The English Defence League is strengthening its ties with the American Tea Party Movement. Melanie Phillips is an inspiration for the Tea Party's anti-Muslim leader, Pamela Geller.
The Observer reports today that the English Defence League (EDL) is strengthening its ties with the American Tea Party Movement.
In particular, the paper reports that Pamela Geller, the “darling of the Tea Party’s growing anti-Islamic wing” and leader of opposition to the ‘ground zero mosque’ – is advocating an alliance with the EDL.
This follows an interview with Newsweek when Geller expressed support for the EDL, even after they attacked British police officers.
Left Foot Forward has learned that Geller’s inspiration is none other than the British Daily Mail and Spectator columnist, Melanie Phillips.
On her blog, Geller describes Phillips as “a great intellect and truth teller, a woman I greatly admire” and says that Phillips’ book, ‘Londonistan’, is “the most compelling book on Islamic fundamentalism, violence and intimidation in the West.”
Geller has posted videos of a talk by Phillips, and quotes Phillips as telling a US audience:
“There has been over the past 20 to 30 years an evisceration of British National identity and values which has created a cultural and moral vacuum being exploited by Radical Islamism which has come to fill that vacuum.”
Phillips has written defensively of the English Defense League in the past, writing of one clash between EDL and anti-fascist protesters:
“In any street altercation like this, the anti-Islamist demonstrators must be aggressors and those who confront them must be either their victims or heroic anti-fascists.”
“The Islamists have an incentive to provoke a violent reaction by white groups calling themselves names like English Defence League — simply in order to produce yet more demonisation of the anti-Islamists.”
She has criticised former Communities Secretary John Denham for not ‘critically engaging’ with the EDL, and called his comparison of the EDL to Mosley’s Blackshirts “absurd” and “offensive.” Phillips continued:
“The label of the ‘far right’ toxifies everything it touches. There is now a real danger than anyone who opposes Islamic supremacism will find themselves vilified not only as ‘Islamophobes’ but also as BNP fellow-travellers.”
One EDL blog also features a prominent link to Phillips’ website.
60 Responses to “Melanie Phillips is inspiration behind Tea Party anti-Muslim leader”
Liz McShane
Anon – what the working classes in Britain don;t need are groups such as EDL who exploit heir vulnerabilities and spread messages of hate, ignorance & bigotry.
I am glad you seem to be positive towards Labour’s New Leader though!
Mr. Sensible
Liz I completely agree.
And, Mr Mouse, as I have said before, Runway 3 was a mistake by the last government and scrapping it was a good thing done by this government.
But as far as green issues are concerned, can you tell me any other things this government is doing that are green?
How is threatening the very existance of the Department for Energy and Climate Change green?
Anon E Mouse
Liz – Begrudgingly positive I admit Liz. I have to say his speech got me.. not the content exactly but for once he speaks as if he’s human rather than the “Speak your weight” machine that was Gordon Brown.
Something else was his nasty ruthless streak by challenging his brother – for once Labour has a leader with some balls. Yes I actually think as long as he can get a grip of the unions he’s OK.
Regarding this article I agree wholeheartedly about the need to challenge fascists anywhere they raise their ugly head but NOT by attacking a woman who’s views you disagree with just because a political party in the States may or may not admire here views. That’s just plainly nasty and not needed – challenge her views but not her as a person please.
Mr.Sensible – Preventing numerous unnecessary government Jags being used instead of using the tube – there’s one for starters…
Simon Landau
Anon – I think the post is valid because every thuggish movement looks for an intellectual and other parties to act as their fig-leaf and in this case EDL is looking to Melanie P. and the Tea Party. She needs to get her act together and disassociate herself pronto unless the EDL is the only constituency she wants to talk to.
Dave Rich
Simon Landau
It is not for me to fight Melanie Phillips’ battles for her, but if you read the one article by her that this post links to in full (http://www.melaniephillips.com/articles-new/?p=689), you will find that she clearly condemns the EDL for pursuing the same demonisation of all Muslims as the BNP. It is not her fault that the person who wrote this post has so grossly misrepresented her views.