Roy Painter
Encyclopedia
Roy Painter is a British Conservative
politician and once candidate who for a time became one of the leading figures on the British
far right
.
Painter, who enjoyed a distinguished career in the Army, being decorated for his services during the Korean War
, was initially a leading member of the Conservatives in Tottenham
and had stood as a candidate for them in the Greater London Council
. A supporter of Enoch Powell
, he was heavily involved with the Conservative Monday Club
, although he resigned from the group (and the Tories) in 1972 when the Club began a process of removing its most extreme members.
Following his resignation Painter joined the National Front
, although he made a weak start when, as party candidate for Tottenham
in the February 1974 general election
he finished with 1270 votes (4.1%), behind the National Independence Party
candidate. An improvement was shown in the October election
when he captured 2211 votes (8.3%) in the same seat. It has been argued that the vote was as much a personal one for Painter, a popular businessman in Haringey
, as it was an endorsement of the NF. Painter felt that a firm line against the Provisional Irish Republican Army
(IRA) was central to NF success and argued in the wake of the Birmingham pub bombings
that "they [the IRA] couldn't have done more to help us if we paid them".
A dapper, dashing and charismatic man, Painter rose quickly through the ranks of the NF and by 1974 had a seat on the party's Directorate. He soon came into conflict with John Tyndall
and Martin Webster
, with rumours rife that he was leading a movement to expel the two men. Painter became a staunch exponent of populism and wrote an article in a 1974 issue of Spearhead
entitled 'Let's Make Nationalism Popular' which extolled the virtues of this path. It was followed by a strong rebuttal from Tyndall, which helped to intensify the feud between the two. Having initially considered a direct challenge to Tyndall's leadership himself, he soon threw his weight behind the campaign of John Kingsley Read
. The bad blood with Tyndall continued, with a pamphlet produced by Tyndall's supporters dismissing Painter as 'a vain, bumptious and insufferably conceited little man who has limitless ambition'. Painter in turn dismissed Tyndall as a 'tin pot Führer
' in the pages of The Beacon, a pro-Kingsley Read NF paper.
Painter became effective deputy to Kingsley Read during his brief leadership and as a result was one of the leading figures in the National Party of the U.K.
when it was set up in 1976. Initially a central figure, notably due to his considerable experience as a political organiser from his days in the Conservatives, Painter soon began to devote more time to his highly successful contract cleaning business and drifted away from the NPUK as it became rife with internal bickering. Effectively off the far right scene, Painter rejoined the Conservatives in 1978, although his role was confined to local politics.
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician and once candidate who for a time became one of the leading figures on the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
far right
Far right
Far-right, extreme right, hard right, radical right, and ultra-right are terms used to discuss the qualitative or quantitative position a group or person occupies within right-wing politics. Far-right politics may involve anti-immigration and anti-integration stances towards groups that are...
.
Painter, who enjoyed a distinguished career in the Army, being decorated for his services during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, was initially a leading member of the Conservatives in Tottenham
Tottenham
Tottenham is an area of the London Borough of Haringey, England, situated north north east of Charing Cross.-Toponymy:Tottenham is believed to have been named after Tota, a farmer, whose hamlet was mentioned in the Domesday Book; hence Tota's hamlet became Tottenham...
and had stood as a candidate for them in the Greater London Council
Greater London Council
The Greater London Council was the top-tier local government administrative body for Greater London from 1965 to 1986. It replaced the earlier London County Council which had covered a much smaller area...
. A supporter of Enoch Powell
Enoch Powell
John Enoch Powell, MBE was a British politician, classical scholar, poet, writer, and soldier. He served as a Conservative Party MP and Minister of Health . He attained most prominence in 1968, when he made the controversial Rivers of Blood speech in opposition to mass immigration from...
, he was heavily involved with the Conservative Monday Club
Conservative Monday Club
The Conservative Monday Club is a British pressure group "on the right-wing" of the Conservative Party.-Overview:...
, although he resigned from the group (and the Tories) in 1972 when the Club began a process of removing its most extreme members.
Following his resignation Painter joined the National Front
British National Front
The National Front is a far right, white-only political party whose major political activities took place during the 1970s and 1980s. Its popularity peaked in the 1979 general election, when it received 191,719 votes ....
, although he made a weak start when, as party candidate for Tottenham
Tottenham (UK Parliament constituency)
Tottenham is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- Boundaries :...
in the February 1974 general election
United Kingdom general election, February 1974
The United Kingdom's general election of February 1974 was held on the 28th of that month. It was the first of two United Kingdom general elections held that year, and the first election since the Second World War not to produce an overall majority in the House of Commons for the winning party,...
he finished with 1270 votes (4.1%), behind the National Independence Party
National Independence Party (UK)
The National Independence Party was a minor far-right party that appeared in British politics during the 1970s. The party was led by John Davis, and campaigned on a platform similar to that of the much bigger National Front on anti-immigration, anti-European Economic Community, anti-communism...
candidate. An improvement was shown in the October election
United Kingdom general election, October 1974
The United Kingdom general election of October 1974 took place on 10 October 1974 to elect 635 members to the British House of Commons. It was the second general election of that year and resulted in the Labour Party led by Harold Wilson, winning by a tiny majority of 3 seats.The election of...
when he captured 2211 votes (8.3%) in the same seat. It has been argued that the vote was as much a personal one for Painter, a popular businessman in Haringey
London Borough of Haringey
The London Borough of Haringey is a London borough, in North London, classified by some definitions as part of Inner London, and by others as part of Outer London. It was created in 1965 by the amalgamation of three former boroughs. It shares borders with six other London boroughs...
