-and-spen-by-election-liberty-gb-bnp-jack-buckby-a7091141.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220614/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jo-cox-death-labour-mp-seat-batley-and-spen-by-election-liberty-gb-bnp-jack-buckby-a7091141.html |archive-date=2022-06-14 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|website=www.independent.co.uk|access-date=21 June 2016|date=20 June 2016}}</ref> Buckby polled just over 1% of the vote; he lost his deposit, as did all the candidates except the winner, the Labour candidate [[Tracy Brabin]].
+=== Dissolution by Paul Weston ===
+Paul Weston dissolved the party in November 2017, choosing instead to back [[Anne Marie Waters]]' new party, [[For Britain]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://libertygb.org.uk/news/important-announcement-paul-weston-concerning-future-liberty-gb|title=An Important Announcement from Paul Weston Concerning the Future of Liberty GB|publisher=Liberty GB|access-date=3 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204061304/https://libertygb.org.uk/news/important-announcement-paul-weston-concerning-future-liberty-gb|archive-date=4 December 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
+== Electoral performance ==
+=== General election, 7 May 2015 ===
+{{Main|2015 United Kingdom general election}}
 The party contested three constituencies, obtaining a total of 418 votes.
 {| class="wikitable"
 ! Constituency !! Candidate !! Votes !! %
 |-
-| [[Birmingham Ladywood (UK Parliament constituency)|Birmingham Ladywood]] || Timothy Burton || 216 || 0.6<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/politics/constituencies/E14000564 ELECTION 2015 Birmingham Ladywood], ''BBC News''. Retrieved 22 October 2016.</ref>
+| [[Birmingham Ladywood (UK Parliament constituency)|Birmingham Ladywood]] || Timothy Burton || 216 || 0.6<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/politics/constituencies/E14000564|title=ELECTION 2015 Birmingham Ladywood|work=BBC News|accessdate=22 October 2016}}</ref>
 |-
-| [[Lewisham West and Penge (UK Parliament constituency)|Lewisham West and Penge]] || George Whale || 44 || 0.1<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/politics/constituencies/E14000788 ELECTION 2015 Lewisham West & Penge], ''BBC News''. Retrieved 22 October 2016.</ref>
+| [[Lewisham West and Penge (UK Parliament constituency)|Lewisham West and Penge]] || George Whale || 44 || 0.1<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/politics/constituencies/E14000788|title=ELECTION 2015 Lewisham West & Penge|work=BBC News|accessdate=22 October 2016}}</ref>
 |-
-| [[Luton South (UK Parliament constituency)|Luton South]] || [[Paul Weston (politician)|Paul Weston]] || 158 || 0.4<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/politics/constituencies/E14000801 ELECTION 2015 Luton South], ''BBC News''. Retrieved 22 October 2016.</ref>
+| [[Luton South (UK Parliament constituency)|Luton South]] || [[Paul Weston (politician)|Paul Weston]] || 158 || 0.4<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/politics/constituencies/E14000801|title=ELECTION 2015 Luton South|work=BBC News|accessdate=22 October 2016}}</ref>
 |}
-===[[2016 Batley and Spen by-election]]===
+=== 2016 Batley and Spen by-election ===
+{{Main|2016 Batley and Spen by-election}}
 {| class="wikitable"
 ! Constituency !! Candidate !! Votes !! %
 |-
-| [[Batley and Spen (UK Parliament constituency)|Batley and Spen]] || [[Jack Buckby]] ||220 || 1.1<ref>Samantha Gildea, [http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/batley-spen-election-labours-tracy-12057279 "Batley and Spen by-election: Labour's Tracy Brabin elected as new MP"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021194612/http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/batley-spen-election-labours-tracy-12057279 |date=21 October 2016 }}. ''Huddersfield Examiner'', 21 October 2016</ref>
+| [[Batley and Spen (UK Parliament constituency)|Batley and Spen]] || [[Jack Buckby]] ||220 || 1.1<ref>{{cite news|author=Samantha Gildea |url=http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/batley-spen-election-labours-tracy-12057279|title=Batley and Spen by-election: Labour's Tracy Brabin elected as new MP|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021194612/http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/batley-spen-election-labours-tracy-12057279 |archivedate=21 October 2016|work=Huddersfield Examiner|date=21 October 2016}}</ref>
 |}
-==See also==
+== See also ==
 *[[Pegida UK]]
 *[[English Defence League]]
-==References==
+== References ==
 {{reflist|30em}}
-==External links==
+== External links ==
 *{{official website|http://libertygb.org.uk}}
@@ Line 69: / Line 80: @@
 {{UK far right}}
+{{Authority control}}
 [[Category:Counter-jihad]]
 [[Category:2013 establishments in England]]
 [[Category:Political parties established in 2013]]
-[[Category:Far-right political parties in the United Kingdom]]
+[[Category:Defunct far-right political parties in the United Kingdom]]
