How much support does the EDL have?

[rug]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9614693

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. Not much, as far as I can tell

Even among people on British political forums that oppose immigration, or have suspicions about Muslims, most seem to want to keep their distance from it - most see it as people looking for a fight. It seems more or less to be the BNP members or supporters who enjoy an outdoor brawl.

[LeftishBrit]

2. Very little mainstream support

Anti-immigrant sentiment as such is common in Britain, and is whipped up by the tabloids; but the EDL is seen as extremist and rejected by most. It seems to be mostly rather aggressive young white men who are involved. Although they explicitly deny links with the BNP, there seems to be at the very least significant overlap of membership.

[rug]

3. Thanks to you both for the information.

There's a thread about it going on in GD, in case you missed it.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=9614693&mesg_id=9614693

[T_i_B]

4. Let me put it this way...

...as much as there are plenty of anti-Muslim bigots and anti-immigrant morons, most of them don't support the EDL.

Why? Because the EDL are seen as being little more then a bunch of violent skinhead thugs. And although they say they are not linked with the BNP nobody with half a brain really believes that.

[rug]

5. Thanks, that's good to know.

[dipsydoodle]

6. I knew one of the ICF but none of this load of hooligans.

I think they may be geographical and there are no apparent real issues where I live.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

7. They also bus around the same set of marchers

to give an false impression of their popularity.

[tjwmason]

8. Exactly - small hard core

of fanatics, with practically no other support.