The Strange Case of Patrick Harrington

There are several odd things about the BNP's Solidarity trades union, which holds an extraordinary general meeting today in Brentwood.

The first is whether or not it is actually a trades union. Do you fancy going into a meeting with your boss with the 'power' of the BNP behind you? Give me any of the main unions any day!

One of the other oddities is of course the return of 1980s fascist bogeyman Patrick Harrington. The former NF big cheese had spent the previous 15 years trying to convince everyone that neither he, nor his Third Way group were fascists.

Fair enough, but the first whiff of electoral success for the BNP, and Third Way and indeed Harrington himself, appear to have revised their opinions somewhat. The 'anti-fascist' Harrington soon agreed to sit on the board of Solidarity as General Secretary, and remains there now as Solidarity wobbles through the sort of birth pangs, political in-fighting and Searchlight attack that seem to have followed Harrington around whenever he has had political prominence.

One issue remains though - either Harrington was lying to left, right and centre for a good 15 years or more, or he is capable of the most sustained political zig-zagging. Perhaps both!

Comments

[Solidarity member]

"either Harrington was lying to left, right and centre for a good 15 years or more, or he is capable of the most sustained political zig-zagging. Perhaps both!"

Or perhaps neither! Harrington's Third Way - through its political wing, the National Liberal Party contests elections against the BNP, most recently at a bye-election last month so his involvement in the Solidarity trade union has nothing to do with that party's comparative electoral success.

Apart from that, the BNP itself has evolved considerably from what it was fifteen years ago.

As it happens, the authorities are coming for all of us if we get in the way of an increasingly coercive State: Third Way, BNP, antiwar activists, even you. The TUC affiliates look the other way if members of the BNP or 3W are sacked for their political activities or sympathies; that's if they don't actively collude or cheer it on from the sidelines!

So there it is. If Nulab try to take away our rights, we will combine to protect them. Pat Harrington has in the past had to deal with folk who thought he had no right to an education. Now he is struggling to protect the jobs and liveliehoods of British workers; especially those ignored by the TUC affiliates.

[Independent]

The National Liberal Party (Third Way) has stood against the BNP in local elections. Most recently in the London Borough of Havering (St Andrews Ward) on 14 June, 2007. It would seem that his political group is not in an actual alliance with the BNP. The results were as follows:-

Residents 993
Con 583
BNP 580
Lab 511
Nat LIb (3W) 184
UKIP 169
Lib-Dem 80

It is interesting to note that the NLP/3W beat both the Lib Dems and UKIP and despite strong campaigning from the much larger BNP held a reasonable percentage. Those who voted for them chose directly not to vote BNP.

Harrington attracts flak because he is effective. Searchlight dislike him because he doesn't fit their stereotype and he isn't intimidated by them. He drew attention to the links of these unsavoury hatemongers, bullies and political prostitutes to State Security long before Larry O'Hara He has the temerity to fight back! A lot of Nationalists (of whatever variety) admire and respect him.

[Paul Stott]

Noted.

Would you be opposed to an electoral pact between the BNP and 3W/National Liberal Party, if it looked like either side could actually take a seat?

[Third Way member]

As a Third Way supporter I would be disappointed if the leadership entered into an electoral pact with any Party. We should give the voters the opportunity to support us wherever possible.

[Another Third way member]

I agree with the above. Whilst being a libertarian group we would prefer to work with people rather than against, there are many policy differences between us and the BNP. Just because we believe they have a right to be heard does not imply policy agreement. We might be able to co-operate with groups, electorally (we have an understanding with the English Democrat Party) or at campaign or Council level but at this stage we need to build our party political wing the National Liberal Party.

[Paul Stott]

Well, yes but.....

What sort of 'libertarian' group would have a leading member, Harrington, in a group, Solidarity, that is run by the BNP?

You can call the BNP a lot of things, but libertarian is not one of them.

