Anne Marie Waters
{{distinguish|Anne-Marie Walters}}
{{short description|Far-right politician in the UK}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| office = Leader of For Britain
| term_start = October 2017
| term_end = July 2022
| predecessor = Office established
| successor = Office abolished
| name = Anne Marie Waters
| image = Anne Maria Waters.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Waters in 2016
| birth_name = Anne Marie Dorothy Waters{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/AMDWaters/status/879956871754506241|title=Anne Marie Waters on Twitter: "Dorothy."|last=Waters|first=Anne Marie|date=28 June 2017|website=@AMDWaters|publisher=Twitter|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824204040/https://twitter.com/AMDWaters/status/879956871754506241|archive-date=24 August 2017|access-date=25 August 2017}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1977|08|24|df=y}}{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/AMDWaters/status/900611850336948224|title=Anne Marie Waters on Twitter: "Big 4-0. I'll be spending it at a hustings in Yorkshire!"|last=Waters|first=Anne Marie|date=24 August 2017|website=@AMDWaters|publisher=Twitter|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824203106/https://twitter.com/AMDWaters/status/900611850336948224|archive-date=24 August 2017|access-date=24 August 2017}}
| birth_place = Dublin, Ireland
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality =
| other_names =
| alma_mater = Nottingham Trent University
| occupation =
| known_for =
| notable_works =
| otherparty = Labour Party (2010–2014)
For Britain (2017–2022)
| party = UKIP (2014–2017; 2023–present)
}}
Anne Marie Dorothy Waters (born 24 August 1977) is a far-right{{cite web|url=https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/police-prepare-protest-far-right-1115306|title=Police prepare for protest as far-right politician comes to Devon|first=Carl|last=Eve|date=25 January 2018|website=Devon Live|access-date=13 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613234433/https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/police-prepare-protest-far-right-1115306|archive-date=13 June 2018|url-status=live}}
- {{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/pop-review-morrissey-low-in-high-school-d3tsldnfc|title=Pop review: Morrissey: Low in High School|first=Will|last=Hodgkinson|date=17 November 2017|work=The Times|access-date=13 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613235036/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/pop-review-morrissey-low-in-high-school-d3tsldnfc|archive-date=13 June 2018|url-status=live}}
- {{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/06/30/uk/morrissey-tour-racism-dispute-intl/index.html|title=Morrissey postpones tour dates amid dispute over racism claims|first=Laura|last=Smith-Spark|date=30 June 2018 |publisher=CNN|access-date=3 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703133311/https://edition.cnn.com/2018/06/30/uk/morrissey-tour-racism-dispute-intl/index.html|archive-date=3 July 2018|url-status=live}} politician and activist in the United Kingdom. She founded and led the anti-Islam party For Britain until its dissolution in 2022.{{Cite news|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/culture/2017/08/meet-anne-marie-waters-ukip-politician-too-extreme-nigel-farage|title=Meet Anne Marie Waters – the Ukip politician too extreme for Nigel Farage|last=Bloodworth|first=James|date=18 August 2017|work=New Statesman|access-date=10 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909233505/http://www.newstatesman.com/culture/2017/08/meet-anne-marie-waters-ukip-politician-too-extreme-nigel-farage|archive-date=9 September 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://irishpost.co.uk/anne-marie-waters-irishwoman-in-running-to-become-next-ukip-leader-accused-of-dividing-britain/|title=Anne Marie Waters: Irishwoman running to become next UKIP leader accused of 'dividing Britain'|date=30 August 2017|work=Irish Post|access-date=13 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830184632/http://irishpost.co.uk/anne-marie-waters-irishwoman-in-running-to-become-next-ukip-leader-accused-of-dividing-britain/|archive-date=30 August 2017|url-status=live}}
