Nazi sympathiser Geoffrey Farquharson has been unmasked as a key player in efforts to link the Scottish far right with banned Ulster terror groups. The extremist stood with other fanatics beside banners of the UDA and UFF on Princes Street in Edinburgh to drum up support for hate mobs.
Edinburgh rally and Nazi salutes
One sidekick made blatant “sieg heil” salutes as horrified passers-by looked on. Police were alerted to the sidekick’s obvious lawbreaking earlier this month but no action has been taken. The mob on Princes Street stood with flags and banners referring to fascist group Patriotic Alternative, along with two other banned far-right terror organisations – Combat 18 and Blood and Honour.
The event highlighted the latest cynical efforts to link Ulster terrorism from The Troubles with anti-immigration tensions in Scotland. The Daily Record can reveal that Farquharson is notorious in the north of Scotland, where he has networked with the most extreme activists and sought to poison community groups whose local campaigns are aimed at immigrants.
Farquharson’s criminal history
The extremist hit UK headlines in 2016 after he sent a threatening and chilling voice message to senior Labour MP Ben Bradshaw the day before the killing of parliamentary colleague Jo Cox. He received a suspended jail sentence for that crime. In May this year Farquharson shouted a notorious Nazi slogan at an Aberdeen anti-immigration protest, repeatedly yelling 1488 – a far right reference to Adolf Hitler and the Nazis – through a megaphone. He was fined in court after admitting the outrage.
The 14 part of the slogan stands for the “14 Words” white supremacists use as their key aims. The phrase is: “We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children.” The 88 stands for “Heil Hitler”, as H is the eighth letter of the alphabet.
Anti-fascist campaigners react
One anti-fascist campaigner in the Highlands told the Record: “Geoffrey Farquharson is notorious for turning up and going straight to the Nazi stuff. It is very evident that the efforts of the far-right to destabilise Scottish communities are paying off. People like Farquharson smell an opportunity and they are now hammering the false message that immigrants are the sole reason for all of Scotland’s social problems.”
The source added: “Old faces from the Scottish Defence League have dusted down their flags and crawled out of their lairs, like vampires smelling blood. The problem Scotland now faces is that many people who have genuine concerns about housing or the siting of asylum hotels are believing the lies they are being told about an immigrant crime wave. It is depressing and very worrying to witness what is happening.”
Mohammed Asif, spokesman for the anti-fascist Stand Up to Racism group, said he was shocked that no arrests were made at the Edinburgh event. He said: “Police have said they are investigating this but that is absurd. Any investigation should have started immediately, as soon as these vile flags were presented. It is hard to believe that people went on to make Nazi salutes and were then allowed to walk away. This was a gathering of people who were presenting something that many passers-by would find terrifying.”
Asif said recent police attitudes to the Palestine Action group had shown forces were primed to act fast and decisively in the face of crimes relating to support of terror organisations. He added: “It is not clear why this outrageous exhibition was allowed to continue. I would like to hear an explanation for the lack of action on this.”
Further incidents and court outcomes
At the Princes Street event, a rabble played Loyalist flute music, which baffled many of those who witnessed the scene. One banner combined the crests of the UDA and UFF with the slogan, “Simply the Best” – which appeared to be a crude attempt to associate the extreme messaging with Rangers FC. In a video produced by Patriotic Alternative earlier this year, Farquharson stood with a banner and shouted: “Remigration – no more nonsense.” He also stood outside the office of SNP MSP Karen Adam in Peterhead with a Patriotic Alternative banner, created by Richard McFarlane, urging people to stop paying council tax.
At Aberdeen Sheriff Court in May, Farquharson pled guilty to repeatedly yelling the slur “1488”. The racist told the court he was not a Nazi and that he regretted his actions. At the court hearing, Farquharson admitted he was known as “Father Ted” after he was supposedly ordained by the Universal Life Church – which “ordains” any applicant instantly online. Sheriff Morag McLaughlin fined him £500 for his racist behaviour.
In 2016, Farquharson sent the threatening voice message to senior Labour MP Bradshaw. In the two-minute message, Farquharson, 37, shouted down the phone, swore repeatedly and made threats towards the former culture secretary. The racist and homophobic message, left on the answerphone of Bradshaw’s parliamentary office, left the MP fearful for the safety of his staff. At Exeter Magistrates Court, Farquharson was sentenced to 12 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for two years by District Judge Stephen Nichols. He was also given a 25-day community order, banned indefinitely from contacting Bradshaw or attending his constituency office, and ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We are aware of images and videos posted online in relation to protest activity in Edinburgh on Saturday, August 15. These are being assessed and inquiries are ongoing.”
