The definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing and hoping for different results. Somebody needs to tell Nick Tenconi this.
His second appearance in Liverpool today was a complete rout. At first, his few dozen supporters were outnumbered by auditors desperate for content, and anti-fascists were annoyed to discover that the police were letting these well0known far-right provocateurs mix with their opposition.
Such is life at these events. One thing is clear, Ukip and its recent, convenient conversion to a militant, non-bliblical form of Christianity is not helping.
Today, the rump of kippers were surrounded by real Christians including leaders from the Anglican, Methodist and Roman Catholic churches.
A large group of Christians whose signs quoted loving, inclusive passages from scripture, sang hymns and songs across the road from a gaggle of ill-mannered, shabby and thuggish individuals who soon found out that their bullying won’t be tolerated.
Stand Up To racism supporters arrived early to ensure that the main Metropolitan Cathedral area directly in front of the precinct was not populated by the forces of hatred.
They were joined, to their left, by a large group of independent anti-fascists.
Across the road, large groups of Liverpudlians were equally clear in their message that Ku Klux Klan style “Christianity” has no place in multicultural Merseyside.
To shouts of “Refugees are welcome here,” “You only got two votes” (see here for our report on this utter humiliation) and “Ukip Go Home” the crowd swelled to nearly 400 with a few dozen fascists looking particularly glum.
Such were the paltry numbers that their ‘auditors’ had to interview each other for content. It was totally embarrassing.
But it’s fair also to say that today’s policing was very heavy-handed. Enforcing a ban on face masks, a couple of people were arrested. And later a Section 14 dispersal order was imposed on the anti-fascist gathering.
Numerous police vans were in the area, not to mention mounted police hidden 200 yards up the road and a helicopter to monitor events from above. Many police complained that their rest days had been cancelled.
The cost of these Ukip events are staggering. Maybe they, and others, should have to take out insurance before they assemble to spread their bile…?
At 1215 the police, for reasons nobody can fathom, suddenly allowed the small number of fascists out of their holding pen. They processed for around ten metres before being completely surrounded and driven back by anti fascists.
It was a total rout lasting seconds.
Boxed in
The result was another arrest of a fascist caught swinging fists, and missing. Now the enemy was completely boxed in with around a dozen auditors left behind, forced to stand around looking rather lost.
Young Bob, aka Thomas Moffitt, complained that anti-fascists and the FLA had run them off. He’s a little confused here; FLA is a defunct far-right hooligan outfit.
But he was standing with Chris Messenger (aka English Ned), Hugh Anthony, Roger Quilliam and self-styled ‘close protection’ bodyguard to the far-right Fred Willis (aka Fred CPO).
So desperate were they to get “content” that they stuck their cameras in the faces of random protesters only to be told to clear off. They were most unhappy.
After all, they’re a one trick pony with nothing to offer beyond big mouths and considerably smaller brains. Horrible, unimpressive people.
This was, in fact, a gathering point for grifting fascist auditors: Chris Mathews from Stoke, English Ned, Kelsea Leigh Cunliffe and partner, Harry Jackson, Brian Stovell, Hugh Anthony and Young Bob, Adrian Nowhere and his younger friend, and a cast of other, snarling, losers.
“There’s so many opposition,” said one to another. Yes indeed. There are many, many more of us than you.
Nick Tenconi himself put in only a fleeting appearance, turning up well after his troops had assembled.
He then spent an uncomfortable time at the head of a UKIP kettle waving the UKIP ‘Order of Service’ at his camera, pretending all was going swimmingly.
In the end, UKIP had to get away.
It wasn’t easy, and it was certainly embarrassing: heckled and jeered by anti-fascists as they slunk away.
It was even more embarrassing for them than the humiliating defeat they suffered in the city last August.
But the most entertaining moment came during the retreat: Thomas Moffitt (Young Bob) who had been trying to wind up trouble all afternoon, finally got some, and he didn’t like it.
Nor did his so-called bodyguard Fred Willis (aka Fred COP {Close Protection Operative}) who was floored.
The police tried to take Moffitt over to the UKIP crowd but even they were having none of it, and told police the young upstart was just causing trouble and should be arrested.
We then witnessed the delightful, pathetic spectacle of Young Bob pleading with a police officer: “I am under the age of 18. You have a duty of care to protect me.”
Followed up with a plaintive “I’m going to sue the lot of you…”
Where next?
The question for Tenconi and Co is really simple. Where next?
Ok, he can hold events with roughly the same, or dwindling, band of nobodies until the Second Coming, but the truth is he’s a failure.
Genuine Christians will speak out and they were out today making it quite clear that their message is love, inclusion and diversity.
“There is no East or West in Christ”, read one lady’s sign.
A lady from Liverpool University security department was at today’s counter protest to monitor events.
“We have students from all over the world here. They are needed, they are welcome and they make this a great city to live in “
We say Amen to that!!
