Editing England First Party

{{short description|English nationalist political party}}
{{for|another party by the name "England First"|International Third Position}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2013}}
{{Infobox political party
| country          = the United Kingdom
| name             = England First Party
| colorcode        = red
| logo             = [[File:England First Party logo.png|frameless]]
| abbreviation     = EFP
| leader           = [[Mark Cotterill]], 2003&ndash; 2012
| foundation       = 2 September 2003
| dissolved        = 14 June 2012
| ideology         = [[Ethnic nationalism]]<br />[[English nationalism]]<br />[[English independence]]<br />[[Euroscepticism]]
| position         = [[Far-right politics|Far-right]]
| colours          = {{nowrap|{{Color box|#000000|border=darkgray}} [[Black]] {{Color box|#FFFFFF|border=darkgray}} [[White]]}}
| headquarters     = 
| website          = {{URL|https://web.archive.org/web/20080229065716/http://www.efp.org.uk/|efp.org.uk}} <small>(Archive)</small>
| national         = [[Nationalist Alliance]] (2005-2008)
}}

The '''England First Party''' ('''EFP''') was an [[English nationalism|English nationalist]] and [[Far-right politics|far-right]] [[UK political parties|political party]]. It had two councillors on [[Blackburn with Darwen]] council between 2006 and 2007.

==Formation and policies==
They were formed in 2004 by [[Mark Cotterill]] who had been the founder and chairman of [[American Friends of the British National Party]]. However, he began to disagree with the BNP politically, and so formed the EFP, after a spell in the [[White Nationalist Party]].

The EFP differed from the BNP in its analysis of the [[United Kingdom]]. It criticised [[British nationalism]] and supported [[English nationalism]] instead. Most members of the EFP were former BNP members like their chairman, Cotterill.

The EFP campaigned against the creation of [[English regional assemblies|regional assemblies]] across England. They also campaigned on issues such as opposing [[Modern immigration to the United Kingdom|immigration]] in England and opposing the UK's continued membership of the [[European Union]].

On the economy, the EFP supported the gradual [[nationalisation]] of most national and [[public services]] in attempts to achieve [[autarky]]. While not aiming to abolish [[capitalism|capitalist]] ownership, the EFP claimed the interests of workers to be paramount and subsequently supported [[Worker cooperative|worker co-operatives]]. The EFP also aimed to end the connections between [[trade union]]s and the Labour Party while encouraging trade union membership and re-nationalising and re-opening coal mines which had a "reasonable working life".

According to the accounts filed with the [[Electoral Commission (United Kingdom)|Electoral Commission]] the party had 27 full members at year-end 2004 and 85 "supporters".<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/templates/search/document.cfm/12624 |title= England First Party, The Statement of Accounts for 2004 |website=The Electoral Commission |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060928034337/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/templates/search/document.cfm/12624 |archive-date=28 September 2006 |access-date=23 July 2017}}</ref> By the end of 2005 this had increased to 39 paid members and 97 registered supporters.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/templates/search/document.cfm/16309 |title= England First Party, The Statement of Accounts for 2005 |website=The Electoral Commission |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060928034337/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/templates/search/document.cfm/16309 |archive-date=28 September 2006 |access-date=23 July 2017}}</ref> For the year end 2007 the party recognised "100 supporters".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/49390/England-First-Party-Statement-of-Accounts-2007_29180-21651__E__N__S__W__.pdf |title=EFP Statement of Accounts for 2007 |website=The Electoral Commission }}{{dead link|date=July 2017}}</ref> By year end 2010, England First had 42 full members and recognised 111 supporters.<ref>[http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/party-finance/database-of-registers/statements-of-accounts/soa/pdfs/soa_25-05-11_10-46-30.pdf The England First Party statement of accounts] Electoral Commission ]{{dead link|date=July 2017}}</ref>

It sold a magazine ''Heritage and Destiny'', which ran issues every year from July 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.efp.org.uk/page17.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080804073138/http://www.efp.org.uk/page17.html |archive-date=4 August 2008 |title=England First Party – Heritage & Destiny |website=efp.org.uk |access-date=23 July 2017}}</ref> It provided news on the progress of racial nationalism in Britain, Europe and America.

