Boris Johnson orders probe into attempts by far-left activists to ‘hijack’ movements

Boris Johnson has ordered a probe into attempts by far-left activists to ‘hijack’ movements such as Black Lives Matter and Extinction Rebellion. 

Bosses behind the investigation say they will look at the impact of ‘progressive extremism’ on cause groups – something described as a current ‘blind spot’ by those leading the probe.

As well as the far-left, the investigation will also cover far-right extremism.

It is being launched following concern among ministers about ‘unacceptable behaviour’ linked to political causes, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Former Labour MP John Woodcock, who now sits in the House of Lords as Lord Walney, will lead the investigation.

Lord Walney, who is now an unaffiliated peer, told the Telegraph that Britain must heed the warning signs in America, where far-right protesters stormed the US Capitol building last month.

But he named the hard-left Socialist Workers Party as one of the groups as one of those to have ‘success’ at infiltrating causes. 

He told the paper: ‘We must be vigilant against a similar blind spot in Britain to the prospect of progressive extremism – that is, unacceptable disruption or even violence carried out in the name of progressive causes to which the political establishment and large majority of the population have great sympathy, like climate change and racial injustice.’ 

Lord Walney told the Telegraph there is a significantly bigger problem with far-right extremism compared to the far-left.

However he said Britons were much better at ‘seeing through’ attempts by the far-right to gain public support.

Lord Walney also told the Telegraph that politicians were more likely to show support for groups such as Unite Against Fascism – who are alleged to have links with the Socialist Workers Party.

He added: ‘I want to look at the way anti-democracy, anti-capitalist far-Left fringe groups in Britain like the Socialist Workers Party tend to have much more success hijacking important causes … than the far-Right, and the harm that may do.’

It comes amid concern that hard-left groups such as the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) infiltrated the Black Livers Matter movement during protests last summer.

Gary McFarlane, a prominent member of the (SWP), was pictured at a Hyde Park protest as Star Wars actor John Boyega gave a speech to crowds. 

Mr McFarlane has been described as a ‘hard-left firebrand’ who called an injured policewoman ‘stupid’ and condoned shooting racist police officers. 

The activist, who has appeared on Russia Today (now RT), has previously been described as part of the Black Lives Matter group. 

BLM have always denied links to the SWP. In a statement last year, they said: ‘None of the leadership of BLM are, or have ever been members of the SWP.

‘Any groups which are part of SWP and claim to be part of BLM have nothing to do with us.’

Meanwhile organisations who backed the Black Lives Matter movement have moved to distance themselves from the BLM UK organisation, who have previously criticised Israel and have called on the British government to ‘defund the police’. 

Extinction Rebellion, meanwhile, were last year described as a ‘key threat’ in counter-terrorism assessment carried out by City of London police.

The force grouped environmental protest movement alongside ‘far-right organisations’ in an assessment of its counter-terrorism operations, seen by the Guardian.

The group have carried out a spate of non-violent – but often highly disruptive – protests over the last three years.

More than 300 people were arrested during a single day of climate change protests in central London last September, in which bridges were blocked and protesters glued themselves to parts of buildings.

The group also ‘occupied’ large areas of central London in 2019, including Oxford Circus, where a pink boat was used to block off the busy road.

MailOnline has attempted to contacted the SWP, UAF, BLM UK and Extinction Rebellion for comment.

In a statement, Extinction Rebellion said: ‘The Home Secretary has tried labelling us as violent extremists before and it didn’t fool anyone.

‘So as a nonviolent movement that is open to anyone, we’d like to make sure John Woodcock has our number. 

‘Will he be calling up one of the thousands of grandparents, parents and kids who are exercising their democratic right to protest?

‘It feels slightly absurd that yet more public money is being put into useless party political projects rather than on the real crises we are facing.’

A spokesperson for the Socialist Workers Party said: ‘John Woodcock, a peer in the House of Lords, is to head up a review that lumps together left wing groups such as the SWP with the far right.  

‘Far right groups use violent street movements to push their racist agenda against Muslims, migrants and refugees. They peddle antisemitism. 

‘The SWP is involved in anti-racist and anti-fascist campaigns, Black Lives Matter, support for Palestine and the movement demanding action on climate change. There is no comparison with the far right.   

‘The SWP has not “hijacked” these campaigns. Our members across Britain are involved in local and national initiatives like these that fight for social justice. We do this alongside other socialists, trade unionists, MPs and campaigners.

With a world in crisis – from pandemic to climate change to the rise of the far right – these campaigns on the ground are crucial to defeating the right and fighting for a better world. We are proud to be part of them.

‘And we also fight for a socialist world instead of the chaos and destruction of capitalism.’ 

The findings of the investigation will be sent to the Prime Minister and Home Secretary Priti Patel in May.