Chapter Five
A Very British Coup
(Taken from “From Fascists to Radicals: A History of British Extremism” By Robert Harris, Random House 2007)
“…By 1984 Britain was falling apart. The miner’s strikes had destroyed British industry and Trade Unions refused to help the government in settling things. Unemployment had reached its highest for decades and the country was still deep in recession. The disastrous war in the Falklands had caused huge backlash against the Labour government and Conservative opposition. IRA violence was still rife and riots, protests and rallies became frequent almost daily.
By August a second National Government was formed and the General Election postponed to May 1986. Some say it was to ensure economic recovery, others say it was a last ditch attempt to keep the RNA out of government. It was by this time that the deal between the Armed Forces, Secret Service and RNA had been agreed.
For the past months figures from MI6, MI5 and the British Army had been in discussion with Neave and O’Brian. Their position was simple, how best to govern Britain. For the past months the Army and Security Services had become concerned over the crisis in Britain, it seemed that Chaos was imminent and the Labour government’s decision to postpone the election was a sure sign of Britain’s drift into Communism. The mass immigration worried the Military with the recent increase intensions and hostility leading to race riots and huge violence. The increased ties with Europe endangered British independence and free will to act as the nation saw fit. All of these concerns and worries culminated in the offer of full support from the military and secret services should the RNA decide to take power by force. The decision was made that a “temporary” government would be formed led by Neave until order could be restored to Britain and Socialism could once and for all be destroyed.
The offer was formerly accepted just before Christmas 1984.
The lead up to the “Neave Coup” began with the reopening of Parliament in January 1985. The RNA would be formerly merged as a single party known as the “National Alliance”, Airey Neave became leader and John O’Brian his deputy, despite outcries of foul play from the NF ranks O’Brian supported the decision. Phone calls were tapped and Armed Forces exercises increased throughout the country.
On that cold evening in November 1985 everything was in place…”
(Taken from “National Front: The Decline and Fall of British Democracy” By Peter Hennessey, Harper Collins 2006)
“…The “Neave Coup” was given the green light at 11:01pm on 5th November 1985. Within hours London was in lockdown. All troops had been mobilized and all major areas in the city were captured. The tube stations, the airports, everywhere. By 11:45 armoured cars rolled down Whitehall and helicopters circled Parliament, the House of Commons were stormed as was Downing Street at 11:56. Callaghan, Healey, Pym, Gilmour and Jenkins were the first to be put under arrest, being the only Politicians in Whitehall at the time. Neave was rushed to Whitehall and forced the resignation of Callaghan before formerly assuming office as Prime Minister. It had been swift, quiet and without incident. In a little over an hour democracy in Britain was destroyed.
He next day the world was in shock. The stock market crashed, the pound nearly collapsed and news reports all around the world covered the Coup. Neave’s National Address was broadcasted on all British television stations on a constant loop. As British troops slowly took control of the country there was riots and protests, the largest being at Trafalgar Square before being quickly destroyed by armed police firing into the crowd, killing the former minister Tony Benn. Neave announced that Parliament would be closed for the remainder of the NA’s term in Government, to the outrage of all non-NA MPs.
The royal family was evacuated to Canada following the coup and many politicians escaped to exile, such Ken Clarke, Edward Heath, Harold Wilson and the young Gordon Brown.
In the weeks following the coup there were huge protests in Canada, New Zealand and Australia calling for their respective countries to leave the commonwealth, declaring Britain a “nation of fascists”. President Ronald Reagan described the coup as “shocking”, but didn't outright condemn it. Many say that it was to ensure ties with Britain and maintain it as an ally in the event of the Cold War going hot.
Britain shortly pulled out of the EEC but remained members of the UN and NATO. The borders were closed and the country began the mass compulsory repatriation of non-white immigrants from Britain and any other “unwanted” guests.
And so began the fifteen year dictatorship of a once free nation…”