[Pat Harrington]

Hi Paul! I run Solidarity and answer to an Executive not the BNP. I try to keep on good terms with them as they are currently the largest Nationalist group and Solidarity is a Nationalist inclined Union. I respect Nick Griffin, he is an intelligent man who I have known for years - I take people as I find them. I argue with him but then again I argue with everyone! I don't surrender my judgement to the media. I have made it clear, however, that Solidarity is open to people of all ethnic and political backgrounds. Third Way has members from different ethnic backgrounds and some of them have joined-up for Solidarity too. I understand that the desperate, patronising elements on what passes for a 'Left' in this country will say it is tokenism. This is an insult to them. They are the vanguard as I see it!

The issues that impact us - wage hold downs because of mass migration boosting labour supply and offshoring (for example) aren't limited to people with white faces.

I stand up for BNP members against the 'New McCarthyism'. I would do the same for you or anyone else. I hate bullies. It is a personal thing. If the BNP had power and were trying to sack teachers for their political opinions I would speak out against that. My personal experiences of victimisation make me sympathetic to individuals suffering this. I'll not be dissuaded or turn my back.

[Another third way member]

I wouldn't call them libertarian either but it is because we are that we don't shun BNP members within the Union. It's not run by the BNP at all, nor incidentally by Mr Harrington, but by an Executive whose first loyalty will be to the Union. We agree with what Solidarity is setting out to do, which is trying to deal with the negative effects of globalisation. You don't have to be an extremist or racist to come to that conclusion. You may critizise us for 'tolerating' the BNP but we think it better to work with rather than shun them. In any case many of their members or supporters are simply patriotic rather than racist. If you keep persecuting them you will create a large group of embitted activists which will do nobody any good.

[Kevin Yates]

The answer to your original question above is very clear: Patrick Harrington is a Born Again Fascist. He is a liar and a self-seeker. Like his former NF-colleague Nick Griffin he is a political chameleon.

Where there's money there's ego as far as Messrs Griffin and Harrington are concerned. Harringtn will, like his mentor, shift with whatever is the prevailing tide to get what he believes is his: money. A man so obsessed with himself and so bitter with how life has treated him ( after all coming from an Upper Middle Class family and enjoying the priveleges of a private education - now he's a trolley dolley on the railways)- he -like Griffin - are hell-bent on taking all that power can give them: money and the satisfcation of their own inferior egos.

If Griffin starts bypassing Harrington, or the money and power starts drying up, Harrington will soon revert back to his anti-BNP,"I'm really a nice sort of liberal, tolerant sort of chap, never did agree with those NF types" attitude.

[Third Way member]

Harrington will soon revert back to his anti-BNP,"I'm really a nice sort of liberal, tolerant sort of chap, never did agree with those NF types" attitude.

I don't think he has changed. He doesn't agree with the BNP on issues of strong government or racial politics. Just because he is prepared to 'tolerate' the BNP doesn't mean he agrees with all they say anymore than does a New Labour member sharing a platform with a Communist....

[Paul Stott]

Nonsense.

Harrington is setting up from scatch a "trades union" with the BNP, and was prominent at the BNP's annual festival in August.

I can't quite see the average New Labour loyalist doing that for the Communist Party....

[Liberal]

No Harrington's doing it for his own cause. After personally fallen foul of Marxist Trade Unions he obviously felt there was a market for a 'Nationalist' Union. The new Union needs members and working-class patriots can be found in the BNP. The latters membership are not all the racist nazi's some would like to believe and there are many who circle that party without ever joining them but may join the Union. Besides are there not many broad-church organisations out there that have diverse memberships i.e. Anti-Iraq, Troops Out, No to ID etc etc?

[Patrick Harrington]

Just to make my personal position clear, I don't believe in 'No Platform' and will speak at any event. As General Secretary of Solidarity it is part of my job to promote the Union to different audiences.

I am not a supporter of the BNP and have liberal views on social topics. I am happy to explain my reasoning to them and anyone else as I'm confident of my grounds. How about you?

