For over a year, an undercover investigation conducted by a journalist working with the anti-fascist organisation Hope Not Hate has provided an unprecedented insight into the British far-right ecosystem. The journalist, operating under the pseudonym Chris, infiltrated nine extremist groups, gaining closeness with key figures, including political parties, Holocaust deniers, and a controversial organisation funded by an American tech magnate promoting the theory that black people are genetically less intelligent than white people.

Chris’s journey began in late 2022 following a covert meeting in a central London pub with Joe Mulhall, head of Hope Not Hate’s research team, who proposed a long-term undercover operation. The journalist comes from a Jewish background, bringing a personal dimension to the mission aimed at understanding the motivations and dynamics within far-right circles.

The operation entailed creating a believable cover identity tailored to blend into the far-right milieu. Chris was portrayed as a strategy consultant with a dull job, rooted in genuine but inverted personal history, and wearing inconspicuous attire. Hidden cameras and audio equipment were used to capture candid conversations, although technical difficulties with recording equipment occasionally hampered documentation efforts.

Chris participated in diverse activities including participating in protests, canvassing, and attending secret meetings within far-right organisations such as Britain First, a party noted for propagating conspiracy theories and Holocaust denial. The journalist noted difficulty managing cover identity slips but avoided exposure through quick thinking and occasional luck.

Throughout the infiltration, it became evident that many rank-and-file far-right activists are socially isolated, with loneliness and a longing for connection a recurrent theme. Many members expressed alienation from mainstream society and found camaraderie within extremist groups despite disagreeing with or being fatigued by ideological meetings and discussions. This human element complicated the infiltration, as Chris often found himself developing ambiguous feelings about those he was betraying.

A notable portion of the investigation centred on the far-right’s engagement with race science or “human biodiversity” (HBD) theories, which argue that genetic differences explain disparities among races, particularly in intelligence. The undercover journalist attended the Scandza Forum in Tallinn, Estonia, an influential international far-right conference featuring speakers like Jared Taylor, a proponent of racial segregation, and Helmuth Nyborg, a Danish academic promoting controversial ideas about immigration and intelligence.

At the conference, a key figure, identified pseudonymously as Matthew Frost (real name revealed through the investigation), was encountered. Frost runs Aporia, an online magazine dedicated to race science themes, which receives substantial financial backing from an unidentified American tech billionaire. Frost disclosed involvement with a clandestine research organisation led by Emil Kirkegaard, a prolific author in race science circles, operating through a limited liability company with considerable funding reportedly exceeding £1 million.

During meetings in London, Frost discussed ambitions to influence European politics, including hopes for the German far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party to enforce mass deportations. He described plans involving forced removals of immigrant populations to North Africa, expressing enthusiasm about reshaping Europe’s demographic future to align with far-right ideals.

The investigation linked this new entity to the historical Pioneer Fund, notorious for supporting racial science and eugenics linked to Nazism. Contrary to beliefs that the fund had ceased activities, the undercover work revealed that it has transformed into a private company, the Human Diversity Foundation, maintaining influence discreetly.

The infiltration also uncovered connections between far-right movements in the UK and international efforts to normalise and mainstream extremist views through intellectual cover and financial strategies. Prominent Conservative figures have engaged with some of the race science content, illustrating the reach of these ideologies.

This detailed undercover reporting offers a rare glimpse into the organisational methods, social dynamics, and ideological currents within the British far right, revealing sophisticated structures supported by transatlantic funding and coordination aimed at advancing far-right agendas in Europe and beyond. The findings illustrate the movement’s blend of conspiratorial beliefs, racial pseudoscience, and a desire for political mainstreaming. This investigation has been adapted from the forthcoming book “Year of the Rat: Undercover in the British Far Right.”

Source: Noah Wire Services