A prominent figure from the British far-right made headlines by participating in a conference for extreme nationalist groups held in Russia, an event orchestrated by a powerful oligarch associated with Vladimir Putin. This revelation has reignited worries among Members of Parliament regarding the Kremlin’s connections to extremist factions and its ongoing efforts to undermine democratic processes and exacerbate social divisions within the UK.
The summit took place in St. Petersburg, where Mark Collett, a well-known far-right activist and the founder of Patriotic Alternative, delivered a speech. His group has previously sought to take advantage of the unrest surrounding asylum hotels in Britain over the summer months.
The inaugural meeting of the Forum of the International Anti-Globalist League attracted an array of participants from across Europe, including notable far-right figures from France and other nations. The spotlight at this gathering was on Alexander Dugin, a staunch ultranationalist in Russia, often referred to as "Putin's brain," whose ideologies have significantly influenced the rationale behind Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Calvin Bailey, a Labour MP who serves on the Commons defense committee and has been outspoken about Russia's hybrid warfare tactics in Western Europe, expressed that the connection between Patriotic Alternative and Russian interests exemplifies the Kremlin's strategy of employing political subversion against the UK and other nations. He articulated, "Russia views itself as being at war with us. They are intent on causing systematic disruption here and are actively searching for means to weaken our national fabric."
He further elaborated that this aligns with the goals of the far-right, stating that the extremists are not merely used as tools but serve as vehicles to attack the very principles that uphold democracy in the UK.
In recent years, there has been a marked increase in Russian influence operations within Britain, alongside espionage activities that have ranged from acts of arson to the establishment of spy networks. Moreover, concerns have arisen regarding more insidious efforts to fuel societal discord. Earlier this year, reports highlighted how a network of Telegram