- {{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/far-right-war-islam-hope-not-hate-britain-first-tommy-robinson-national-action-a8235556.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180312012027/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/far-right-war-islam-hope-not-hate-britain-first-tommy-robinson-national-action-a8235556.html|url-status=dead|title=Far-right extremists preparing for 'war against Islam', report warns after terror plots exposed|work=The Independent|date=12 March 2018|archive-date=12 March 2018}} She is also the director of Sharia Watch UK, an organisation launched in April 2014.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-40442878|title=Anti-Islam campaigner Anne Marie Waters launches UKIP bid|last=Wheeler|first=Brian|date=30 June 2017|work=BBC News|access-date=17 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818094850/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-40442878|archive-date=18 August 2017|url-status=live}} In January 2016, Waters launched Pegida UK in conjunction with activist Tommy Robinson and far-right politician Paul Weston.{{cite news|author1=Douglas Murray|title=Cologne exposes a crisis in our continent, yet parliament is debating Donald Trump|url=http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2016/01/a-crisis-in-our-continent-yet-parliament-is-debating-donald-trump/|work=The Spectator|access-date=23 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161129141446/http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2016/01/a-crisis-in-our-continent-yet-parliament-is-debating-donald-trump/|archive-date=29 November 2016|url-status=live}}
Having unsuccessfully attempted to become a Labour Party parliamentary candidate, Waters joined the UK Independence Party (UKIP) and stood in its 2017 leadership election. She came second to Henry Bolton.{{cite news|last=Walker|first=Peter|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/sep/29/henry-bolton-elected-new-leader-of-ukip|title=Henry Bolton elected new leader of Ukip|work=The Guardian|date=29 September 2017|access-date=29 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929180552/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/sep/29/henry-bolton-elected-new-leader-of-ukip|archive-date=29 September 2017|url-status=live}} She subsequently left UKIP to form her own party, For Britain, in October 2017. Following the dissolution of For Britain in 2022, Waters rejoined UKIP in 2023.
Early life
Waters was born and raised in Dublin in Ireland, and went to school in Stoneybatter on the Northside of the city.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/uk/irish-born-candidate-to-lead-ukip-rejects-neo-fascist-label-1.3202775|title=Irish-born candidate to lead Ukip rejects 'neo-fascist' label|last1=McKinney|first1=Conor James|date=29 August 2017|work=Irish Times|access-date=11 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170901014439/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/uk/irish-born-candidate-to-lead-ukip-rejects-neo-fascist-label-1.3202775|archive-date=1 September 2017|url-status=live}} She became an au pair in Germany during her teens. After living in the Netherlands, she studied journalism at Nottingham Trent University in England, graduating in 2003, and gained a law degree in London while working as a secretary in the NHS.{{cite news|last=Fisher|first=Lucy|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/is-anne-marie-waters-too-extreme-even-for-ukip-mjx5hxvqk|title=Is Anne Marie Waters too extreme even for Ukip?|work=The Times|date=10 August 2017|access-date=12 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812211757/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/is-anne-marie-waters-too-extreme-even-for-ukip-mjx5hxvqk|archive-date=12 August 2017|url-status=live}}{{subscription required}}{{cite web|title=About Me|url=http://annemarie.bksites.net/|website=Annemarie|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912191715/http://annemarie.bksites.net/|archive-date=12 September 2017|url-status=live}} She also belonged to One Law for All, a pressure group that opposed the spread of sharia courts.{{cite news |first=Nick |last=Cohen |author-link=Nick Cohen |title=Bigot who would lead Ukip is a product of our times |date=29 July 2017 |newspaper=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jul/29/bigot-who-would-lead-ukip-is-a-product-of-our-times |access-date=25 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926014536/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jul/29/bigot-who-would-lead-ukip-is-a-product-of-our-times |archive-date=26 September 2018 |url-status=live }} Waters is a lesbian in a civil partnership,{{cite book|last=Bartlett|first=Jamie|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_c3UDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT49|title=Radicals: Outsiders Changing the World|location=London|publisher=William Heinemann |isbn = 9781785150371|year=2017|page=49}} and, although born and raised in Ireland, has described herself as "passionately, loyally, resolutely and proudly British".{{cite web|url=http://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/anne-marie-waters-ukip-irish-13309240|title=Who is Anne Marie Waters, the Dublin-born woman aiming to become the next leader of Ukip?|publisher=DublinLive|date=30 August 2017|access-date=13 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913183202/http://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/anne-marie-waters-ukip-irish-13309240|archive-date=13 September 2017|url-status=live}}
Political career
