Ray Hill
Encyclopedia
Ray Hill was a leading figure in the British far right
who went on to become a well-known informant.
Born in Lancashire
, he spent three years in the army before making his first steps in the far right
with the Racial Preservation Society
in Leicester
in the late 1960s. From here he met Colin Jordan
and soon became a member of the British Movement
, being appointed Organiser for Leicester in 1968. He emigrated to South Africa the following year, eventually rising to the chairmanship of the South African National Front
, an organisation for ex-pat whites, as well as undertaking a series of speaking engagements for the Afrikaans
Herstigte Nasionale Party
(a radical breakaway from the ruling National Party
).
Hill returned to Leicester in 1980 where he became associated with Anthony Reed Herbert
, initially in the British National Front
, then in the British Democratic Party
. Hill didn't actually join either group; instead he renewed his membership in the British Movement. Around this time Hill also began to work in secret for Searchlight
, helping to foil an alleged gun-running plot by the BDP.
By then deputy leader of the BM, Hill clashed with leader Michael McLaughlin
in 1982 and succeeded in splitting the party. Hill, a former boxer in the army with a reputation as a street fighter, had the support of the BM's large skinhead
following and took them with him when he joined in the newly launched British National Party
in 1982 (also convincing Reed Herbert to bring his BDP on board).
Hill revealed himself to be a 'mole' in 1984 in a documentary for Channel 4
which focused on the links between the British far right and international terrorism, as well as plots to launch bomb attacks in London, said to have been planned by the National Socialist Action Party
. Hill became a regular columnist for Searchlight
from then on, and in 1988 published a book about his experiences, The Other Face of Terror, with journalist Andrew Bell. He has also been elected as an Honorary Vice President of the National Union of Students. He no longer writes for Searchlight.
Far right
Far-right, extreme right, hard right, radical right, and ultra-right are terms used to discuss the qualitative or quantitative position a group or person occupies within right-wing politics. Far-right politics may involve anti-immigration and anti-integration stances towards groups that are...
who went on to become a well-known informant.
Born in Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, he spent three years in the army before making his first steps in the far right
Far right
Far-right, extreme right, hard right, radical right, and ultra-right are terms used to discuss the qualitative or quantitative position a group or person occupies within right-wing politics. Far-right politics may involve anti-immigration and anti-integration stances towards groups that are...
with the Racial Preservation Society
Racial Preservation Society
The Racial Preservation Society was a right-wing pressure group opposed to immigration and in favour of white nationalism, national preservation and protection in the United Kingdom in the 1960s.-Background:...
in Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
in the late 1960s. From here he met Colin Jordan
Colin Jordan
John Colin Campbell Jordan was a leading figure in postwar Neo-Nazism in Britain. In the far-right nationalist circles of the 1960s, Jordan represented the most explicitly 'Nazi' inclination in his open use of the styles and symbols of the Third Reich.Through organisations such as the National...
and soon became a member of the British Movement
British Movement
The British Movement , later called the British National Socialist Movement , is a British neo-Nazi organisation founded by Colin Jordan in 1968. It grew out of the National Socialist Movement , which was founded in 1962...
, being appointed Organiser for Leicester in 1968. He emigrated to South Africa the following year, eventually rising to the chairmanship of the South African National Front
South African National Front
The South African National Front, also known as the National Front of South Africa was a neo-fascist organisation in South Africa formed in 1977...
, an organisation for ex-pat whites, as well as undertaking a series of speaking engagements for the Afrikaans
Afrikaans
Afrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...
Herstigte Nasionale Party
Herstigte Nasionale Party
The Herstigte Nasionale Party van Suid-Afrika was formed as a right-wing splinter group of the South African National Party.-Formation:...
(a radical breakaway from the ruling National Party
National Party (South Africa)
The National Party is a former political party in South Africa. Founded in 1914, it was the governing party of the country from 4 June 1948 until 9 May 1994. Members of the National Party were sometimes known as Nationalists or Nats. Its policies included apartheid, the establishment of a...
).
Hill returned to Leicester in 1980 where he became associated with Anthony Reed Herbert
Anthony Reed Herbert
Anthony Reed-Herbert was a leading member of the British National Front during the 1970s, organising the party in Leicester and serving as its chief legal adviser ....
, initially in the British National Front
British National Front
The National Front is a far right, white-only political party whose major political activities took place during the 1970s and 1980s. Its popularity peaked in the 1979 general election, when it received 191,719 votes ....
, then in the British Democratic Party
British Democratic Party
The British Democratic Party was a short-lived far-right political party in the United Kingdom. A breakaway group from the National Front the BDP was severely damaged after it became involved in a gun-running sting and was absorbed by the British National Party.-Formation and naming...
. Hill didn't actually join either group; instead he renewed his membership in the British Movement. Around this time Hill also began to work in secret for Searchlight
Searchlight (magazine)
Searchlight is a British anti-fascist magazine, founded in 1975 by Gerry Gable, which publishes exposés about racism, antisemitism, and fascism in the UK....
, helping to foil an alleged gun-running plot by the BDP.
By then deputy leader of the BM, Hill clashed with leader Michael McLaughlin
Michael McLaughlin
Michael McLaughlin was, for a time, a leading figure on the British far right.Born in Liverpool, he was the son of an Irish republican and socialist who was a veteran of the International Brigades....
in 1982 and succeeded in splitting the party. Hill, a former boxer in the army with a reputation as a street fighter, had the support of the BM's large skinhead
Nazi-Skinheads
White power skinheads are a white supremacist and antisemitic offshoot of the skinhead subculture. Many of them are affiliated with white nationalist organizations....
following and took them with him when he joined in the newly launched British National Party
British National Party
The British National Party is a British far-right political party formed as a splinter group from the National Front by John Tyndall in 1982...
in 1982 (also convincing Reed Herbert to bring his BDP on board).
Hill revealed himself to be a 'mole' in 1984 in a documentary for Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
which focused on the links between the British far right and international terrorism, as well as plots to launch bomb attacks in London, said to have been planned by the National Socialist Action Party
National Socialist Action Party
The National Socialist Action Party was a minor British neo-Nazi political party in the early 1980s...
. Hill became a regular columnist for Searchlight
Searchlight (magazine)
Searchlight is a British anti-fascist magazine, founded in 1975 by Gerry Gable, which publishes exposés about racism, antisemitism, and fascism in the UK....
from then on, and in 1988 published a book about his experiences, The Other Face of Terror, with journalist Andrew Bell. He has also been elected as an Honorary Vice President of the National Union of Students. He no longer writes for Searchlight.