Nick Marcel Tenconi (born March 1984) is a British politician, personal trainer and activist who has been the interim leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) since June 2024. He is also a leader of the right wing pressure group, Turning Point UK.
Nick Tenconi | |
|---|---|
| Leader of the UK Independence Party | |
| Interim 16 June 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Lois Perry |
| Deputy leader of the UK Independence Party | |
| In office May 2024 – 16 June 2024 | |
| Leader | Lois Perry |
| Preceded by | Rebecca Jane |
| Succeeded by | Vacant |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 1984 (age 40) |
| Political party | UKIP |
Biography
editTenconi is a self-employed personal trainer who runs a lifestyle coaching business from a gym in Reading.[1][2] In 2023, Tenconi received publicity after driving to Ukraine to deliver aid.[3]
As the COO of Turning Point UK, he has been involved in organising street demonstrations in London's Honor Oak at a pub which had previously held drag queen storytime events, and in counter protests against Palestine solidarity marches in London. The repeated protests by TPUK saw hundreds of counter protesters outnumbering and drowning out TPUK's activists.[4] According to Trans Safety Network, Tenconi "was enthusiastically involved in the street violence, personally offering to fight individuals, and physically moving towards and grabbing at counter-protesters. This is evidence of a clear turn by TPUK towards unapologetic street fascism."[5] The LGBT news website, Pink News, wrote that Tenconi "uses his Twitter platform to espouse hateful anti-trans views."[6]
A feature on the radical right published by Hope not Hate said of Turning Point UK that "following the addition of COO Nick Tenconi to the group, it appears to be in the process of reinventing itself as a street-protest organiser, taking a key role in the demonstrations against drag queen storytelling sessions throughout the year."[7]
He was elected as deputy leader of UKIP in May 2024, after having only recently joined, and has been acting leader since Lois Perry quit and endorsed Nigel Farage's Reform UK during the 2024 general election.[8] Perry later claimed that she quit because "there was something 'sinister' going on, which she had not foreseen: certain elements in the leadership, whom she does not name, 'wanted to go after quite an extreme viewpoint'". However, she said that Tenconi was not part of this extremist tendency.[9]
After Tenconi took leadership of UKIP, it attempted to move closer to controversial journalist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (known as Tommy Robinson), appointed far-right anti-Islam activist Calvin Robinson as its lead spokesperson,[10] and entered into talks with anti-Muslim influencer Katie Hopkins.[11]
Tenconi was also seen with a loudspeaker at anti-migrant protests in Plymouth in August 2024,[12] and at other anti-migrant protests in Aldershot and Reading leading chants of 'invaders out'.[13] Tenconi alleged that a man who killed three young girls in Southport, which sparked the anti-migrant riots, was "under orders".[14] Tenconi was also at a protest in Trafalgar Square on 1 August which turned violent.[15]
Views
editTenconi has described himself as a "defender of masculinity, Christianity, and conservative values" and has expressed his opposition to "satanic woke culture".[1] He describes himself as a “huge fan” of Kyle Rittenhouse, the young American who shot dead two rioters at a Black Lives Matter protest in self-defence.[16][17][18][19][20]
References
edit- ^ a b Childs, Simon (20 June 2024). "Inside the Tory-Linked Far-Right Group Organising Against the Left". Novara Media. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ "Nicholas TENCONI personal appointments". Companies House. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ "Reading personal trainer goes to Ukrainian front line to deliver essentials". BBC News. 17 February 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ "Lawrence Fox and fash friends humiliated in Dulwich". freedomnews.org.uk. 15 March 2023.
- ^ O'Thomson, Jess. "Exclusive: The Truth About the Far Right Attack on Honor Oak". Trans Safety Network. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ Billson, Chantelle (28 May 2023). "Pitiful anti-drag turnout seen off with 'joyful' LGBTQ+ street party". Pin kNews. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ Lowles, Nick (2024). "STATE OF HATE 2024, PESSIMISM, DECLINE AND THE RISING RADICAL RIGHT" (PDF). hopenothate.org.uk.
- ^ "UKIP in disarray as members "leave in droves"". Searchlight. 22 June 2024. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- "Knives being sharpened after extreme right election disaster". Searchlight. 7 July 2024. Retrieved 5 September 2024. - ^ "'Delusional' ex-UKIP Leader 'tells all'". Searchlight. 26 July 2024. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ "UKIP opens door to Yaxley-Lennon and anti-Islam, Christian crusade". Searchlight. 14 August 2024. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
- ^ "UKIP – an onward march to the gutter and oblivion". Searchlight. 17 July 2024. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
- ^ Davies, Caroline (6 August 2024). "'Thuggery on tour': Plymouth takes stock after day of far-right violence". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ "UKIP leader responds to criticism over presence at Aldershot protests". Farnham Herald. 14 August 2024.
- "Personal trainer leads 'offensive' chants at clashing pro and anti migrant protest". Reading Chronicle. 9 August 2024. Retrieved 5 September 2024. - ^ "After the Southport killings – who is responsible for the racist riots?". Searchlight. 1 August 2024. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ Quinn, Ben (7 August 2024). "Actors, activists and conspiracy theorists – a guide to the British far right". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/nov/19/kyle-rittenhouse-trial-key-takeaways
- ^ https://kenoshanews.com/news/authorities-respond-to-multiple-fires-vandalism-and-looting-as-kenosha-reels-from-blake-shooting/article_e196f328-a228-567f-8de1-764e4fb1b779.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-1
- ^ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/08/26/kyle-rittenhouse-17-charged-murder-two-killed-wisconsin-protests/
- ^ Billson, Chantelle (18 April 2023). "Tories urged to cut ties with 'hate-filled' right-wing group Turning Point UK". PinkNews. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
- ^ Boedy, Matthew (15 May 2023). "Turning Point Efforts to Export Drag Queen Attacks and 'Take Back Universities' Marred by Fringe Associations and Farcical Missteps". Religion Dispatches. Retrieved 16 October 2024.