Searchlight investigates and opposes fascism, antisemitism and racism in Britain and abroad.
Searchlight was founded in 1964 as an occasional publication and press agency and began to publish a monthly magazine in 1975. For half a century the organisation has been uniquely successful in gathering and analysing intelligence on the far right. The results of this work have been used far beyond the pages of the magazine and our other publications.
From its earliest days, Searchlight’s mission has been to service the anti-fascist and anti-racist movement, providing intelligence and analysis about the activities of the extreme right.
Searchlight is the first port of call for activists, journalists, politicians, and academics seeking information on organised racism and far-right activity in Britain. Searchlight also reports on and analyses developments in the extreme right throughout the world via its network of international correspondents.
Extensive archive on the far right
Since 2011 we have worked with historians at Northampton University’s School of Social Sciences, who provide an academic input to Searchlight, and together we have published a number of books of use to both students and activists.
The University of Northampton also houses Searchlight’s extensive archive of documents, publications, and other material on the far right and the antifascist movement in the UK and internationally.
Inside informants
The final print edition of Searchlight magazine in February 2025 was a special 72-page 50th anniversary retrospective issue, which especially celebrated the real heroes of our work – our inside informants or ‘moles’ who have infiltrated the extremist groups over the decades. It also contained reminiscences by or about our editors over the years.
Searchlight magazine has been the go-to place for information about the far right at home and abroad for well over half a century. We made the decision to go fully online in 2025 to make more effective use of our resources and to disseminate information more widely and immediately.
In addition to our website, we post regularly on Facebook, Twitter, and Bluesky.
Working with all antifascists
Searchlight is happy to work with all antifascists and is not aligned with any political party. Searchlight works with trade unionists, union branches and national trade union organisations through Trade Union Friends of Searchlight.
What people are saying about Searchlight
Alf Dubs
Searchlight’s voice is more important than ever, and I am delighted that it will now be available to a wider audience than ever before in its new incarnation online. Searchlight has been extremely helpful over the years in exposing the far right, corruption, criminality and the murky links between organised crime and powerful interests in the UK and abroad. I wish Searchlight the very best.
Peter Hain
British Jews have been persecuted over the centuries; British blacks since the Windrush generation of the 1950s; British Muslims, especially after the Islamist 9/11 and then 7/7 terrorist attacks in New York 2001 and London 2005. But until the last few years there has not been a simultaneous threat against all three British communities of Jewish, Black and Muslim Britons – meaning the need for Searchlight has never been greater.
Nick Davies
To investigate fascists takes real courage and unusual commitment. The government, police, mainstream media occasionally take a look, but in the UK only Searchlight have kept at it, relentlessly and admirably, regardless of threat or obstacle. It’s journalism that matters. A rare thing.
Paul Holborow
Paul Nowak
Professor Colin Holmes
