‘Neo-Nazi leader’ is accused of inciting Labour MP’s murder
THE alleged leader of Rightwing terror group National Action has been charged with calling on his followers to murder a Labour MP.
Christopher Lythgoe, 31, is accused of inciting others to kill Rosie Cooper, who has represented West Lancashire since 2005.
The warehouse worker was one of six charged yesterday with belonging to National Action, a banned neo-Nazi group. Another, Jack Renshaw, was also charged with the intention of committing acts of terrorism and threats to kill.
The 22-year-old is a former economics and politics student at Manchester Metropolitan University and is allegedly a spokesman for National Action. The men were arrested by counter-terrorism officers and will appear before magistrates today.
National Action, which glorified the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox last year, has been described by the Home Office as ‘virulently racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic’.
Miss Cooper, 67, was born in Liverpool to deaf parents.
She is a former Lord Mayor of the city, where she was a Liberal Democrat councillor for more than 25 years.
She switched to Labour in 2000 and was elected to the Commons 12 years ago. She is a member of the Health Select Committee.
In a statement, she said: ‘I would like to thank everyone involved in this case, especially the counter-terrorism police, for keeping me, my staff and the public safe.’
National Action became the first far- Right group to be banned under terrorism laws in December 2016.
The British neo-Nazi organisation was proscribed under powers outlawing the glorification of terrorism – meaning it is a crime, punishable by a maximum of ten years in prison, to be a member or supporter of the group.
Its supporters applauded the murder of 41-year-old Mrs Cox in June last year.
White supremacist Thomas Mair shouted ‘Britain first’ as he shot and stabbed the mother of two many times outside her constituency surgery in Birstall, West Yorkshire. After the killing, National Action posted vile messages including, ‘ Our thoughts go out to Thomas Mair’ and ‘Don’t let this man’s sacrifice go in vain. Jo Cox would have filled Yorkshire with more sub-humans.’ Another read: ‘Only 649 MPs to go.’ The group has previously hosted a ‘ Miss Hitler’ contest and posted pictures online of supporters performing Nazi salutes at the Buchenwald concentration camp in Germany, where 50,000 prisoners perished during the Second World War. In February, three months after National Action was banned, anti- extremist campaign group Hope Not Hate reported that it was continuing to operate ‘in all but name and poses a serious terrorist threat’.
The charity said National Action was actively recruiting and training from a converted warehouse it had rented in Warrington, Cheshire.
Neighbours said a dozen members train regularly inside, using knives and baseball bats.
Last month three men, including two serving British soldiers, were charged under anti-terror laws with being members of National Action.
The latest charges were announced yesterday by Greater Manchester Police following raids across England and Wales.
Lythgoe, from Warrington, Renshaw, from Skelmersdale, Lancashire, Garron Helm, 24, of Seaforth, Merseyside, Matthew Hankinson, 23, of Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside, Andrew Clarke, 33, of Warrington and
‘Thank police for keeping me safe’ ‘Pose a serious terrorist threat’
Michael Trubini, 35, of Warrington, will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court today.
National Action was formed in 2014 by Ben Raymond, a 28year-old former double-glazing salesman from Bognor Regis, and fellow university graduate Alex Davies, 21.
Davies, from Swansea, says he was inspired to set up the group after reading the diaries of Joseph Goebbels, Hitler’s minister for propaganda, while at Warwick University.
Raymond once gave a speech on the steps of St George’s Hall in Liverpool supporting the gassing of the enemies of National Socialism.