[Yet another Third Way Member]

"A man so obsessed with himself and so bitter with how life has treated him ( after all coming from an Upper Middle Class family and enjoying the priveleges of a private education - now he's a trolley dolley on the railways)"

1. He never went to private school.
2. He liked the trolley but worked as a Customer Service Leader for GNER (basically a Restaurant Manager and Deputy to the Customer Service Mananger). He did it for ten years on the busiest trains between London and Edinburgh. He was a Company Council rep and Learner Rep for the RMT prior to them expelling him on political grounds. He hasn't worked for GNER for some years so you are a little out of date.
3. If he hadn't done an ordinary job I suppose you would be criticising him for that! The class hate of the 'left' is always just below the surface isn't it?

[The observer]

Pat Harrington has always struck me as a political maverick. Even when he was in the National Front (from about 1979-1990) he supported Gay rights and opposed the Falklands War! I don't think he has much in common with the BNP politically. I think he is just using them as footsoldiers for his own purposes.

[liberal]

"If Griffin starts bypassing Harrington, or the money and power starts drying up, Harrington will soon revert back to his anti-BNP,"I'm really a nice sort of liberal, tolerant sort of chap, never did agree with those NF types" attitude".

I don't see the contradiction? He doesn't have to agree with everyone's politics who is in the Union other than agreeing that a Union that takes a Nationalist rather than an Internationalist line and doesn't discriminates politically is a good idea. Broad Church groups like the Anti-Iraq war coalitions include all manner of political rivals but no-one reflects on the associations?

[Paul Stott]

Firstly you will never convince anyone that if Patrick is such a "liberal" it is justifiable for him to be in bed with the BNP - the largest fascist party in the UK.

To put it into one sentence - true liberals don't like fascists, and true fascists don't like liberals.

Secondly you are simply wrong to use the example of the anti-war coalitions - there has been huge discussion, even schism on the left about getting into bed with some of the reactionary Muslim organisations that have also opposed the war.

You won't find any anarchists walking down the street shouting "Ooh ahh Hezbollah".
Indeed now the SWP have fallen out with Respect, even the most supine of all may suddenly rediscover there secular credentials....

[liberal]

......Nor National Liberals singing 'there ain't no black in the Union Jack'. Co-operation requires a suspension of absolute partisanship but it doesn't mean there are not fundamental differences outside the immediate cause for co-operation. It is only the left's failure to see that their differences are replicated with as much passion amongst patriotic forces (from liberals to fascists) that will plague them with endless 'head scratching'. Besides the earth (left) revolves around the Sun (everyone else) not as many of the left like to pretend (and with the internet they never have to mix with the rest at all!).

[Patrick Harrington]

I don't really understand why you cannot accept that it is possible to co-operate in specific areas with those of another political persuasion. The function of a Trade Union is different from that of a political party. Solidarity is Nationalist in outlook but not racist. Our policies would benefit workers of all ethnic backgrounds. Off-shoring, uncontrolled migrant labour and globalisation is a threat to all workers here - not just those with white faces!

Currently it is BNP members who are being persecuted by some employers. I am defending them as I would Communists or anyone else. Your view of "liberal" and mine seem a bit at odds. It is precisely because I hold to liberal, democratic values that I defend the rights of those I disagree with!

[Paul Stott]

If so Patrick, you are playing the role of a "useful idiot" for the BNP.

I remarked to someone recently the problem I had with Islam was the knowledge that as an Anarchist and a former Trades Unionist, if I lived in most of the Muslim countries of the world I would either be dead, or in prison.

In the unlikely circumstances of Nick Griffin and co ever forming a government in this country, much the same fate would await me, and many others. Can you imagine Bob Crow or Mark Serwotka walking the streets under a BNP government?

Liberal democracy may suck, but it sucks a lot less than fascism.

I suggest that the fundamental difference between the Third Way members who have posted on this thread, and myself is that I regard the BNP as a fascist organisation. You don't.

[liberal]

'Liberal democracy may suck, but it sucks a lot less than fascism'.

In terms of Civil Liberties you are right.

