Shifting the Dial: Who are the far right?

Shifting the Dial: Building Belonging is the name given to the STUC's campaign that looks to challenge the far-right and its influence.

As the STUC puts it: 'Shifting the Dial is our essential campaign to push back against hateful narratives that are threatening to divide our workplaces and communities'.

The campaign's sessions will offer targeted training and activities to equip members, unite workplaces, and build cohesion.

The first of the sessions took place at the start of December and was delivered by Dr Judith Sijstermans, a lecturer in Politics at the University of Aberdeen, who researches nationalist/populist political parties, and their relationships and networks.

Judith addressed key questions such as where are the far-right active in Scotland, who are the main organisers and what are their main tools, tactics and messaging. These issues were also covered in a very helpful recent Ferret long-read.

The session explained that there has been an upsurge in activity across Scotland in the months since July 2024. Online activity, demonstrations outside the homes of people seeking asylum and branch building have all been features. The Homeland Party, Patriotic Alternative and other established groups have been joined by newer formations in Aberdeen, Dundee and Falkirk. 

Dr Sijstermans highlighted that these groups on the extreme-right are filling what they see as a political void and drawing on conspiratorial thinking like the  ‘great replacement theory’. Globalist plots and the actions of political elites are used as the backdrop for activity and bringing angry individuals together.  

Framing social groups - asylum seekers, trans folk, Jewish people - as ‘the other’ is a common feature of far-right rhetoric. This 'othering' points to the importance of those who oppose the far-right taking an intersectional response to our community building resistance.

Worryingly, some groups on the extreme-right have begun to build into existing local communities. Litter picking, taking part in community councils and boxing clubs have all featured in their efforts to achieve resonance and develop their social base.

The relationship between extreme-right groups and the more electorally focused populist-right, in the shape of Reform UK, appears porous. Together they constitute a far-right that is growing in confidence and activity, particularly in Scotland's North East.

How this will play out in the run-up to May’s Holyrood elections remains to be seen. 

More immediately, we need to be clear about what we are trying to do. Counter protests are important to show solidarity with those seeking asylum. Recruiting people to a culture that opposes the far-right is important. There needs to be positive messaging which explains the real reasons for the social challenges faced by working people in Scotland and we have to find ways to win the arguments against the alternative attraction that is based on easy answers and scapegoating. Assessing the context is important: we need to be clear about our capacity and consider when we can safely put forward counter arguments. 

Democratic Left Scotland has begun its discussion on these issues. We welcome the STUC's initiative and encourage members and friends to share information and views of what is happening in their communities and workplaces. 

Published 6 December 2025.