Waters unsuccessfully stood for the Labour Party in the 2010 Lambeth London Borough Council election for Streatham Hill ward. She made two unsuccessful attempts to be selected as a Labour parliamentary candidate, in South Swindon,{{Cite web |last=Porritt |first=Richard |date=7 July 2017 |title=Brexfactor: Negotiate? Just tear it down |url=https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/brexit-news-brexfactor-negotiate-just-tear-it-down-19614/ |access-date=5 August 2022 |website=The New European }} then, in 2013, she was one of two people shortlisted to stand for Labour in Brighton Pavilion.{{cite news|last=Le Duc|first=Frank|url=http://www.brightonandhovenews.org/2013/07/19/labour-poised-to-choose-parliamentary-candidate-for-brighton-pavilion/22599/|title=Labour poised to choose parliamentary candidate for Brighton Pavilion|work=Brighton and Hove News|date=19 July 2013|access-date=8 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819022737/http://www.brightonandhovenews.org/2013/07/19/labour-poised-to-choose-parliamentary-candidate-for-brighton-pavilion/22599/|archive-date=19 August 2017|url-status=live}}
After leaving the Labour Party, Waters contested the Clapham Common ward for the UK Independence Party (UKIP) in the 2014 Lambeth Council election, where she finished in last place. At the 2015 general election, she stood as the UKIP candidate in Lewisham East, finishing in third place with 9.1% of the vote. During the campaign, she called for mass deportations, mosque closures and an end to immigration from majority-Muslim countries.{{cite news|last=Wright|first=Paul|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/who-anne-marie-waters-ukip-leadership-hopeful-accused-stoking-anti-muslim-hatred-1628789|title=Who is Anne Marie Waters? Ukip leadership hopeful accused of stoking up anti-Muslim hatred|work=International Business Times|access-date=8 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707102140/http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/who-anne-marie-waters-ukip-leadership-hopeful-accused-stoking-anti-muslim-hatred-1628789|archive-date=7 July 2017|url-status=live}}{{Better source needed|reason=The current source is insufficiently reliable (WP:GUNREL).|date=August 2022}} She was initially chosen to stand as a UKIP candidate in the 2016 London Assembly election, but was deselected when her role in Pegida UK was announced.{{cite news|author1=Niall Flynn|title=Pegida member says 'there's still time for Ireland'|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/pegida-member-says-there-s-still-time-for-ireland-1.2744264|newspaper=The Irish Times|access-date=23 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223201150/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/pegida-member-says-there-s-still-time-for-ireland-1.2744264|archive-date=23 December 2016|url-status=live}} She stood for UKIP in the 2017 Essex County Council election, finishing in eighth place.{{cite web|url=http://www.basildon.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=7362&p=0|title=Statement of Persons Nominated|publisher=Basildon Borough Council|access-date=26 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825231058/http://www.basildon.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=7362&p=0|archive-date=25 August 2017|url-status=dead}}
- {{Cite web|url=http://www.basildonmeetings.info/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?XXR=0&ID=194|title=Election results for Wickford Crouch, 4 May 2017|date=4 May 2017|access-date=24 August 2018}} Waters was selected to be the UKIP candidate for Lewisham East again in the 2017 general election, but was removed after party leader Paul Nuttall described her views as "way above and beyond party policy".{{cite news|last=Proctor|first=Kate|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/ukip-leader-paul-nuttall-to-investigate-antiislam-election-candidate-for-lewisham-a3526271.html|title=Ukip leader Paul Nuttall to investigate anti-Islam election candidate for Lewisham|work=London Evening Standard|date=28 April 2017|access-date=3 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170622033011/http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/ukip-leader-paul-nuttall-to-investigate-antiislam-election-candidate-for-lewisham-a3526271.html|archive-date=22 June 2017|url-status=live}}
- {{cite news|url=http://hopenothate.org.uk/2017/05/09/britain-campaign-anti-muslim-activist-anne-marie-waters-targets-ukip-leader/|title='For Britain' campaign: anti-Muslim activist Anne Marie Waters targets UKIP leader|author=David Lawrence|work=Hope Not Hate|date=9 May 2017|access-date=26 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825230947/http://hopenothate.org.uk/2017/05/09/britain-campaign-anti-muslim-activist-anne-marie-waters-targets-ukip-leader/|archive-date=25 August 2017|url-status=live}}
