Tory Councillor Attended Fascist Meetings ‘in the Spirit of Education and Curiosity’

‘I completely agree that the optics of these pictures is poor.’

by Simon Childs

18 November 2022

Cllr Andy Weatherhead at a rally outside the Greek Embassy in 2013 (left) and campaigning for the Conservative party (right). Photo: Hope Not Hate
Cllr Andy Weatherhead at a rally outside the Greek Embassy in 2013 (left) and campaigning for the Conservative party (right). Photo: Hope Not Hate

A Conservative party councillor has said that his former association with an openly fascist group “was brief and made in the spirit of education and curiosity” and apologised for the poor “optic[s]” of pictures that show him wearing a blackshirt.

Councillor Andy Weatherhead, who represents Hythe West on Kent County Council, was previously a senior officer for the openly fascist New British Union (NBU), according to anti-extremism research group Hope Not Hate.

The NBU is a group of fascist revivalists who wear pre-war fascist uniforms and want to emulate Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists (BUF).

Andy Weatherhead at the inaugural NBU conference in 2013. Photo: Hope Not Hate
Andy Weatherhead at the inaugural NBU conference in 2013. Photo: Hope Not Hate

A picture shows Weatherhead at the NBU’s inaugural conference in 2013. NBU members are seen wearing fascist-style uniforms, some of them with armbands including the “flash and circle” symbol used by the BUF.

Hope Not Hate says that Weatherhead delivered a speech to the conference as policy officer.

In a written statement Weatherhead said: “During this event I did stand and make comment – which was to introduce myself as did all others in the room. Policies were discussed – but in the context of policies written by Oswald Mosley during his political career which spanned many years in both pre and post-war Britain.”

Another picture shows Weatherhead wearing a fascist-style blackshirt with the flash and circle symbol at a rally outside the Greek embassy in 2013 in support of the Golden Dawn, a far-right Greek party.

Weatherhead said he was asked to attend the rally by “associates” but was kettled by police on arrival. “I am not aware of any members of the Greek political party Golden Dawn being in attendance.”

Weatherhead has strongly denied allegations that he wrote antisemitic blogs for the party. “Should such have been published, they were not written by me personally. If such were published under my name – then it was done so without my consent,” he said.

Weatherhead left the NBU in 2014 and joined Ukip. He ran as a candidate for Ukip four times without success. In May 2021 he successfully ran for Kent county council for the Conservative party.

The Kent Tory party whip councillor Dylan Jeffrey told the KentOnline website that Weatherhead has been suspended from the Conservative group on the council and by the national party. An inquiry into the allegations is taking place.

In a written statement Weatherhead said: “I completely agree that the optic[s] of these pictures is poor and potentially upsetting for some.

“Without hesitation I offer my apologies to any person offended. My association with the NBU was brief and made in the spirit of education and curiosity – I however now look back on my actions during that period with regret and personal disappointment in my then poor judgemental choices at that time. By re-entering mainstream politics as I did in 2014, I turned my back on fringe politics, having seen it for what it truly was.”

The news follows allegations in Private Eye magazine that Conservative MP Lee Anderson has a close association with the Skegby Scooter Club and its leading members, one of whom is a “far-right stalwart” who has been pictured wearing a tee-shirt saying, “NO REMORSE, WHITE PRIDE”.

This was corrected on 22nd November. The article previously stated that Weatherhead ran as a council candidate for Ukip four times. In fact his four attempts for Ukip included a parliamentary candidacy.

Simon Childs is a commissioning editor and reporter for Novara Media.

Build
 people-
  powered
   media.

Build people-powered media.

We’re up against huge power and influence. Our supporters keep us entirely free to access. We don’t have any ad partnerships or sponsored content.

Donate one hour’s wage per month—or whatever you can afford—today.

We’re up against huge power and influence. Our supporters keep us entirely free to access. We don’t have any ad partnerships or sponsored content.

Donate one hour’s wage per month—or whatever you can afford—today.