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| Far-right group National Action to be banned under terror laws | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A British neo-Nazi movement is to become the first far-right group to be banned under terrorism laws in the UK. | A British neo-Nazi movement is to become the first far-right group to be banned under terrorism laws in the UK. |
| Home Secretary Amber Rudd said National Action was "a racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic organisation". | Home Secretary Amber Rudd said National Action was "a racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic organisation". |
| An order laid in Parliament to proscribe the group - making it a criminal offence to join or support it - is due to come into effect on Friday. | An order laid in Parliament to proscribe the group - making it a criminal offence to join or support it - is due to come into effect on Friday. |
| It will be the first time a group engaged in extreme right-wing activities has been proscribed. | It will be the first time a group engaged in extreme right-wing activities has been proscribed. |
| Under the Terrorism Act 2000, the home secretary can proscribe an organisation if it is believed to be "concerned in terrorism". | Under the Terrorism Act 2000, the home secretary can proscribe an organisation if it is believed to be "concerned in terrorism". |
| 'Vile ideology' | 'Vile ideology' |
| National Action describes itself as a "National Socialist youth organisation" and says its movement is aimed at the "broken right-wing". | National Action describes itself as a "National Socialist youth organisation" and says its movement is aimed at the "broken right-wing". |
| Ms Rudd said the group had "no place" in Britain. | Ms Rudd said the group had "no place" in Britain. |
| She said: "National Action is a racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic organisation which stirs up hatred, glorifies violence and promotes a vile ideology, and I will not stand for it." | She said: "National Action is a racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic organisation which stirs up hatred, glorifies violence and promotes a vile ideology, and I will not stand for it." |
| Proscription makes it a criminal offence to belong to the organisation, arrange meetings in support of the group or wear clothing or carry articles in public which arouse reasonable suspicion. | Proscription makes it a criminal offence to belong to the organisation, arrange meetings in support of the group or wear clothing or carry articles in public which arouse reasonable suspicion. |
| Penalties for proscription offences can be a maximum of 10 years in prison and an unlimited fine. | Penalties for proscription offences can be a maximum of 10 years in prison and an unlimited fine. |
| Following the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox, a branch of the group tweeted praise for her killer, Thomas Mair. | Following the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox, a branch of the group tweeted praise for her killer, Thomas Mair. |
| Mair was jailed for life last month after being found guilty of murder. | Mair was jailed for life last month after being found guilty of murder. |
| The home office said it took the decision to proscribe National Action before Mair's trial. | The home office said it took the decision to proscribe National Action before Mair's trial. |
| On its website, National Action said it carries out "demonstrations, publicity stunts, and other activities" to spread the message of "National Socialism". | On its website, National Action said it carries out "demonstrations, publicity stunts, and other activities" to spread the message of "National Socialism". |
| 'Unashamedly neo-Nazi' | |
| Gideon Falter, chairman of the Campaign Against anti-Semitism, said: "This decision by the home secretary is something we have long called for and sends a strong message that the far-right is in the government's sights and will not be permitted to continue its incitement and violence." | Gideon Falter, chairman of the Campaign Against anti-Semitism, said: "This decision by the home secretary is something we have long called for and sends a strong message that the far-right is in the government's sights and will not be permitted to continue its incitement and violence." |
| About a quarter of the cases being handled by the government's counter-extremism programme are for right-wing radicalisation. | |
| Prof Matthew Feldman, the co-director for the centre for fascist, anti-fascist and post-fascist studies at Teesside University said National Action had a small core of between 100-200 activists. | |
| "At demonstrations, there may only be a couple dozen people. But they are unashamedly neo-Nazi," he told the BBC. | |
| "There's a growing appreciation that the far-right has not had the same attention that jihadi Islamist groups have had in the last 10 years. | |
| "Things are turning and there's an acceptance that the extreme right poses a threat." | |
| Part of this threat, Prof Feldman explained, was against those left-wing journalists or activists - like Jo Cox - "being seen as the midwives of the Islamisation of Britain". | |
| Other campaigners have called for action to be taken against far-right groups with bigger followings. | |
| Sabby Dhalu, from Unite Against Fascism said: "The government must also take more seriously groups on the far-right in Britain with a bigger following." | |
| Ms Dhalu said other far-right organisations - such as Britain First - should also be investigated. | |
| The order will be debated in parliament later this week, before becoming operationally effective on Friday. | The order will be debated in parliament later this week, before becoming operationally effective on Friday. |