Following Nuttall's resignation as party leader, Waters announced her intention to stand in the 2017 UKIP leadership election.{{cite news|last=Walker|first=Peter|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jul/02/ukip-members-anne-marie-waters-anti-islam-far-right-fears|title=Large influx of new Ukip members prompts fears of far-right takeover|work=The Guardian|date=2 July 2017|access-date=3 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702235626/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jul/02/ukip-members-anne-marie-waters-anti-islam-far-right-fears|archive-date=2 July 2017|url-status=live}} She planned to launch her campaign in Rotherham, leading to concerns among local UKIP branch members that the choice to hold it there was political opportunism. Rotherham football club cancelled her planned stadium rally and her launch took place instead at Dalton parish hall.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-40442878|title=Anti-Islam campaigner Anne Marie Waters launches UKIP bid|last=Wheeler|first=Brian|date=30 June 2017|work=BBC News|access-date=3 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170703175204/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-40442878|archive-date=3 July 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.rotherhamadvertiser.co.uk/news/view,ukip-leadership-bid-launched-in-dalton_23102.htm|title=UKIP leadership bid launched in Dalton|date=5 July 2017|work=Rotherham Advertiser|access-date=8 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705192819/http://www.rotherhamadvertiser.co.uk/news/view,ukip-leadership-bid-launched-in-dalton_23102.htm|archive-date=5 July 2017|url-status=live}} UKIP's Rotherham branch released a statement calling for members to boycott the campaign launch with the backing of MEP Jane Collins after their concerns were ignored by Waters's team.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-40442878|title=Anti-Islam campaigner Anne Marie Waters launches UKIP bid|last=Wheeler|first=Brian|date=30 June 2017|work=BBC News|access-date=9 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801142910/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-40442878|archive-date=1 August 2017|url-status=live}} UKIP's National Executive Committee urged members to "think very carefully" before participating in her campaign launch. In early July, over a thousand new members had joined the party in two weeks, leading to accusations of far-right infiltration in support of Waters. Jack Buckby, a former member of the British National Party and Liberty GB, described himself as "basically [her] campaign manager".{{Cite news | url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/hazel/infiltrating-far-right_b_18511128.html | title=What I Learned From Spending A Year Infiltrating Britain's Far-Right | work=HuffPost | date=9 November 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171111022114/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/hazel/infiltrating-far-right_b_18511128.html| archive-date=11 November 2017|url-status=live}}
- {{cite news|last=Walker|first=Peter|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jul/27/ukip-leadership-help-campaign-ex-bnp-jack-buckby-anne-marie-waters|title=Ukip leadership hopeful gets help with campaign from ex-BNP member|work=The Guardian|date=27 July 2017|access-date=28 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170727160910/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jul/27/ukip-leadership-help-campaign-ex-bnp-jack-buckby-anne-marie-waters|archive-date=27 July 2017|url-status=live}} Waters predicted several times she would have difficulties in being allowed to stand, but on 11 August she passed UKIP's vetting procedure and was allowed to stand as a leadership candidate.{{cite news|url=https://www.itv.com/news/2017-08-12/ukip-divided-over-anti-islam-leadership-candidate/|title=Ukip divided over anti-Islam leadership candidate|work=ITV News|date=12 August 2017|access-date=12 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812172844/https://www.itv.com/news/2017-08-12/ukip-divided-over-anti-islam-leadership-candidate/|archive-date=12 August 2017|url-status=live}}
- {{cite news|last=Walker|first=Peter|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/aug/11/ukip-allows-anti-muslim-activist-anne-marie-waters-stand-leadership-contest|title=Ukip allows anti-Muslim activist to stand in leadership contest|work=The Guardian|date=11 August 2017|access-date=12 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812003855/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/aug/11/ukip-allows-anti-muslim-activist-anne-marie-waters-stand-leadership-contest|archive-date=12 August 2017|url-status=live}} Waters said she would not be opposed to Tommy Robinson joining UKIP, and eighteen of the party's twenty MEPs vowed to leave if she won the leadership.