Thread by @lizziedearden

The far right “is not a working-class movement anymore”, a former neo-Nazi has said as groups capitalise on public concern over terrorism, grooming gangs and Brexit

A conscious shift in tactics by new image-conscious breed of extremists is paying off

ind.pn/2s1eiF2

While the BNP and EDL have melted away, the groups gaining traction are appealing to the public outside their traditional recruitment pool

Ethno-nationalists Generation Identity specifically target students and ask for rally attendees to be 'well-groomed'

Even Tommy Robinson has started wearing suits at publicity stunts and asked supporters not to drink at protests

As one former neo-Nazi put it, they have “wised up to the fact they need to be more respectable” to get support from the mainstream

The key change in the far-right is that while neo-nazis, racists and antisemitic groups still exist, the most successful groups are dominantly targeting Muslims

'Counter-jihaders' paint their hatred as logic by abusing legitimate concerns over grooming gangs and terrorism

Research suggests that belief in Islamophobic myths, such as “no-go zones” is becoming widespread in the UK and such views act as a gateway to wider extremism

MI5 and police are taking terror threat from such groups more seriously, and far-right Prevent referrals are rising

The picture is bleak, but growing numbers of ex-extremists are joining forces to combat ideology, spread awareness and deradicalise people via Prevent and charities

“As long as society accepts that people can change, then more people will come forward”

independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-n…