The British Union of Fascists (BUF) was a far-right political party that emerged in the early 1930s in the United Kingdom. Led by Sir Oswald Mosley, the party promoted a fascist ideology and advocated for the establishment of a totalitarian government. The BUF sought to unite the British working class under a single party, combining elements of nationalism, anti-Semitism, and antidemocratic principles.
The party aimed to create a one-party state with Mosley as the leader, emphasizing strong authoritarian rule to address what they believed were the challenges of a struggling British society. The BUF emphasized patriotism, popularizing fascist symbolism such as the use of the "flash and circle" symbol.
However, the party faced widespread opposition from various sectors of society, including trade unions, left-wing groups, and the Jewish community. Their provocative actions, such as the notorious "Battle of Cable Street," in which anti-fascist protestors clashed with the BUF during a march, further antagonized public opinion and resulted in negative media coverage.
Amid growing tensions and the onset of World War II, the BUF was eventually banned in 1940 under the Defense Regulation 18B, which allowed the government to detain individuals considered to be threats to national security. The British Union of Fascists remains a historically significant entity as it represented an attempt by Oswald Mosley and his followers to establish fascist rule in the United Kingdom, though ultimately it failed to gain substantial support or influence.
