Richard Verrall
| Richard Verrall | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1948 (age 68–69) |
| Spouse(s) | Tessa Sempik[1] |
Richard Verrall (born 1948) is a former deputy chairman of the British National Front (NF) who edited the magazine Spearhead from 1976 to 1980. Under the nom de plume of Richard E. Harwood, Verrall wrote the pamphlet Did Six Million Really Die?
Contents
National Front career[edit]
Verrall studied history at Westfield College, now part of Queen Mary, University of London, obtaining a first class honours degree.[2] Initially a member of the Conservative Party, Verrall left in the early 1970s, along with a number of members on the right who supported Enoch Powell, to join the NF.[2] Initially a close supporter of John Tyndall, he was appointed Spearhead editor by Tyndall and used the magazine to deny the Holocaust.[2] He was also known for his endorsement of eugenics and biological determinism, adding to this theory that it was equally natural for members of a genetic group to sacrifice themselves for the benefit of others of the same group, thus attacking the criticism that the notion of sacrifice makes this theory inapplicable to humanity.[3]
Despite his initial support for Tyndall, Verrall did not follow him into the New National Front and indeed was appointed deputy chairman of the NF by Andrew Brons in 1980.[4] Although appointed to this role Verrall, played little further role in the politics of the NF and was aloof from the struggle between the Official National Front and the Flag Group. Instead, he concentrated most of his efforts on writing about the Holocaust.[citation needed]
Written work[edit]
He is best known today for his pamphlet (under the assumed name of Richard Harwood) Did Six Million Really Die?,[5] a Holocaust denial pamphlet which was the subject of the criminal action brought against its Canadian-based German publisher Ernst Zündel. The trial court found the pamphlet to be composed of fabrications and distortions, although Zündel was ultimately acquitted on the basis that the law under which he was charged was unconstitutional. The Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the book "misrepresented the work of historians, misquoted witnesses, fabricated evidence, and cited non-existent authorities".[6]
Personal life[edit]
He is married to Tessa Sempik and they were mentioned in a 1996 article about "when the tenant refuses to go".[1]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Carter, Rita (2 October 1996). "When the tenant refuses to go". The Independent. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
- ^ a b c S. Taylor, The National Front in English Politics, London: Macmillan, 1982, p. 62
- ^ S. Taylor, The National Front in English Politics, London: Macmillan, 1982, pp. 63–64
- ^ S. Taylor, The National Front in English Politics, London: Macmillan, 1982, p. 91
- ^ "World in Action - The Nazi Party (3 July 1978)". Granada Television. July 1978. Retrieved 11 April 2012.[unreliable source?]
- ^ Full text of Supreme Court of Canada decision at LexUM
