Syllabus Edition
First teaching 2024
First exams 2026
Anti-Immigrant Groups (Edexcel GCSE History) : Revision Note
Why did anti-immigrant groups increase tensions in Notting Hill?- Summary
In the 1950s, Notting Hill saw a rise in anti-immigrant groups that created fear and division. Groups like the Teddy Boys harassed Black residents, while political parties such as Oswald Mosley’s Union Movement blamed migrants for problems like housing and crime. Mosley even stood for election in 1959, using the slogan “Keep Britain White.” Although he lost, his campaign made tensions worse. Other far-right groups like the White Defence League, led by Colin Jordan, spread racist messages through marches and posters.
These groups increased violence and made Black communities feel unsafe. The police and courts often failed to protect migrants, and some attackers were not punished. Even though most people rejected these racist ideas, the activities of these groups helped cause events like the Notting Hill Riots and made life harder for migrants in the area. Their actions also encouraged more people to speak out against racism and support civil rights movements.
The Teddy Boys
Who were the Teddy Boys?
The Teddy Boys were a group of young white men in 1950s Britain known for their distinctive style
They wore:
long coats
drainpipe trousers
slicked-back hair
Edwardian style was the key influence on the Teddy Boys
'Teddy' is a nickname for 'Edward'
Teddy Boys in Notting Hill
Some Teddy Boys worked with the black community in Notting Hill
Clifford Fullerton, a local Black tailor, stated Teddy Boys were some of his best customers
However, Teddy Boys gained a reputation for committing violent attacks against Black people
During and after the Notting Hill Riots in 1958, Teddy Boys were regularly named in the newspapers and the police as attackers
Their actions created a gangland culture in Notting Hill
Who was Oswald Mosley?
Oswald Mosley was born in 1896 into a wealthy, upper-class British family
He was originally a Conservative MP, then joined the Labour Party, before forming his own political groups
In the 1930s, he founded the British Union of Fascists (BUF)
The party that copied elements of Nazi Germany and Italian Fascism
Members wore black uniforms and were known as the Blackshirts
The BUF held rallies where they blamed Jewish people, immigrants, and trade unions for Britain’s problems
During the Second World War, Mosley was seen as a threat
The government arrested and imprisoned Mosely without trial in 1940
After the war, he tried to return to politics by founding the Union Movement in 1948
He changed his focus from anti-Jewish speeches to anti-Black and anti-immigration messages
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Remember that the key skill in the Migrants in Britain, c800-present exam is change and continuity over time.
For example, the anti-immigration feeling in the 20th century is very similar to antisemitism against Jewish migrants in the 18th and 19th centuries.
This may help when answering 4-mark and 12-mark questions about the experiences of migrants over time.
Oswald Mosley’s 1959 election campaign
In 1959, Mosley ran to be MP for Kensington North, which included Notting Hill
He ran as leader of the Union Movement, using the slogan “Keep Britain White”
During the campaign, Mosley claimed that:
Black people were taking jobs and housing away from white people
Caribbean migrants were criminals, rapists and caused huge issues with law and order
These were false and racist claims
Mosley promised to repatriate Black migrants to the Caribbean, even though many were legally British citizens
Election result and impact
In the election, Mosley gained only 8.1% of the vote
This was around 2,600 votes
He lost the election badly
His poor result showed that most people in the area rejected his extreme views
Mosley's election failure weakened the Union Movement
Mosley became increasingly irrelevant in British politics
Many anti-racist campaigners used the election to raise awareness and speak out against fascism and racism
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Try not to overstate the impact of anti-immigrant groups like the Union Movement.
While these groups created fear, they did not speak for all of Britain. For example, Mosley lost the 1959 election badly, which shows many people rejected his ideas.
The White Defence League
The White Defence League (WDL) was a far-right, anti-immigration group
It was formed in 1957
Its leader was Colin Jordan, a British neo-Nazi and former schoolteacher
The WDL aimed to keep Britain 'racially pure' and remove all non-white migrants from the country
The group was known for its violent behaviour
Members took part in street fights, especially in places like Notting Hill
They were often linked to attacks on Black homes and businesses
Other tactics that the WDL used were:
Handing out racist leaflets
Graffitiing offensive slogans
Marching in neighbourhoods to intimidate residents
In 1960, the White Defence League merged with other far-right groups to form the British National Party (BNP)
Worked Example
Describe one feature of an anti-immigrant group active in Notting Hill in the 1950s.
(2 marks)
Answer:
One feature of anti-immigrant groups in Notting Hill was the use of propaganda to spread racist ideas (1).
The Union Movement, led by Oswald Mosley, used slogans like “Keep Britain White” to promote anti-immigrant views (1).
Examiner Tips and Tricks
When answering ‘Describe one feature of…’ questions, two marks are given to you for:
Identify - write a relevant point based on the question topic (1)
Describe - add some specific own knowledge about the point you have made (1)
This question previously asked students to describe two features of a given event. This question was out of four marks. However, as of 2025, Edexcel will split this question into two subsections, asking you to describe a feature of two different events. Each subsection is worth two marks.
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