Spearhead (magazine)
Encyclopedia
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
. The magazine has not continued under new editorship, although a new article appeared on the magazine's website in October 2010.
From 1967 to 1980, it served as the official mouthpiece of the National Front, mirroring its editor's involvement in this organisation. Opponents of its editor's political views regard it as an outlet for racist
and neo-Nazi
material, although Tyndall himself denied these accusations.
While Tyndall was leader of the British National Party
, he used the magazine as a platform for promoting the policies of the BNP. When he lost the leadership election to Nick Griffin
he started to use it to attack the current BNP leadership. In the light of this, along with the very much more 'hardline' opinions carried by the publication, which were not considered to be in line with current BNP thinking, the BNP consequently decided to prohibit the sale of Spearhead at BNP meetings. Tyndall was also expelled for related reasons, although he was later readmitted following an out-of-court settlement with the party. He was subsequently expelled again before his death.
A former editor of the magazine (of which Spearhead had several, in addition to Tyndall himself), until Tyndall's split-off in 1980, was Richard Verrall
, a noted Holocaust denier
, and then National Front ideologue.
The magazine had a limited circulation and was not easily obtainable in most British newsagents, and most public libraries refused to accept copies because of what was generally felt to be the racist tone of the publication. It was largely distributed by mail order
subscription, and it had and still has a considerable Internet presence, with many of its articles being published on the magazine's website. This is still online, with a new article appearing on the site in October 2006. The site also contains a catalogue of books considered to be relevant to the magazine's themes and ideas; although many of these books contain far-right content, often taking the form of anti-Semitic
conspiracy theories
, there are some more surprising entries, such as the reformed Communist and social democrat George Orwell
's Nineteen Eighty-Four
and left-wing conspiracist Greg Palast
's The Best Democracy Money Can Buy
. There are also many books promoting Social Credit
, two books by Green alien-invasion believer David Icke
and three by Richard Body.
In July 2010, Spearhead made a return as a bi-monthly magazine of the National Front although Valerie Tyndall
, Tyndall's wife, made a complaint on the Spearhead archive website that the return of Spearhead has been made in the interests of a former foe of Tyndall, Erik Ericksson, and that it was not in the interest of Tyndall to have Spearhead in continuation after his death. Valerie also claimed that "Erik Ericksson" was the nom de plume of Eddy Morrison
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
far right-wing magazine edited by 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...
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
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The magazine has not continued under new editorship, although a new article appeared on the magazine's website in October 2010.
From 1967 to 1980, it served as the official mouthpiece of the National Front, mirroring its editor's involvement in this organisation. Opponents of its editor's political views regard it as an outlet for racist
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
and neo-Nazi
Neo-Nazism
Neo-Nazism consists of post-World War II social or political movements seeking to revive Nazism or some variant thereof.The term neo-Nazism can also refer to the ideology of these movements....
material, although Tyndall himself denied these accusations.
While Tyndall was leader of the 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...
, he used the magazine as a platform for promoting the policies of the BNP. When he lost the leadership election to Nick Griffin
Nick Griffin
Nicholas John "Nick" Griffin is a British politician, chairman of the British National Party and Member of the European Parliament for North West England....
he started to use it to attack the current BNP leadership. In the light of this, along with the very much more 'hardline' opinions carried by the publication, which were not considered to be in line with current BNP thinking, the BNP consequently decided to prohibit the sale of Spearhead at BNP meetings. Tyndall was also expelled for related reasons, although he was later readmitted following an out-of-court settlement with the party. He was subsequently expelled again before his death.
A former editor of the magazine (of which Spearhead had several, in addition to Tyndall himself), until Tyndall's split-off in 1980, was Richard Verrall
Richard Verrall
Richard Verrall is a former Deputy Chairman of the British National Front , he edited the magazine Spearhead from 1976 to 1980.-National Front career:...
, a noted Holocaust denier
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...
, and then National Front ideologue.
The magazine had a limited circulation and was not easily obtainable in most British newsagents, and most public libraries refused to accept copies because of what was generally felt to be the racist tone of the publication. It was largely distributed by mail order
Mail order
Mail order is a term which describes the buying of goods or services by mail delivery. The buyer places an order for the desired products with the merchant through some remote method such as through a telephone call or web site. Then, the products are delivered to the customer...
subscription, and it had and still has a considerable Internet presence, with many of its articles being published on the magazine's website. This is still online, with a new article appearing on the site in October 2006. The site also contains a catalogue of books considered to be relevant to the magazine's themes and ideas; although many of these books contain far-right content, often taking the form of anti-Semitic
Anti-Semitism
Antisemitism is suspicion of, hatred toward, or discrimination against Jews for reasons connected to their Jewish heritage. According to a 2005 U.S...
conspiracy theories
Conspiracy theory
A conspiracy theory explains an event as being the result of an alleged plot by a covert group or organization or, more broadly, the idea that important political, social or economic events are the products of secret plots that are largely unknown to the general public.-Usage:The term "conspiracy...
, there are some more surprising entries, such as the reformed Communist and social democrat George Orwell
George Orwell
Eric Arthur Blair , better known by his pen name George Orwell, was an English author and journalist...
's Nineteen Eighty-Four
Nineteen Eighty-Four
Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell is a dystopian novel about Oceania, a society ruled by the oligarchical dictatorship of the Party...
and left-wing conspiracist Greg Palast
Greg Palast
Gregory Allyn Palast is a New York Times-bestselling author and a freelance journalist for the British Broadcasting Corporation as well as the British newspaper The Observer. His work frequently focuses on corporate malfeasance but has also been known to work with labor unions and consumer...
's The Best Democracy Money Can Buy
The Best Democracy Money Can Buy
The Best Democracy Money Can Buy is a 2002 book written by investigative journalist Greg Palast. It is about corporate corruption, global capitalism, environmental destruction, third world exploitation, freedom of speech and political corruption, and the United States presidential election of 2000...
. There are also many books promoting Social Credit
Social Credit
Social Credit is an economic philosophy developed by C. H. Douglas , a British engineer, who wrote a book by that name in 1924. Social Credit is described by Douglas as "the policy of a philosophy"; he called his philosophy "practical Christianity"...
, two books by Green alien-invasion believer David Icke
David Icke
David Vaughan Icke is an English writer and public speaker, best known for his views on what he calls "who and what is really controlling the world." Describing himself as the most controversial speaker in the world, he has written 18 books explaining his position, and has attracted a substantial...
and three by Richard Body.
In July 2010, Spearhead made a return as a bi-monthly magazine of the National Front although Valerie 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...
, Tyndall's wife, made a complaint on the Spearhead archive website that the return of Spearhead has been made in the interests of a former foe of Tyndall, Erik Ericksson, and that it was not in the interest of Tyndall to have Spearhead in continuation after his death. Valerie also claimed that "Erik Ericksson" was the nom de plume of Eddy Morrison
Eddy Morrison
Eddy Morrison is a far-right wing political figure in Britain, who has been involved in a number of movements throughout his career. He is of Irish, Scottish, English and Wallonian descent and has two adult daughters...
.