{{Cite news|last=Roberts|first=Rachel|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ukip-anne-marie-waters-tommy-robinson-edl-leadership-a7929836.html|title=Ukip leadership hopeful opens door to Tommy Robinson joining party|date=5 September 2017|work=The Independent|access-date=15 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915160952/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ukip-anne-marie-waters-tommy-robinson-edl-leadership-a7929836.html|archive-date=15 September 2017|url-status=live}} On 29 September 2017, it was announced that Henry Bolton had been elected leader, who had said the party risked becoming the "UK Nazi party" if it chose the wrong candidate, which was perceived as a criticism of Waters. Waters came second with 2,755 votes, a 21.3% share. She described the result as a victory of jihad against truth.{{Cite news|last=Oppenheim|first=Maya|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/anne-marie-waters-ukip-henry-bolton-jihad-1-truth-0-a7975431.html|title=Failed Ukip leadership candidate proclaims 'Jihad 1, Truth 0' after shock defeat|work=The Independent|date=30 September 2017|access-date=5 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005000526/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/anne-marie-waters-ukip-henry-bolton-jihad-1-truth-0-a7975431.html|archive-date=5 October 2017|url-status=live}}
Waters later left UKIP to establish a new far-right political party called For Britain.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/ukip-loser-anne-marie-waters-will-start-far-right-party-fsgps673r|title=Ukip loser will start far-right party|last=Humphries|first=Will|date=12 October 2017|work=The Times|access-date=29 May 2018|page=11|issn=0140-0460|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180531222800/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ukip-loser-anne-marie-waters-will-start-far-right-party-fsgps673r|archive-date=31 May 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.eu/article/former-ukip-leadership-candidate-to-launch-new-far-right-party/|title=Former UKIP leadership candidate to launch new far-right party|date=12 October 2017|website=Politico|access-date=12 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012115822/http://www.politico.eu/article/former-ukip-leadership-candidate-to-launch-new-far-right-party/|archive-date=12 October 2017|url-status=live}} Waters stood as a For Britain candidate in the Lewisham East by-election on 14 June 2018. She lost her deposit and finished in seventh place with 1.2% of the vote.{{cite web |title=Lewisham East by-election results 2018 |publisher=Lewisham London Borough Council |url=https://www.lewisham.gov.uk/mayorandcouncil/elections/results/Pages/Lewisham-East-by-election-results-2018.aspx |access-date=14 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615032317/https://www.lewisham.gov.uk/mayorandcouncil/elections/results/Pages/Lewisham-East-by-election-results-2018.aspx |archive-date=15 June 2018 |url-status=dead }} The Electoral Commission records that the For Britain Movement was registered by Anna Maria Waters (not Anne Marie Waters) et al.{{Cite web|url=http://search.electoralcommission.org.uk/English/Registrations/PP6661|title=View registration - The Electoral Commission|website=search.electoralcommission.org.uk|access-date=16 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203002843/http://search.electoralcommission.org.uk/English/Registrations/PP6661|archive-date=3 February 2019|url-status=live}} In March 2021, she moved to Hartlepool and stood as a candidate in the 2021 Hartlepool Borough Council election for De Bruce ward.{{Cite web |last=Marko |first=Nic |date=28 April 2022 |title=Meet the candidates for Hartlepool Borough Council's De Bruce ward |url=https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/politics/council/meet-the-candidates-for-hartlepool-borough-councils-de-bruce-ward-3673130 |access-date=5 August 2022 |website=Hartlepool Mail}} The ward had a For Britain councillor, one of the two elected in 2019. She lost the election, coming in sixth place with 10.7% of the vote. Later in 2021, she stood in the Batley and Spen by-election, with Robinson supporting her campaign;{{Cite web|date=7 June 2021|title=Batley and Spen by-election: candidate briefing|url=https://hopenothate.org.uk/2021/06/07/batley-spen-by-election-candidate-briefing/|access-date=23 October 2021|website=HOPE not hate}} she finished twelfth out of sixteen candidates with 0.3% of the vote.{{Cite web|date=2 July 2021|title=Far-right candidates lose deposits, win under 2% of vote and 'sink without a trace' in Batley and Spen|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/batley-spin-byelection-results-far-right-b1876883.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220507/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/batley-spin-byelection-results-far-right-b1876883.html |archive-date=7 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=23 October 2021|website=The Independent}}{{cbignore}}{{Cite web|last1=Gildea|first1=Samantha|last2=Abbiss|first2=Ben|date=26 June 2021|title=Batley anti-racism protest goers on the march with police lining streets|url=https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/live-for-britain-rally-batley-20908774|access-date=23 October 2021|website=YorkshireLive}}
