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Hope Not Hate is a UK activist organisation masquerading as a charity, with a mission to expose “far-right extremism.” However, a closer examination reveals a pattern of deceit, political bias and hypocrisy.

It has proved to be a singularly effective “agent provocateur” in matters of “hate” and racism – encouraging what it purports to want to stop. Its behaviour during the recent riots was no exception. So recently, UK independent media The Conservative Woman republished Karen Harradine’s three-part series of its descent into deceit.

Originally published in April/May, Harradine’s series exposes Hope Not Hate’s deceptive agenda and reveals a so-called charity that prioritises political ideology over truth and transparency.

Below is a synopsis of the series.  You can read each article by following the hyperlink embedded within the section title.

Part One

Part I shows how Hope Not Hate (“HNH”) descended into deceit and political bias and has created a toxic environment, where legitimate political debate is stifled and political opponents are smeared and silenced.

HNH’s original purpose in 2001 was to counter the British National Party (“BNP”). By 2017, Hope Not Hate had begun to negatively associate Brexiteers with racism and the “far right.” By 2019, it had expanded its definition of “far right” to include anyone to the right of Jeremy Corbyn.

Tommy Robinson, described in the past by HNH as a “pint-sized Fuhrer” despite his pro-Israel sympathies and repudiation of anti-Semitism, is predictably a favourite target.

It has a history of fabricating evidence and smearing political opponents. After the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox in 2016, the charity exaggerated the number of social media posts celebrating her death, falsely claiming 50,000 tweeters were guilty of “hate crime.” The Economist debunked both claims, yet no apology was issued.

The organisation has a grudge against political parties that support Brexit, including UKIP, the Brexit Party, and Reform UK. By focusing on fringe members and smearing them as “racist,” “fascist,” or “extremist,” the charity manages to tar the justified concerns of millions of supporters with the same brush. This approach is risible and treacherous, as it silences legitimate political debate and creates a climate of fear.

Despite its claims to combat “far-right extremism,” HNH has become oblivious to the escalating menace of Islamist extremism and its threat to democracy. The charity’s focus on imaginary “far-right” threats allows it to ignore or downplay the real dangers posed by Islamist terrorism and the love-in between the Left and Islamism.

With terms such as “racist,” “fascist” and “far right” now so overused as to lose their punch, HNH has come up with a brand-new all-embracing smear term – the “radical right.” Anyone who values mainstream views – such as patriotism, border control, democracy, freedom of speech, Christian values, family and community – is now part of a “radical right,” according to HNH. So too is anyone who protests against the impoverishing and repressive covid and climate change scams imposed on us by our politicians at the behest of supranational organisations.

It has secured government funding and enjoys close ties with the Labour Party and other left-wing organisations. The charity’s funding sources include parochial money, charitable trusts, trade unions and individual donations.

Part Two

HNH’s activities appear to be focused on promoting a specific political agenda, rather than combating extremism. Its reliance on left-wing organisations and government funding, combined with a lack of transparency and an apparent agenda-driven approach, suggests that HNH is more interested in promoting a specific political narrative than genuinely combating extremism.

For example, the charity advises “migrants and refugees” on the “far-right threat” and “activities around migrant hotels.”

And, HNH’s teaching materials on preventing radicalisation are featured on the Department for Education’s Educate Against Hate site, with a focus on combating “far-right” groups, but not Islamist radicalisation.

Another example of the political agenda behind HNH is the charity has been involved with the All-Party Parliamentary Group (“APPG”) on British Muslims, which has allowed Islamists from Muslim Engagement and Development (Mend) to advise on defining the concept of “Islamophobia.”

Superficial, unsubstantiated labels of Islamophobia and “far right” are slapped onto every organisation and person that contravenes HNH’s “kangaroo court” style judgments.

HNH has received significant funding from organisations such as:

• Refugee Action and Global Dialogue, partly funded by Comic Relief, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Open Society Foundations.
• The Barrow Cadbury Trust, which advocates for “diversity, equity, and inclusion” and promotes “safe and accessible routes” for migration.
• The Paul Hamlyn Foundation, which supports organisations working towards “a world in which everyone is free to move” and has donated substantial sums to HNH.

It has also received grants from government agencies, including:

• The Department for Communities and Local Government (£66,000 in 2012).
• The Home Office Counter Extremism Unit (£75,401 in 2019 and £12,500 in 2020).

Despite receiving significant funding, HNH’s financial reports and income statements are not publicly available. The charity’s directors have chosen not to publish this information, making it difficult to track how funds are being used.

Part Three

Part Three identifies HNH’s aggressive shaping of the political discourse; how the false equations of anti-Semitism with Islamophobia and a mythical ‘far-right threat’ with Islamist terrorism threatens the fabric of our society and democracy.  Inconsistency, hypocrisy and illogic are all part and parcel of HNH’s thought policing.

HNH has been criticised for its role in shaping the political narrative, particularly on issues like anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and extremism. By equating anti-Semitism with Islamophobia and downplaying the threat of Islamist terrorism, HNH has been accused of distorting the truth and threatening democratic values.

It has been accused of targeting people and organisations with false accusations of being “far-right” or “extremist,” silencing legitimate voices and creating a culture of fear. This has led to the smearing of people, such as Sir Paul Marshall, and the stifling of debate on important issues. Marshall is the owner of UnHerd and majority shareholder in GB News, who HNH accused of expressing “right-wing views,” publicly pillorying him.

HNH’s connections to Islamist and left-wing organisations, including Black Lives Matter and Unison, raise concerns about its true agenda. These ties have led to accusations of promoting anti-Western and anti-Semitic ideologies. By perpetuating anti-Western and anti-Semitic ideologies, HNH has contributed to a toxic environment that undermines social cohesion and democratic values.

It is an irony that far from spreading hope, HNH is making our society ever more vulnerable to hate, intimidation and to an Islamist threat to what’s left of our democracy. Its charitable status is a travesty.

Update on Hope Not Hate’s More Recent Actions

Today, 30 August, The Conservative Woman is publishing an up-to-date review of the charity’s most recent deplorable actions.   You can look for the article on their website HERE.  You can find all articles relating to Hope Not Hate on The Conservative Woman’s website HERE.

Featured image: Hope Not Hate founder and national coordinator Nick Lowles (left) and campaign organiser Sam Terry. Source: The Guardian (2016)