Jim Dowson Britain First’s ‘religious zealot’

The Times and the Scottish Daily Record both profile the former BNP member and founder of Britain First, Jim Dowson, the ‘religious zealot’ and ‘race hate fanatic’ who is heading Britain First’s ‘Christian crusade’ campaign against mosques.

Dowson, who has a criminal record for violence including convictions for weapon possession, was one of six candidates standing for Britain First (BF) in the European Parliament elections in Scotland. 

According to the Times, five police forces have launched investigations into the party over allegations of public disorder and inciting racial hatred. This follows their most recent ‘invasion’ of East London Mosque last week with the reporting that the mosque is expected to request an antisocial behaviour order against the group.

The Times describes the far right group as ‘explicitly Christian’ saying it recruits angry young men from the English Defence League, teaches its followers boxing and martial arts, bans drinking and swearing and introduces them to the Bible.

It further notes the group’s green-jacketed uniform. The chosen attire is not surprising considering the Daily Record revelation that Dowson has links to “loyalist paramilitary heavies”. This may also explain how BF has been able to distribute Army issued Bibles alongside their leaflets about so-called ‘Muslim grooming gangs’ in their campaigns at ‘mega-mosques’.

The Daily Record further observes BF’s use of pictures of murder victim Kriss Donald alongside Stephen Lawrence to raise their profile. A tactic not dissimilar to the phrase ‘Remember Lee Rigby’ used on ballot sheets for the European elections.

Despite such anti-Muslim rhetoric and videos of mosque ‘invasions’ being posted on Facebook days before the European elections took place, BF won only 20,272 votes (0.13%), far less than the BNP’s 179,694 (1.14%).