Thanks to the relentless persecution and sabotage of Britain First by the establishment authorities and social media tech giants, 2018 almost saw the collapse of our movement.

Thanks to decisive and determined action however, our movement bounced back and ended 2018 much stronger than it started!

Now, at the start of the New Year, we can reflect and learn from the events of 2018.

What did we achieve? What were our successes and failures? How can we do things better?

Most importantly, what are our goals for next year and beyond, and how will we achieve them?

Addressing this latter question, I have - together with Britain First colleagues - prepared an 8-point strategic plan of action for 2019.

1. Defending free speech

State repression of free speech reached worrying levels in 2018, with many citizens arrested - some jailed - for speaking bluntly on immigration, Islamisation and other issues.

Britain First leader Paul Golding and Jayda Fransen face trial in mid-February for the new crime of 'criticising Islam'.

It will be heavily reported in the media with the specific intent to frighten others into silence - a political show trial, in other words.

Britain First will continue to speak the truth, of course - to give voice to those patriotic Britons so despised by the ruling class -, but we will draw upon past experience to evade the artfully laid (and ultimately costly) traps of 'hate speech' legislation.

Powerfully effective communication can take many (often indirect) forms, and our time, money and energy must be directed to the main battle.

2. Building resilience

Carefully prepared contingency plans are in place now so that if the leader or any other team member becomes unavailable, others are ready to step into the breach to keep the central organisation working normally.

Meanwhile, branch organisers (see point 5, below) will maintain activities at local level.

In 2019, we'll recruit many new activists, also train new individuals in video production and editing, graphic design, writing and proofreading, in order to spread the workload and encourage new creative input.

3. More public interaction, more Days of Action

Britain First's 'Days of Action' (DoAs) have proved enormously successful over the past year, providing a focus for local activism, public engagement and media interest.

DoAs can be organised quickly in any part of Britain reachable by activists, so enable us to respond to events as they occur, keeping our activism timely and relevant.

DoAs facilitate literature distribution and face-to-face contact with the public, bypassing mainstream propaganda to present the positive face of Britain First.

Our aim in 2019 is to build substantially on this success, organising more DoAs, extending them into new areas (e.g. the south and south-west) and increasing the numbers of participating activists.

4. Re-engagement with social media

We're confident that by spring 2019 our legal challenge to Facebook will force that company to lift its ban on Britain First.

Subsequent actions against other platforms will enable us to reconnect with millions of social media followers around the world.

5. Expansion of branch network

In 2018, we took our first steps towards a nationwide branch network, setting up branches in West Dorset, East Dorset, Hertfordshire, West Yorkshire, Worcestershire and North Cheshire.

We've also held discussions in Durham, South London and the West Midlands.

In 2019, we aim to vastly increase the number of branches, and to help each become well established through local recruitment and activism.

To kickstart and develop the network, next year I will visit branches, meeting with organisers and helping them to recruit and build.

6. Local elections 2019

Our planned shift into electoral politics is designed to augment (not replace) existing street- and community-based activism.

Local council elections in May 2019 offer a tremendous opportunity to convey our message to a broader audience through mass leafleting, canvassing and media campaigning in targeted areas.

Local knowledge and reputation count heavily in these elections, and even outsiders - provided they are willing to put in the necessary work - have a chance of success.

Britain First candidates (fourteen at the time of writing) will receive training and valuable first-hand experience of electioneering.

Election of even one candidate will be a watershed moment for the nation and for Britain First.

7. Developing Scotland and Wales

Whilst we've been very successful in building organisation and support in Northern Ireland (many of our top activists are there), Scotland and Wales remain relatively underdeveloped.

In 2019, we'll rise to this challenge by seeking out and recruiting activists and branch organisers in Scotland and Wales, starting with the major cities.

8. International networking

In the past two years, Britain First has built strong relationships with key figures and organisations in Western and Eastern Europe, and has participated in major events there.

These activities help to raise Britain First's profile nationally and internationally, and enable us to share best practice, especially in community activism, electoral campaigning and social media.

International networking will remain a central pillar of strategy for 2019, and we hope to extend it to the Anglosphere, especially Australia and the USA, where Britain First enjoys strong support.

There's no question that 2018 was a challenging year for Britain First.

However, our leaders and activists have emerged from it more confident and determined than ever.

I believe 2019 will be a transformative year for our movement, potentially propelling us to new heights of political success and public recognition.

The strategic plan outlined above will enable us to meet the ambitious goals we've set, to build a movement with strength in depth that can grow rapidly, even in time of crisis.

Dr George Whale
Elections Officer