Far right threat returns after ‘years in the wilderness’

The far right is now actively mobilising in ways not seen for several years, and the opportunities exist to mount a resurgence over the coming year, according to State of Hate 2022.

Produced by HOPE not hate, the annual report, which details developments across the domestic and international far right, shows how the past year has led to an environment in which we will likely see the return of far right activists back on the streets, standing in elections and exploiting the uncertainties created by economic hardship.

State of Hate 2022 explores how a mixture of political distrust, the impact of the pandemic and the associated growth in conspiracy and anti-authority beliefs, and the cost of living crisis has created fertile ground for the growth of right wing ideas and its increasing influence on more mainstream political and media narratives.

The report outlines ways in which the far right threat is now pervading all aspects of our society, including how there was a significant rise in offline activities staged by the far right last year, such as leafleting, demonstrations and banner drops, as well as anti-migrant activism remaining a key focus for the far right, with 125 visits by ‘migrant hunters’ to hotels in the past year.

HOPE not hate says that increasing numbers of young people are being attracted to far right ideas and movements, fuelled largely by the far right’s successful use of social media, the culture wars and the rapid rise in Covid conspiracies and the anti-lockdown movement.

Nick Lowles, CEO of HOPE not hate, said: “What we’re looking at is a country that has moved on from Brexit, which marginalised the British far right, and the fallout from an erosion of political trust. Growing opposition towards lockdowns and vaccine hesitancy, the Partygate scandal and a looming cost of living crisis have led to a loss of confidence in our leaders. This has all created fertile ground for far right activists to exploit people’s fears and twist narratives to suit its hateful ideology.

“Last year, we saw far right figures appear on talk shows as ‘commentators’, and bizarre conspiracies peddled on right wing media platforms. Meanwhile, as hostile rhetoric around migration continued to make headlines and conspiracy theories regularly began to infiltrate mainstream media and politics, an increasingly welcome environment for authoritarianism and populism has developed. We are particularly worried about the growing numbers of young people being attracted to far right politics and dangerous conspiracy theories. This trend has been happening for several years, but it has been accelerated by Covid conspiracies and the increasingly aggressive anti-lockdown movement.

“The threat is real - the far right is stirring again, but there is still hope. While they have more opportunities to exploit discontent than for many years, we can still prevent them from succeeding. By refusing to accept blatant far right rhetoric and conspiracy theories as a part of normal discourse, we can prevent fascists and extremists from dividing our society.”