A coalition of anti-racist and anti-fascist groups is mobilising against a new wave of far-right provocateurs hiding behind the guise of “citizen journalism.”
They cloak themselves in various labels – patriots, activists, journalists – but the reality is stark. They are racists, extremists, and grifters. Or, as one right-wing commentator aptly put it, “paytriots.”
Their primary motivation is almost always financial. Cheap technology has democratised live streaming to a dangerous degree. Mobile recording devices, body-worn cameras, and GoPro-style equipment – many costing under £20 – mean that any loud-mouthed, bigoted oik can now broadcast political events live and monetise the resulting content.
For the unemployable and the violently inclined, it is a dream realised: a few hours a week spent harassing others, and the money rolls in.
Of course, not everyone who appears up filming at a demonstration will be one of them; we are talking about a specific group of people, who share extremist politics, and turn up at political events to provoke trouble, or accompanying others intent on provocation, filming what happens and using this politically to attack or doxx their opponents and at the same time monetise it through online streaming.
Some of the most prominent are:
- Lee Scheres, from Leeds who runs the Unmasked Antifa Exposed X feed, where he routinely identifies and doxxes opponents of the far right, is one of the most vile and reckless of the far-right’ ‘auditors’. The problem is he has no absolutely regard for accuracy and frequently identifies completely the wrong people. Not that he cares. The money still rolls in. 65,000 followers on X. Five years ago, a former partner publicly accused him of physical abuse (which he denies).
- Chris Messsenger from Liverpool, who has been involved in several violent incidents and was recently, finally, warned by the police about his behaviour. 38,000 followers on YouTube.
- Harry Jackson, a Patriotic Alternative member who trails round behind neo-nazi Ryan Ferguson streaming his provocative antic. Ferguson has claimed they earn a lot of money this way. His Jackson Media YouTube channel has 10,000 subscribers.
- Thomas Moffitt, aka Young Bob, a precocious teenager who deliberately provokes trouble which he monetises to great effect. Was a member of UKIP but unlcear if he still is. 34,700 subscribers on YouTube.
- Anthony Barnes aka AY Audits, specialises in anti-migrant protests, calls himself the ‘hotel inspector’. 135,000 subscribers on YouTube
These are, of course, just a few of many who are involved in similar activities.
These individuals serve as the far right’s shock troops. They use their footage not merely to report but to identify, dox, and intimidate anyone they deem an enemy.
Bullies with cameras
Their target list is exhaustive: believers in democracy, inclusiveness, decency, and tolerance; anyone left of the political fringe; Muslims, Jews, and people of dual heritage; the entire LGBTQ+ community. The question is, who have they not targeted?
In Greater Manchester, the reality of this behaviour has become a crisis. These self-styled “auditors” are the worst kind of bullies.
They have identified and targeted activists from Stand Up To Racism and the Stop the War coalition. In one recent incident, they followed and filmed a couple visiting a coffee shop, harassing them throughout their stay.
Elsewhere, auditors are a constant presence at so-called “migrant hotel” protests, where some have been recorded shouting violent threats such as “burn the fuckers out” at the residents inside.
Lack of response
Perhaps most alarming is the response – or lack of it – from local authorities. Despite these threats being loud, public, and impossible to miss, local police have repeatedly refused to take action.
This pattern has given auditors an almost free hand.
Very few arrests have been made, even in the face of extreme harassment and violence at events featuring high-profile figures such as Jeremy Corbyn, Zarah Sultana, and Hannah Spencer.
Far-right playbook
When challenged, these individuals offer a pathetic defence: it is a matter of free speech. They claim a right to behave as they wish, wherever they wish.
For the auditors, conflict is currency. Pushing, shoving, and shouting are not by-products of their activism; they are the goal. Conflict sells. It can go viral within far-right online echo chambers within minutes.
With intuitive editing tools, footage can be skewed to strip context and spread propaganda. And in a world where lies are a core component of far-right politics, context is everything.
Co-ordinated response
In response to this growing menace, a coalition of anti-racist, anti-fascist, and campaigning groups, including solicitors, has begun developing a unified response. Searchlight was party to the first of these meetings, where we listened with great interest to the experiences of local people on the front lines.
One theme became immediately clear: the vast majority of these auditors are men, and they disproportionately target women, young activists, and trans people. This pattern has been replicated across Liverpool and London.
It is a bitter irony that these representatives of the far right claim to be protecting “our women and children,” given the well-documented prevalence of domestic violence among men drawn to far-right extremism. For many, “auditing” appears to be an extension of their right to abuse.
These are deeply unpleasant people. Like all extreme-right and fascist personalities, they believe in force, violence, and a self-appointed elitism.
Do not engage
So, what is to be done? It is time for a counter-response, and the more unified, the better.
While the coalition represents a wide range of political opinion, from centrist to radical left, one principle has emerged with absolute clarity: under no circumstances must these so-called auditors be spoken to, debated, or engaged with.
Starve them of material. Anti-racists have learned through bitter experience that debate is not a sensible response. Fascists and racists, in all but the tiniest number of cases, do not change their minds.
Practical steps
Beyond the principle of non-engagement, the coalition is exploring practical strategies. The goal is to make auditors’ content unviable and their presence unwelcome.
- Drown Them Out: The use of loud whistles, claxons, and horns can disrupt live streams. A live broadcast of a deafening racket is not a marketable product.
- Better Stewarding: Improved organisation at public meetings, rallies, and marches is essential. This includes forming dedicated stewarding groups to physically block auditors from accessing speakers’ platforms or using signs, placards, and umbrellas to block their cameras.
- Legal Challenges: Many auditors are making thousands of pounds a month. This raises questions about tax implications for “paytriots” who fail to declare their earnings to HMRC.
While legal remedies may offer a long-term solution, relying on them is a question of hope rather than expectation. In the final analysis, an effective, disciplined, and immediate response on the ground is essential.
Accountability
The community must also put pressure on local political representatives, particularly Labour mayors like Andy Burnham, to push for action against auditors. Police leadership must be made to understand the evidence before them: these are not harmless citizen journalists, but violent fascist thugs with a keen desire for conflict.
But, while we demand action from the police and their political masters, we must be realistic. It is far more likely that we ourselves will have to deal with this fascist menace.
Defeating the bullies
The history of anti-fascism is one of determination, solidarity, and physical bravery. We know we are in the fascist crosshairs. We know that violence and bullying are central to all fascist movements. But bullies can and will be defeated.
In the North West, fascists are furious at our increasing ability to oppose them, whether it be at a Britain First march in Manchester, attacks on public meetings, or the machinations of fake KKK-style UKIP “Christians” in Liverpool. At the heart of this resistance is intelligence-led action, the core mission of Searchlight.
We are proud to work with local groups on the ground to help identify local fascist activists and to undermine everything they do.
But step one is to get the message out: “Don’t Feed the Animals”.