=== Policies on religion ===
The EFP was criticised for a section of its manifesto that promised "the abolition of all non-European faiths and religions".<ref>{{cite web|title=Inside Story – Immigration, race and the British election |date=3 May 2010 |url=http://inside.org.au/immigration-race-and-the-british-election/ |access-date=2010-06-27}}</ref> On 4 June 2010 Mark Cotterill issued a statement that "[f]ar from wishing to "abolish" any religion (from the East or West!), the EFP is committed to traditional English values of religious freedom."<ref>{{cite web |title=England First – The England First Party, Religion and the Holocaust |url=http://efp.org.uk/the-england-first-party-religion-and-the-holocaust/ |access-date=2010-06-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726220435/http://efp.org.uk/the-england-first-party-religion-and-the-holocaust/ |archive-date=26 July 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> A later version of the party manifesto, last edited 28 April 2010, did not contain the call for abolition of non-European religions.<ref>{{cite web |title=England First – Brief Manifesto |url=http://efp.org.uk/manifesto/brief-manifesto/ |access-date=2010-06-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110125194914/http://efp.org.uk/manifesto/brief-manifesto/ |archive-date=25 January 2011 }}</ref>

==Elections==
In their first electoral test, a local government by-election in February 2004 for the [[Heysham]] South ward in [[Lancaster, England|Lancaster]], the EFP polled 14%. In the May 2004 local elections, the EFP contested three seats in [[Blackburn]], [[Preston, Lancashire|Preston]] and [[Macclesfield]], polling an average of 18% of the vote.

Two candidates contested the May 2006 local elections in Blackburn, polling an average of 37% of the vote and both were elected as councillors. In a by-election in the East Rural ward of Blackburn in September 2006, they polled 13%. They also contested a by-election in the Danehouse and Stoneyholme ward in [[Burnley]] in February 2007, polling 7%. Despite the party campaigning for a ban on mixed-race marriages it was revealed that one of the two elected councillors was reported to have a great-grandmother from the [[West Indies]] and a grandfather from [[Wales]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.thisislancashire.co.uk/2006/5/9/901326.html|title='African grandad of "racist" party councillor' from Lancashire Telegraph|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20080103072041/http://archive.thisislancashire.co.uk/2006/5/9/901326.html|archive-date=3 January 2008}}</ref> Steven Smith and Simon Bennett stood in the Cliviger with Worsthorne and Queensgate wards respectively, at the [[2007 Burnley Council election|2007 Burnley council elections]]. Smith came a very distant second with Bennett third in a closer vote.

=== 2010 elections ===
The EFP fielded seven candidates for the 2010 local elections<ref>{{cite web|url=http://efp.org.uk/2010-local-council-elections,/|title=2010 Local Council Elections : Heritage and Destiny|website=efp.org.uk|access-date=18 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160320081618/http://efp.org.uk/2010-local-council-elections,/|archive-date=20 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> three of them to compete against the BNP in Stoke, but it did not stand in the general election and they had encouraged EFP supporters to vote for the [[National Front (UK)|National Front]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://efp.org.uk/statement-on-steven-smith-and-the-national-front-by-england-first-party-chairman-mark-cotterill/|title=Statement on Steven Smith and the National Front by England First Party Chairman Mark Cotterill : Heritage and Destiny|website=efp.org.uk|access-date=23 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014025038/http://efp.org.uk/statement-on-steven-smith-and-the-national-front-by-england-first-party-chairman-mark-cotterill/|archive-date=14 October 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

It came fourth place with 606 votes in the Longton North ward,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stoke.gov.uk/ccm/content/ce/elections_team/election-results/Longton-North-elections-results.en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080506082407/https://www.stoke.gov.uk/ccm/content/ce/elections_team/election-results/Longton-North-elections-results.en |archive-date=6 May 2008 |title=Longton North Election Results |date=2008 |website=Stoke-on-Trent City Council |access-date=23 July 2017}}</ref> fifth place with 117 votes in the Weston and Meir ward<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stoke.gov.uk/ccm/content/ce/elections_team/election-results/Weston-and-meir-north-elections-results.en |title=Weston and Meir North Election Results |website=Stoke-on-Trent City Council |date=2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080506082422/http://www.stoke.gov.uk/ccm/content/ce/elections_team/election-results/Weston-and-meir-north-elections-results.en |archive-date=6 May 2008 |access-date=23 July 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and sixth place in the Fenton ward with 236 votes<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stoke.gov.uk/ccm/content/ce/elections_team/election-results/Fenton-elections-results.en |title=Fenton Elections Results |website=Stoke-on-Trent City Council |date=2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080506082422/http://www.stoke.gov.uk/ccm/content/ce/elections_team/election-results/Fenton-elections-results.en |archive-date=6 May 2008 |access-date=23 July 2017}}</ref> in the Stoke-on-Trent local elections.

