Britain First founder, Jim Dowson, in videos supporting far right ‘militias’

The Scottish Daily Record front page story today covers video footage of Jim Dowson, the founder of Britain First, soliciting donations for far rights groups Shipka Bulgarian National Movement and Knights Templar International to help support their work keeping out refugee “invaders” and “hunting down asylum seekers” on the Turkey-Bulgaria border.

Dowson, who was profiled in the Daily Record in 2014, claimed to have resigned from Britain First in July 2014 saying the far right group’s ‘mosque invasions’ were “unacceptable and unchristian.”

The Daily Record today publishes footage showing Dowson with members of the “Shipka Bulgarian National Movement stalking migrants who cross the Turkish border.”

Shipka Bulgarian National Movement claims to be “at war” with Muslim immigrants coming into the country from Turkey, according to the paper.

The Daily Record publishes details taken from “a series of videos” made by Dowson “begging donors in Europe and America to send funds to arm the ragtag militia.”

In one video, Dowson is heard saying “We are on the Bulgarian Turkish border on patrol and looking for illegals. The dedication these guys have got is very impressive.

“The borders of Europe are being protected more by these men than our governments.

“Today, the Knights Templar International brought along vests and ballistics and drones and night vision, stuff that these guys desperately need.”

Dowson goes on to encourage others to offer support describing the group as “good people” who are “very, very deserving of your support.”

In another video uncovered by the Daily Record, Dowson states: “When my grandfather was alive, this land was ruled by Ottomans, by the Muslims. Now they’re coming back. Remember the forces of Islam once got as far as Vienna. Now they are as far as John O’Groats in Scotland and more and more are coming in.

“This is not political, this is a fight between good and evil, black and white, a fight of the cross, a fight of Christ.”

Dowson’s use of Christian symbolism was noted in an article in The Times in 2014 which described him as a “religious zealot” and described Britain First as an “explicitly Christian.” The paper said the group differed from other far right movements like the BNP or English Defence League because “It recruits angry young men from the EDL, teaches them boxing, bans drinking and swearing, and introduces them to the Bible.”

In an editorial in today’s paper, the Daily Record observes Dowson is “an anti-Muslim extremist who is whipping up support wherever he can find it.

“His ideas should be banished back to where they came from – ancient history.”