Origin Story The Battle of Cable Street
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Aug 13, 2024 Discover the compelling narrative of the Battle of Cable Street, a pivotal anti-fascist victory in 1936. Delve into the historical context surrounding Oswald Mosley and the British Union of Fascists, including their alarming tactics and the East End's targeted resistance. Learn how grassroots opposition turned the tide, resulting in significant confrontations with police rather than direct fascist encounters. Explore the mythologization of the event and its lingering symbolic power against modern far-right movements.
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Mosley’s Opportunistic Rise
- Oswald Mosley began as a charismatic politician who moved from Tory to Labour before founding violent, Mussolini-inspired movements.
- His oratory and opportunism drew supporters despite ideological inconsistency and early establishment backing.
Violence Undid Respectability
- Mosley’s credibility collapsed after orchestrated violence at Olympia and the Night of the Long Knives made fascism toxic to conservatives.
- That combination lost him press and foreign funding, weakening the BUF's respectability.
Cynical Turn To Antisemitism
- Mosley became explicitly anti-Semitic for cynical political reasons, shifting BUF policy to exclude Jews.
- The BUF then split between electoral pragmatists and violent hardliners, a recurring far-right pattern.
