Nick Griffin, the former chairman of the far-right British National Party (BNP), has issued a controversial call for British nationalists to join the Army Reserve. His stated aim is for them to receive formal military training in preparation for what he baselessly predicts will be a 'civil war' within Britain within the next five years.
Griffin's 'Recommendation' to Avoid Arrest
In a web article published online, the 66-year-old extremist explicitly advised against joining hard-right fringe groups. Griffin claimed that association with such 'private bod[ies] for political purposes is liable to lead to lengthy prison sentences'. Instead, he presented the Army Reserve as a legal alternative.
'My recommendation that patriotic young Brits should keep their political opinions to themselves and join the Army Reserve,' Griffin wrote. He argued this allows them to get 'genuine military training perfectly legally, and are even paid while doing so'.
Conscientious Objection and Past Military Extremism
In a further disturbing detail, Griffin advised would-be recruits on how to potentially avoid active service if called upon. He suggested they could develop a 'sincere conscientious objection' after enlistment, citing a hypothetical recent conversion to Christianity as an example.
This call will raise serious concerns within the Ministry of Defence, which has long worked to identify and remove extremists from the ranks. In 2021, it was revealed at least 16 military personnel had been referred to a government scheme designed to steer individuals away from extremism.
A stark precedent was set in 2018 when Lance Corporal Mikko Vehvilainen, a British Army soldier, was jailed for eight years for terror and explosives offences. The Finnish-born soldier had urged comrades to join a race war, and police discovered Nazi memorabilia and weaponry in his accommodation.
The Fading Influence of a Far-Right Figure
Nick Griffin, who was privately educated, led the BNP from 1999 to 2014. He gained a significant following in the mid-2000s but his political influence sharply declined after the party's disastrous performance in the 2010 General Election.
His latest comments, framing Army service as a tactical move for an anticipated domestic conflict, represent a new attempt to mobilise followers. The article's core message promotes the idea of exploiting state institutions to prepare for violent civil unrest, based on divisive and unfounded claims about societal breakdown.
