People join anti-immigration parties because they want change; fine. Then how about learning a little about political activism first? After near fifty years of front-line political activism I can say with some authority that rightist political parties fail because membership is largely made up of political novices who remain boys in very much a man’s world.

In the workplace, the simplest jobs such as that of a supermarket shelf-stacker begin with several days training. Hairdressing takes longer whilst doctors never stop learning.

Robert Louis Stephenson, “Politics is perhaps the only profession for which no preparation is thought necessary.” As they already know it all rightist political activists never begin learning. If you really want your party to grow then learn from the professionals by engaging with the local business community.

This may sound bizarre, but take it from me I do know what I am talking about. I dragged the British Movement up from a handful of members to a party of 3,000 plus. It had an international impact. The Star tabloid newspaper described me as ‘Britain’s most dangerous man.’ I was also one of Britain’s most successful business doctors. For twenty-years I mentored business owners by showing them how to run their businesses more efficiently.

CV over. Political activism, whatever its cause, has to work to the same rules as the business community. It has to package and sell itself. Adolf Hitler put it succinctly when he explained that he is constantly taking advice from specialists in their fields. Singly or as a team, these experts advise him. The führer then makes a decision and takes responsibility for it. It is exactly the same for the managing director of a business ~ or political party.

It is essential that you go into politics, not with the wish to benefit yourself, but with the earnest desire to help others. If you are going to win hearts and minds you need to know your product inside out. You need to be passionate about your product. Your message, promotional literature has to have impact; it needs to be short and snappy. If your flier has more than 50 words in total it will not be read; end of story.

Your product, party and policies, principles and aims, have to be clearly understood and defined, neatly packaged and presented. You are going to need salesmen. The church calls them evangelists; in politics they are called activists.

As a political organiser you need to issue professional looking Press Releases. Don’t blame reporters for getting it wrong when they’re obliged to write your press releases for you. This is your job, not theirs. I benefited enormously from a left-wing published book on how to deal effectively with the media. My attempts to get others to buy a copy were fruitless; they already knew it all.

Your party (or business) will be judged on appearance and presentation. Known by the company you keep your membership (salesmen) need to be presentable. Each is an ambassador. Everyone should be provided with a dress code; if you don’t fit in, flit out.

Just like a football team or business manager you need to be able to identify each member’s strength and weaknesses. There are natural born writers, orators, the PC literate, the thinkers and the doers, the natural leaders and those naturally led. There are the young and energetic, the old and wealthy. You need to delegate so each are placed in positions where they can bring their skills to best use. Members not used or who become round pegs in square holes will go their own way.

Why was the so-called right-wing ineffective when their left-wing opponents are relatively successful? The latter produce and learn from a vast library of political activism guides and information books. Beat them at their own game, buy their books, and learn from them. And, if you want some fun infiltrate and learn from them.