, as it was an endorsement of the NF. Painter felt that a firm line against the Provisional Irish Republican Army
Provisional Irish Republican Army
The Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion...
(IRA) was central to NF success and argued in the wake of the Birmingham pub bombings
Birmingham pub bombings
The Birmingham pub bombings occurred on 21 November 1974 in Birmingham, England. The explosions killed 21 people and injured 182. The devices were placed in two central Birmingham pubs – the Mulberry Bush and the Tavern in the Town . Although warnings were sent, the pubs were not evacuated in time...
that "they [the IRA] couldn't have done more to help us if we paid them".
A dapper, dashing and charismatic man, Painter rose quickly through the ranks of the NF and by 1974 had a seat on the party's Directorate. He soon came into conflict with John Tyndall
John Tyndall (politician)
John Hutchyns Tyndall was a British politician who was prominently associated with several fascist/neo-Nazi sects. However, he is best known for leading the National Front in the 1970s and founding the contemporary British National Party in 1982.The most prominent figure in British nationalism...
and Martin Webster
Martin Webster
Martin Guy Alan Webster is a former leading figure on the far-right in British politics.-Early political activism:An early member of the Young Conservatives, from which he claimed to have been expelled, Webster was associated loosely with the League of Empire Loyalists until he joined the National...
, with rumours rife that he was leading a movement to expel the two men. Painter became a staunch exponent of populism and wrote an article in a 1974 issue of Spearhead
Spearhead (magazine)
Spearhead was a British far right-wing magazine edited by John Tyndall until his death in July 2005. Founded in 1964 by Tyndall, it was used to voice his grievances against the state of the United Kingdom...
entitled 'Let's Make Nationalism Popular' which extolled the virtues of this path. It was followed by a strong rebuttal from Tyndall, which helped to intensify the feud between the two. Having initially considered a direct challenge to Tyndall's leadership himself, he soon threw his weight behind the campaign of John Kingsley Read
John Kingsley Read
John Kingsley Read was chairman of the British National Front from 1974 to 1976 and a founder of the National Party.A former member of the Conservative Party and chairman of the Blackburn Young Conservatives, Read left to join the NF in 1973 having addressed a rally against the arrival of Ugandan...
. The bad blood with Tyndall continued, with a pamphlet produced by Tyndall's supporters dismissing Painter as 'a vain, bumptious and insufferably conceited little man who has limitless ambition'. Painter in turn dismissed Tyndall as a 'tin pot Führer
Führer
Führer , alternatively spelled Fuehrer in both English and German when the umlaut is not available, is a German title meaning leader or guide now most associated with Adolf Hitler, who modelled it on Benito Mussolini's title il Duce, as well as with Georg von Schönerer, whose followers also...
' in the pages of The Beacon, a pro-Kingsley Read NF paper.
Painter became effective deputy to Kingsley Read during his brief leadership and as a result was one of the leading figures in the National Party of the U.K.
National Party (UK, 1976)
The National Party was a short-lived British far right political party formed on 6 January 1976 and which dissolved before the 1979 general election...
when it was set up in 1976. Initially a central figure, notably due to his considerable experience as a political organiser from his days in the Conservatives, Painter soon began to devote more time to his highly successful contract cleaning business and drifted away from the NPUK as it became rife with internal bickering. Effectively off the far right scene, Painter rejoined the Conservatives in 1978, although his role was confined to local politics.
Elections contested
| Date of election | Constituency | Party | Votes | % | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 1974 United Kingdom general election, February 1974 The United Kingdom's general election of February 1974 was held on the 28th of that month. It was the first of two United Kingdom general elections held that year, and the first election since the Second World War not to produce an overall majority in the House of Commons for the winning party,... |
Tottenham Tottenham (UK Parliament constituency) Tottenham is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- Boundaries :... |
NF | 1270 | 4.1 | The Guardian 2 Mar 1974 |
| October 1974 United Kingdom general election, October 1974 The United Kingdom general election of October 1974 took place on 10 October 1974 to elect 635 members to the British House of Commons. It was the second general election of that year and resulted in the Labour Party led by Harold Wilson, winning by a tiny majority of 3 seats.The election of... |
Tottenham | NF | 2211 | 8.3 | The Guardian 12 Oct 1974 |