 [[Category:Nationalist parties in the United Kingdom]]
 [[Category:Eurosceptic parties in the United Kingdom]]
-[[Category:Far-right politics in the United Kingdom]]
 [[Category:UK Independence Party breakaway groups]]
-[[Category:Opposition to Islam in the United Kingdom]]
+[[Category:Anti-Islam sentiment in the United Kingdom]]
 [[Category:Political parties disestablished in 2017]]
 [[Category:2017 disestablishments in the United Kingdom]]

v t e English Defence League
Key individuals	Tommy Robinson Alan Lake
Related groups	British Freedom Party Casuals United European Defence League
Other	List of demonstrations Ideology Membership and support Organisation and structure 2024 United Kingdom riots Far-right politics in the United Kingdom List of British far-right groups (1945–present)

v t e Far-right politics in the United Kingdom
Pre-1945 groups	British Brothers' League British Fascists British People's Party British Union of Fascists The Britons Britons Publishing Society English Array English Mistery English National Association Imperial Fascist League The Link Militant Christian Patriots National Fascisti National Party National Socialist League Nordic League Right Club
Defunct post-1945 groups	British Democratic Party British Empire Party British Freedom Party British People's Party British League of Ex-Servicemen and Women British League of Rights British National Party Column 88 Conservative Democratic Alliance Constitutional Movement England First Party European Liberation Front Flag Group For Britain Football Lads Alliance Greater Britain Movement International Third Position League of Empire Loyalists Liberty GB National Democratic Party National Democrats National Fellowship National Independence Party National Labour Party National Party National Socialist Action Party National Socialist Movement National Socialist Movement Nationalist Alliance New Britain Party New Nationalist Party Northern League Official National Front Patriotic Party Racial Preservation Society Revolutionary Conservative Caucus Spearhead Union Movement United Country Party White Defence League White Nationalist Party Western Goals Institute
Active groups	Blood & Honour Britain First British Democratic Party British Movement British National Party (BNP Youth) Christian Council of Britain Combat 18 English Defence League English Democrats (some members) Friends of Oswald Mosley Homeland Party League of Saint George London Forum National Action National Front National Liberal Party November 9th Society Patriotic Alternative Protestant Coalition Pie and Mash squad Order of Nine Angles Racial Volunteer Force Sonnenkrieg Division Stop Islamisation of Europe Traditional Britain Group
Pre-1945 people	Mary Sophia Allen John Amery Henry Hamilton Beamish John Beckett Hastings Russell, 12th Duke of Bedford R. B. D. Blakeney A. K. Chesterton John Henry Clarke Thomas Haller Cooper Barry Domvile Henry Drummond Wolff Josslyn Hay, 22nd Earl of Erroll William Evans-Gordon Robert Forgan Rolf Gardiner Patrick Boyle, 8th Earl of Glasgow Harold Elsdale Goad Reginald Goodall Robert Gordon-Canning Louis Greig Neil Francis Hawkins J. F. C. Fuller William Joyce Arnold Leese Rotha Lintorn-Orman Frank McLardy Unity Mitford Diana Mosley Cynthia Mosley Oswald Mosley Gerard Wallop, 9th Earl of Portsmouth Archibald Maule Ramsay David Mitford, 2nd Baron Redesdale Alliott Verdon Roe Edward Russell, 26th Baron de Clifford Alexander Raven Thomson Graham Seton Hutchison Herbert Vivian John Warburton Charlie Watts Nesta Helen Webster Arthur Wellesley, 5th Duke of Wellington Henry Williamson Ormonde Winter Francis Yeats-Brown
Post-1945 people	Ian Anderson Richard Barnbrook A. F. X. Baron James Larratt Battersby Derek Beackon John Bean Jane, Lady Birdwood Jonathan Bowden Andrew Brons Kevin Bryan Jack Buckby Eddy Butler A. K. Chesterton Mark Collett David Copeland Mark Cotterill Nicky Crane Simon Darby Sharon Ebanks Richard Edmonds Jim Dowson Andrew Fountaine Jayda Fransen Paul Golding Nick Griffin Jeffrey Hamm Anthony Hancock Patrick Harrington Ray Hill Derek Holland Tom Holmes Katie Hopkins Peter Huxley-Blythe David Irving Colin Jordan Raheem Kassam Arthur Kemp Alex Kurtagić John Kingsley Read Alan Lake Richard Lawson Tony Lecomber Michael McLaughlin Eddy Morrison John Morse David Myatt John O'Brien Roy Painter Neema Parvini Roger Pearson Denis Pirie Kevin Quinn Anthony Reed Herbert Robert Relf Jack Renshaw Colin Robertson Tommy Robinson Robert Row Simon Sheppard Kenny Smith Troy Southgate Ian Stuart Donaldson Keith Thompson John Tyndall Richard Verrall Adam Walker Anne Marie Waters Paul Joseph Watson Martin Webster Robert West Paul Weston Graham Williamson Martin Wingfield John Graeme Wood Milo Yiannopoulos
Related articles	Anglo-German Fellowship Battle of Cable Street British Fascism British National Party election results Cliveden set Europe a Nation List of British fascist parties National Front election results Organisation for the Maintenance of Supplies Political Soldier Rock Against Communism
Active notable publications	Candour Redwatch