In July 2022, she was in St Helen's Square, York, with supporters from organisations including For Britain and Patriotic Alternative. Her speech was met by counter-protesters organised by York Stand Up To Racism.{{cite news |title=Huge policing operation staged as political protests erupt in city centre |url=https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/20252120.huge-policing-operation-staged-political-protests-erupt-city-centre/ |access-date=2 July 2022 |website=The Press |location=York |author=Mike Laycock |date=2 July 2022}} On 13 July 2022, she announced on the For Britain website that the party was ceasing operations immediately.{{cite web |url=https://www.forbritain.uk/2022/07/13/announcement-from-anne-marie-waters/ |title=Announcement from Anne Marie Waters |publisher=For Britain |date=13 July 2022 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220713135500/https://www.forbritain.uk/2022/07/13/announcement-from-anne-marie-waters/ |archivedate=13 July 2022 |accessdate=12 July 2023}}
In April 2023, it was announced that she was rejoining UKIP as the "Justice spokes[person]",{{cite web |url=https://www.ukip.org/anne-marie-waters-announces-her-return-to-politics-ukip |title=Anne Marie Waters announces her return to politics & UKIP |date=18 April 2023 |publisher=UKIP}} and the following month it was announced that she had been selected as the UKIP candidate for Hartlepool for the general election.{{cite tweet |user=UKIP |number=1661619282478866433 |title=We're delighted to announce that Anne Marie Waters will be our candidate in #Hartlepool at the next general election. #AnneMarieForHartlepool #VoteUKIP |author=United Kingdom Independence Party|date=25 May 2023|accessdate=25 May 2023}} She stood for election in the party's 2024 leadership election, though withdrew her candidacy during the campaign.{{Cite web |title=2024 UKIP Leadership Election |url=https://www.ukip.org/leadership-election-2024 |publisher=UKIP |accessdate=21 March 2024}}
Political views
Waters has been criticised for her association with far-right politicians and organisations and has praised Geert Wilders and Marine Le Pen.{{cite news|last=Walker|first=Peter|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/apr/27/ukip-anne-marie-waters-islam-pegida|title=Ukip under fire for choosing candidate who called Islam evil|work=The Guardian|date=26 October 2017|access-date=25 June 2017|quote=Anne Marie Waters, an activist from the anti-Islam Pegida movement, has also praised the far-right leaders Marine Le Pen and Geert Wilders.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170602184513/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/apr/27/ukip-anne-marie-waters-islam-pegida|archive-date=2 June 2017|url-status=live}} HuffPost has pointed to her membership of the senior management of the anti-Islam group Pegida UK alongside Tommy Robinson, former leader of the English Defence League and Paul Weston, at the time leader of the ultranationalist Liberty GB.{{cite news | last=Hopkins | first=Steven | url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2016/01/04/pegida-tommy-robinson-reveals-new-leaders_n_8911438.html | title=Pegida: Tommy Robinson Reveals New Leaders Paul Weston And Sharia Watch's Anne Marie Waters | work=HuffPost | date=4 January 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170215001255/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2016/01/04/pegida-tommy-robinson-reveals-new-leaders_n_8911438.html| archive-date=15 February 2017|url-status=live}} She has been described by Hope not Hate as "heavily involved in the counter-jihad scene".{{cite news|url=https://hopenothate.org.uk/2021/04/30/who-is-anne-marie-waters/|title=Who is Anne Marie Waters|date=30 April 2021|work=Hope not Hate}}
In an ITV documentary broadcast in November 2017, called "Undercover: Inside Britain's New Far Right", Waters advocated the reduction of Muslim birthrates, stopping Muslim immigration and accusing the EU of conspiring to turn Europe into an Islamic state.{{Cite news|url=http://www.itv.com/news/update/2017-11-07/ex-ukip-leadership-candidates-extreme-views-revealed/|title=Ex-Ukip leadership candidate's extreme views revealed|work=ITV News|access-date=11 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171111025249/http://www.itv.com/news/update/2017-11-07/ex-ukip-leadership-candidates-extreme-views-revealed/|archive-date=11 November 2017|url-status=live}} She later told ITV she opposed "racism, antisemitism, misogyny and the oppression usually associated with the far right".