MP blasts far-right pair for stoking fears
BY STEPHEN STEWART s.stewart@dailyrecord.co.uk A FAR-RIGHT extremist has been branded an “atrocious” opportunist for trying to benefit from Brexit chaos.
The Record revealed that Scot Jim Dowson – former second-in-command of the British National Party – has been slammed for his campaign to get far-right activist Tommy Robinson back on social media.
Now Glasgow MP and Shadow Scotland Minister Paul Sweeney has blasted Dowson and Robinson for preying on people’s fears over Brexit and other issues.
He said: “The insidious spectre of fascism looms large and it is something we all need to be alert to.
“It’s easy for these atrocious people to prey on prejudices and fears at this time of great political uncertainty, including trying to intimidate MPs in their constituency offices.
“We must call out their odious views and give them no space or legitimacy.”
Dowson, of Airdrie, has links to loyalist paramilitaries and is an anti-abortion militant. His Knights Templar International group, which glorifies the medieval Crusades, posted a petition which read: “On Tuesday February 26 at noon, tech giants Facebook took down the Facebook and Instagram pages of British activist Tommy Robinson with one million followers.”
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen YaxleyLennon, is the founder of the English Defence League.
Edinburgh MP Ian Murray said: “We can’t allow these racists and fascists to infect our open and tolerant society.”
In reply, Dowson said: “I have no official position with KTI. I don’t know anything about this petition.”
He then became abusive so the call was ended.