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I spent a significant amount of time researching the far right. I then spent a significant amount of time researching Brexit. The hostility and outright abuse I have received from (some) "FBPE" types is as strong as what I received from people in the EDL and/or BNP. No question.
It's purely anecdotal but based on what I observe on social media it's worth pointing out that whereas the most aggressive right-wingers were typically fringe figures those on FBPE/anti-Brexit side are often in relatively 'powerful' positions; teachers, civil servants, academics
I'm also interested in the social norms at work & how they play into this. For example, I see a lot more people in the mainstream willing to call out abuse by far right activists but much less willing to call out 'FBPE types'. This is what Nigel Biggar calls the "telling silence"
What I would call the "silence among moderates" is perhaps the biggest challenge we face. As moderates vacate extremists flourish. There are also people on here who, quite clearly, have mental health issues. I wonder if (how?) we should be more proactive at dealing with this.