In the Preston Ribbleton ward, [[Mark Cotterill]] came fourth place with 315 votes; it came fourth place in the St James ward in Oldham with 425 votes,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oldham.gov.uk/council/elections/local_elections_6th_may/2010_may_election_results/2010_local_election_results.htm |title=2010 Local Election Results |website=Oldham Council |date=2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100510074759/https://www.oldham.gov.uk/council/elections/local_elections_6th_may/2010_may_election_results/2010_local_election_results.htm |archive-date=10 May 2010 |access-date=23 July 2017}}</ref> in the Bradley ward of Pendle it received 279 coming fourth place<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pendle.gov.uk/site/custom_scripts/viewelection.php?pollid=4 |title=Election Results for Bradley Ward |website=Pendle Council |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612202150/http://www.pendle.gov.uk/site/custom_scripts/viewelection.php?pollid=4 |archive-date=12 June 2011 |access-date=23 July 2017}}</ref> and sixth place in the Ince ward of Wigan with 134 votes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kinnear.wigan.gov.uk/electionresults/ShowWard.asp?WardID=144&ElectionDate=06+May+2010|title=Local Election Results|website=kinnear.wigan.gov.uk}}</ref>

==Resignations==
In March 2007 the EFP's two councillors announced their intentions to quit. Michael Johnson stated that he would be joining a new party created by himself and Tony Melia [[For Darwen]], while Mark Cotterill signalled his intention to stand down as a councillor and party leader at the 3 May local elections. Johnson's move followed a rift with the party after he objected to an [[Islamophobia|anti-Islamic]] cartoon of [[Jesus]] on [[YouTube]], while Cotterill—who remained a leading EFP activist—has put his decision down to a work-related move to Preston.<ref>[http://www.lancashireeveningtelegraph.co.uk/display.var.1236399.0.england_first_pair_quit_party.php England First pair quit party] ''[[Lancashire Telegraph]]''</ref>

==Defection to England First Party==
On 1 May 2009, a former [[British National Party]] councillor, John Gamble, confirmed that he had defected to the EFP, after criticising the BNP. In the preceding months, he had become increasingly disillusioned with the BNP's national and local leadership, this resulted in him being expelled from the BNP. He sat as an independent for a few days and then he decided to "join a party that offers a serious, radical challenge to the corrupt political establishment".

On 12 March 2010, John Gamble defected from the EFP to the [[National Front (UK)|National Front]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.national-front.org.uk/johngamble.htm |title=John Gamble |website=National Front |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100317154115/http://www.national-front.org.uk/johngamble.htm |archive-date=17 March 2010 }}</ref> This was after he told ''The Star'' newspaper in Sheffield he had "jumped ship" to the NF because he wanted to join a "more active" organisation than England First.

On 1 April 2010, Gamble defected back to England First because he stated to ''The Star'', "I am not aware of the severity of these opinions" when some of the NF's recorded views were put to him. On 5 April 2010 England First refused to take him back. England First's chairman, Mark Cotterill, said: "While we have nothing against Cllr. Gamble, the fact is that despite his various and contradictory public statements he has had no involvement with the EFP – and is no longer an EFP member." Mr Cotterill went on to release a statement to ''The Sheffield Star'' saying, "We don't want anything to do with Councillor Gamble. He has done nothing for the party, and when he left we washed our hands of him."

==Support to the English Democrats==
In May 2009, the England First Party decided to stand a candidate in the County council elections in Lancashire but did not stand any European candidates.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.efp.org.uk/page67a.html|title=England First Election Results|website=England First |date=5 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090609112716/http://www.efp.org.uk/page67a.html |archive-date=9 June 2009 |access-date=23 July 2017}}</ref> For the European Parliament, the England First Party worked with the [[English Democrats]] and attended and spoke at the English Democrats' conference in Darwen. Cotterill stated that the parties had differences on race, immigration and independence but they had in common withdrawal from EU and putting England first.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.efp.org.uk/page57.html|title=England First party speaks at English Democrats' conference in Darwen|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090515114457/http://www.efp.org.uk/page57.html|archive-date=15 May 2009}}</ref>

The party was de-registered on 14 June 2012, and as such the name "England First Party" cannot be used on ballot papers by candidates at elections.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{official website}}

{{English nationalism}}
{{UK far right}}

[[Category:English nationalist parties]]
[[Category:2004 establishments in England]]
[[Category:British National Party breakaway groups]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 2004]]
[[Category:Far-right political parties in England]]
[[Category:2012 disestablishments in England]]
[[Category:Political parties disestablished in 2012]]
[[Category:Defunct political parties in England]]