A far right group has been warned that its whites-only Christmas campaign may have been unlawful.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) sent a letter to Patriotic Alternative (PA) about “Operation White Christmas”, which asked for donations for “white families in need”.
PA was warned it could face legal action and asked to confirm in writing it will not repeat the campaign this year.
The EHRC’s letter to PA followed complaints over a promotional message on Telegram in December 2023 asking people to “collect and donate toys, clothing and other items to white families for Christmas 2023”.
EHRC said it will be monitoring PA and added: “You will be aware that, as a service provider, Patriotic Alternative Ltd, must not unlawfully discriminate against a person requiring a service, such as a customer or prospective customer. It is unlawful to offer a service to people on the basis of their colour and such conduct would amount to direct discrimination on the grounds of race, contrary to section 13 of the Equality Act 2010.”
PA is a far right organisation described as “Britain’s fascist threat” by the anti-racism organisation, Hope not hate. In 2021, The Ferret revealed PA’s supporters included neo-Nazis.
Its leader Mark Collett — a former member of the British National Party who was covertly filmed expressing admiration for Adolf Hitler — claimed the EHRC’s letter is an “anti-white attack”.
He said: “This letter is clearly a warning to Patriotic Alternative of potential legal action against the organisation because of our pro-white charity work. Patriotic Alternative is the only pro-white group in the UK that does charity work for the benefit of white communities, and now we are under attack!”
Maggie Chapman, Scottish Greens MSP, accused PA of “stoking conflict and fuelling division” during the cost of living crisis. She added: “This is yet another bigoted, reactionary and exclusionary stunt from a prejudice peddling hate group.
“They don’t care about children growing up in poverty. If they did then they wouldn’t be trying to use them as a cynical prop for their racist movement. During a cost of living crisis we need to be standing together and supporting one another.”
It is unlawful to offer a service to people on the basis of their colour and such conduct would amount to direct discrimination on the grounds of race, contrary to section 13 of the Equality Act 2010.
Equality and Human Rights Commission.
Last year PA split and a breakaway faction led by a Scot called Kenny Smith formed a new far right group called Homeland which is now registered as a political party.
The EHRC was established by the Equality Act 2006 and it has legal powers to hold organisations and the UK government to account.
Photo credit: iStock and Kanizphoto.
