Richard Verrall
Encyclopedia
Richard Verrall is a former Deputy Chairman of the British National Front (NF), he edited the magazine Spearhead
from 1976 to 1980.
at Westfield College
, now part of Queen Mary, University of London
, obtaining a first class honours degree. Initially a member of the Conservative Party
, Verrall left in the early 1970s, along with a number of members on the right who supported Enoch Powell
, to join the NF. Initially a close supporter of John Tyndall
, he was appointed Spearhead editor by Tyndall and used the magazine to discuss the veracity of the Holocaust
. He was also known for his endorsement of eugenics
and biological determinism
, adding to this theory that it was equally natural for members of a genetic group to sacrifice themselves for the benefit of others of the same group, thus attacking the criticism that the notion of sacrifice
makes this theory inapplicable to humanity.
Despite his initial support for Tyndall, Verrall did not follow him into the New National Front and indeed was appointed Deputy Chairman of the NF by Andrew Brons
in 1980. Although appointed to this role Verrall, played little further role in the politics of the NF and was aloof from the struggle between the Official National Front
and the Flag Group
. Instead, he concentrated most of his efforts on writing about the Holocaust.
of Richard Harwood) Did Six Million Really Die?
, a Holocaust denial
pamphlet which was the subject of the criminal action brought against its Canadian-based publisher Ernst Zündel
. Zündel was ultimately acquitted on the basis that the crime with which he was charged was unconstitutional, but not before the trial court had found the pamphlet to be composed of fabrications and distortions: the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the book "misrepresented the work of historians, misquoted witnesses, fabricated evidence, and cited non-existent authorities."
Spearhead (magazine)
Spearhead was a British far right-wing magazine edited by John Tyndall until his death in July 2005. Founded in 1964 by Tyndall, it was used to voice his grievances against the state of the United Kingdom...
from 1976 to 1980.
National Front career
Verrall studied HistoryHistory
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
at Westfield College
Westfield College
Westfield College was a small college situated in Kidderpore Avenue, Hampstead, London, and was a constituent college of the University of London from 1882 to 1989. The college originally admitted only women as students and became coeducational in 1964. In 1989, Westfield College merged with Queen...
, now part of Queen Mary, University of London
Queen Mary, University of London
Queen Mary, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
, obtaining a first class honours degree. Initially a member of the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
, Verrall left in the early 1970s, along with a number of members on the right who supported Enoch Powell
Enoch Powell
John Enoch Powell, MBE was a British politician, classical scholar, poet, writer, and soldier. He served as a Conservative Party MP and Minister of Health . He attained most prominence in 1968, when he made the controversial Rivers of Blood speech in opposition to mass immigration from...
, to join the NF. Initially a close supporter of John Tyndall
John Tyndall (politician)
John Hutchyns Tyndall was a British politician who was prominently associated with several fascist/neo-Nazi sects. However, he is best known for leading the National Front in the 1970s and founding the contemporary British National Party in 1982.The most prominent figure in British nationalism...
, he was appointed Spearhead editor by Tyndall and used the magazine to discuss the veracity of the Holocaust
The Holocaust
The Holocaust , also known as the Shoah , was the genocide of approximately six million European Jews and millions of others during World War II, a programme of systematic state-sponsored murder by Nazi...
. He was also known for his endorsement of eugenics
Eugenics
Eugenics is the "applied science or the bio-social movement which advocates the use of practices aimed at improving the genetic composition of a population", usually referring to human populations. The origins of the concept of eugenics began with certain interpretations of Mendelian inheritance,...
and biological determinism
Biological determinism
Biological determination is the interpretation of humans and human life from a strictly biological point of view, and it is closely related to genetic determinism...
, adding to this theory that it was equally natural for members of a genetic group to sacrifice themselves for the benefit of others of the same group, thus attacking the criticism that the notion of sacrifice
Sacrifice
Sacrifice is the offering of food, objects or the lives of animals or people to God or the gods as an act of propitiation or worship.While sacrifice often implies ritual killing, the term offering can be used for bloodless sacrifices of cereal food or artifacts...
makes this theory inapplicable to humanity.
Despite his initial support for Tyndall, Verrall did not follow him into the New National Front and indeed was appointed Deputy Chairman of the NF by Andrew Brons
Andrew Brons
Andrew Henry William Brons is a British politician. Long active in far right politics in Britain, he was elected as a Member of the European Parliament for Yorkshire and the Humber for the British National Party at the 2009 European Parliament election...
in 1980. Although appointed to this role Verrall, played little further role in the politics of the NF and was aloof from the struggle between the Official National Front
Official National Front
The Official National Front was one of two far-right groups to emerge in the United Kingdom in 1986 following a split within the National Front...
and the Flag Group
Flag Group
The Flag Group was a British political party, formed from one of the two wings of the National Front in the 1980s. Formed in opposition to the Political Soldier wing of the Official National Front it took its name from The Flag, a newspaper the followers of this faction formed after leaving and...
. Instead, he concentrated most of his efforts on writing about the Holocaust.
Written work
He is best known today for his pamphlet (under the assumed namePseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
of Richard Harwood) Did Six Million Really Die?
Did Six Million Really Die?
Did Six Million Really Die? is a Holocaust denial booklet written by British National Front member Richard Verrall, under the name Richard E. Harwood, and published by Ernst Zündel in 1974...
, a Holocaust denial
Holocaust denial
Holocaust denial is the act of denying the genocide of Jews in World War II, usually referred to as the Holocaust. The key claims of Holocaust denial are: the German Nazi government had no official policy or intention of exterminating Jews, Nazi authorities did not use extermination camps and gas...
pamphlet which was the subject of the criminal action brought against its Canadian-based publisher Ernst Zündel
Ernst Zündel
Ernst Christof Friedrich Zündel is a German Holocaust denier and pamphleteer who was jailed several times in Canada for publishing literature which "is likely to incite hatred against an identifiable group" and for being a threat to national security, in the United States for overstaying his visa,...
. Zündel was ultimately acquitted on the basis that the crime with which he was charged was unconstitutional, but not before the trial court had found the pamphlet to be composed of fabrications and distortions: the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the book "misrepresented the work of historians, misquoted witnesses, fabricated evidence, and cited non-existent authorities."