MICHAEL WALSH is reflective when making comparisons between political activism during the 1960s and 1970s and today. Caught up in marches, demonstrations, car cavalcades and street battles between what mainstream describes as ‘the far-right’ and the left, the former party leader constantly made newspaper headlines, appearing on TV and radio broadcasts.

In 1979 he was imprisoned on government-inspired ‘race hate’ charges for printing flyers in which he correctly prophesied the changing face of Britain’s demography. He recalls constant arrests and fines, one penalty an eye-watering £500 for street activism that wouldn’t raise a policeman’s eyebrow if committed by left-wing activists.

‘Before the internet there was great personal sacrifice expected from everyone,’ he says. ‘Today, we march to our laptops. Back then we took our cars, caught buses and trains, and even hired vans to move our activists around.’

He adds that there was also a far higher and unequal contribution to activism by members and supporters.

‘In one respect, nothing has changed. ‘In common with all truly dissident political forces, we were dependent upon donations to function as a political party.’

Michael Walsh recalls that before emails, fliers and stickers (now memes) in their hundreds of thousands were pushed through letterboxes and posted on street furniture.

‘Most nights, we returned home with bloodied fingers having had our hands caught in spring-loaded domestic letters boxes.’

The greatest burden was to the soul, he says. ‘All those sacrifices cost money. ‘The travelling from marches to demonstrations, leafleting, the fines, and the income lost when one put activism before work commitments. British nationalists had much in common with the stalwarts of the British Union of Fascists before and after the war.’

He says the Party did have a graphic artist who provided artwork free of charge. Another member managed an outlet of a national bookstore chain who contributed free books. Another was in charge of an office from where we did free mailings. Another gave us free use of his office premises. We had free or discounted access to printers and supplies. Otherwise, the working class fighters not only distributed, marched and fought but PAID for the ‘ammunition’ too.

He says that after skirmishes party activists often pondered on the ‘lost legions’.  Then as now, there were thousands of supporters and well-wishers from those who couldn’t or chose not to be active. 

‘Their absence might be for social or professional reasons, domestic commitments, and health situation or simply by inertia or their being located far from the action.’

This was perfectly understandable. But by avoiding activism they saved a small fortune. How could it be that young men and women, many unemployed or in low wage jobs slogged door-to-door and paid from their own pockets for their travel and the cost of the leaflets too?

He says: ‘In this respect, nothing has changed. For every sacrifice, for every donation, financial gift, supporters and followers will over the Christmas period spend a fortune making the retail and entertainment corporations richer. Meanwhile, the foot soldiers, as always, will turn to find the ammunition boxes near empty.

BE AN ACTIVIST: A financial donation from EU citizens is a simple bank transfer that can be done in minutes from home. Outside the EU, a transaction is hardly more difficult than using PayPal. Contact Michael (Walsh) at euroman_uk@yahoo for details.