Keith Thompson (politician)

Keith Thompson is a veteran figure in the British far right who has been active in a number of movements down the years.

Biography

An Odinist,^[1] Thompson was a leading member of the Union Movement, which he joined in the 1960s whilst completing his National service.^[2] In 1973 the UM was renamed the Action Party.^[3] However Thompson split from the group soon afterwards.^[4]

After his resignation, Thompson, along with Mike Griffin, joined the League of Saint George, an umbrella movement of the far right (although this origin of the League has been disputed by Thompson).^[5] Thompson has remained a leading figure in the League and has never officially endorsed any political party, although in 1982 he did share a platform with John Tyndall and Ray Hill on a speaking tour following the announcement of the formation of the British National Party.^[6] The association was not to last however and Thompson has long since ended any involvement with the BNP.

Thompson continues to run Steven Books, as well as a more recent venture, the Searchlight Victims Support Group, which claims to oppose the work of the magazine and has actively sought to recruit from the Trades Union Congress. This group publishes a journal New Target.^[7] Steven Books became the subject of controversy when it was revealed that their books could be bought online through Tesco, although a Searchlight campaign has since ended this arrangement.^[8]

References

1. The Very Strange World of Steven Books
2. In Mosley's Union Movement
3. David Boothroyd, The History of British Political Parties, Politcos, 2001, p. 3
4. Ray Hill & Andrew Bell, The Other Face of Terror, London: Grafton, 1988, p. 184.
5. David Turner's homepage
6. Ray Hill & Andrew Bell, The Other Face of Terror, London: Grafton, 1988, p. 165
7. Promotion of journal from British Peoples Party site
8. Searchlight acts to stop Tesco sale of Nazi books