As you say yourself however, despite the fact that Islam would take away your civil liberties it does not preclude you co-operating with political islamists in this country, albeit with a heavy heart. Most on the far left seem to be far happier doing so presumably because they cannot conceive Islam ever taking over in the UK.

One might adopt the same position towards the BNP although i don't believe most of their members are fascist (though some will be) and therefore its not axiomatic that they would exercise power in that way. Pre-war fascists/Nazis joined largely because they believed that fascism would give them the 'strong government' they craved. I'm sure the reality in practice horrified many. Most BNP support is based on opposition to immigration and little if anything to do with support for an authoritarian government.

Perhaps Paul we share similar misgivings it's just that our 'libertarian' outlook makes us inclined to give everyone the benefit of the doubt.
Ironically suppressing free speech is justifying 'fascist' methods and only works if you are more powerful than the oppressed. We can often reap what we sow and that does not bode well for the future. Defeat ideas by arguement not suppression.

[Red Rover]

"We can often reap what we sow and that does not bode well for the future."

Pat Harrington would do well to eat his words.

As anyone who is in the know knows Harrington stole the Solidarity trade union with the fascist leader Nick Griffin. He was apparently being investigated for misappropriation of union funds and gross misconduct, and having been suspended seems to have bypassed the process by squealing to Griffin who - having access to the website etc - was able to steal the union. Harrington meanwhile called a bogus EGM based on a spurious and illegal "consultation" of members and installed himself and some lackeys of BNP/Third Way.

Harrington though is merely behaving like he always has done - as a sly and greedy snake in the grass, a smooth-talking criminal with his eyes only on the money pot and how much power he can take.

Harrington was always a primadonna in the NF and after his realisation that fascism was not good for his ego and his pocket decided to appease everyone by staging a Damascene change, seeing the light on immigration and becomiung a liberal martyr.

The conviction of his politics and his personal morals is self-evident now that he has jumped into bed with old friend Griffin and hoisted himself on board the BNP.

Harrington cannot be trusted. Don't be taken in by his pseudo-intellectural argumemts and self-justification. He was always a has-been and now he is simply a washed-up wannabee. Don't be fooled by the man, unlike the dupes and the lackeys of his fellow union members who are too thick and stupid to see through this man of straw.

Once a fascist, always a fascist.
Once a liar, always a liar.

[Putting the record straight]

'Once a fascist, always a fascist.
Once a liar, always a liar'

Patrick Harrington has never claimed to be a fascist. Even in his youth he was on the 'liberal' wing of the NF and was opposed by the bigoted elements (and even amongst those there were very few actual fascists). And by Red Rovers anaylsis half of the Cabinet must still be active Communists!

Red Rover should get out more...........

[Pat Harrington]

There are very few facts in the posting from Red Rover. It is all assertion and abuse. To rely on ad hominem arguments is the sign of a weak case.

Any member of Solidarity could have attended the EGM/SM. Any member could have proposed motions. The Potter/Hawke faction chose not to attend as they knew the vast majority of members backed me as General Secretary and a wider Executive team.

The allegations against me were a nonsense. Like all Trade Unions our affairs are highly regulated, pariticularly relating to finances. No outside body has supported the wild allegations made by Potter and Hawke and they have themselves withdrawn and apologised for some.

The attempt to 'suspend' me was made at an inquorate meeting to which I was not invited and was therefore unconstitutional. That is why I ignored it and put my case direct to the membership.

I am not a member of the BNP but of the National Liberal Party. My views on a range of subjects are very different from those of the BNP.

The NLP actively recruits from all ethnic communities. Attempts to equate our view that the rights of BNP members should be respected as part of a tolerant, democratic society with support for their policies in general are misguided.

We are currently holding elections for our Executive which will be independently scrutinised and run. Any member can stand. Potter, Hawke, McLinden and the rest are alll still members (despite being a 'Dictator' I have taken no disciplinary action against them). Curiously as yet no nomination has come from any of the malcontents who claimed they truly represented the membership. I'm happy to stand in fair elections and see who wins. Why aren't they?