{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/08/uk-far-right-activists-military-style-camps-anti-islam-group|title=UK far-right activists attend military-style camps with anti-Islam group|last=Grierson|first=Jamie|date=8 November 2017|work=The Guardian|access-date=10 November 2017|issn=0261-3077|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110004955/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/08/uk-far-right-activists-military-style-camps-anti-islam-group|archive-date=10 November 2017|url-status=live}} The documentary also revealed that a UKIP member who regularly attended Waters’ events was also a member of the white-nationalist group Generation Identity. Waters has since said that he was not a close associate and would not be welcome at future events. However, in 2019, she spoke at a Generation Identity conference, and claimed in her speech that mass immigration was being used to remove political power from white people.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/_BvdM/status/1165539840211001344|author=Ben van der Merwe|website=Twitter|date=25 August 2019|access-date=25 August 2019|title=Second speaker: Anne Marie Waters}} The speech was billed by its supporters as the "first great replacement speech by a UK politician".{{cite news |first=Mark |last=Townsend |title=Infiltrator exposes Generation Identity UK's march towards extreme far right |date=24 August 2019 |newspaper=The Observer |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/24/generation-identity-uk-far-right-extremists |access-date=26 August 2019}}
Waters says she has been an LGBT activist since her days at university, and she considers herself to be a feminist.{{cite news|url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2017/06/14/lesbian-ally-of-the-edls-tommy-robinson-standing-to-be-ukip-leader/|title=Lesbian ally of the EDL's Tommy Robinson standing to be UKIP leader|last=Butterworth|first=Benjamin|date=14 June 2017|work=Pink News|access-date=5 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619041032/http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2017/06/14/lesbian-ally-of-the-edls-tommy-robinson-standing-to-be-ukip-leader/|archive-date=19 June 2017|url-status=live}} Waters is also an agnostic, and between November 2011 and June 2014 she was listed as a director of the National Secular Society.{{cite news|last=Mills|first=Tom|url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/tom-mills-hilary-aked-narzanin-massoumi-david-miller/taking-racism-seriously-islamophobia|title=Taking racism seriously: Islamophobia, civil liberties and the state|work=Open Democracy|date=22 June 2015|access-date=12 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813015115/https://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/tom-mills-hilary-aked-narzanin-massoumi-david-miller/taking-racism-seriously-islamophobia|archive-date=13 August 2017|url-status=live}}
- [https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/officers/rFq09rMxreUc5-e7vuuQhaIVXoY/appointments Companies House entry for Anne Marie Waters] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416153415/https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/officers/rFq09rMxreUc5-e7vuuQhaIVXoY/appointments |date=16 April 2019 }} She had left the NSS by 2017.
She is the author of Beyond Terror: Islam's Slow Erosion of Western Democracy (2018).
Elections contested
=UK Parliament elections=
| class="wikitable" |
| Date
! Constituency ! colspan=2 | Party ! Votes ! % votes ! Place !Ref |
|---|
| 2015 general election
| {{party name with colour|UK Independence Party}} | 3,886 | 9.1 | 3rd |
| 2018 by-election
| Lewisham East | {{party name with colour|For Britain Movement}} | 266 | 1.2 | 7th |
| 2021 by-election
| {{party name with colour|For Britain Movement}} | 97 | 0.3 | 12th |
=Council elections=
| class="wikitable" |
| Date
! Council ! Ward ! colspan=2 | Party ! Votes ! % votes ! Place ! Ref |
|---|
| 2010
| Lambeth London Borough Council | Streatham Hill | {{party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} | 2,001 | 11.3 | 4th |{{Cite web|title=Election results for Streatham Hill |date=6 May 2010 |publisher=Lambeth London Borough Council |url=https://moderngov.lambeth.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?XXR=0&ID=63&RPID=55279324|access-date=2 February 2022}} |
| 2017
| Wickford Crouch | {{party name with colour|UK Independence Party}} | 850 | 10.0 | 8th |
| 2021
| De Bruce | {{party name with colour|For Britain Movement}} | 479 | 10.7 | 6th |
References
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
External links
- {{Official|http://www.annemariewaters.org}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Waters, Anne}}
Category:21st-century Irish LGBTQ people
Category:Alumni of Nottingham Trent University
Category:British critics of Islam
Category:British political party founders
Category:British counter-jihad activists
Category:Critics of the Catholic Church
Category:Former Roman Catholics
Category:Irish conspiracy theorists
Category:Irish domestic workers
Category:Irish expatriates in the United Kingdom
Category:Irish far-right politicians
Category:Irish lesbian politicians
Category:Irish LGBTQ rights activists
Category:Irish women activists
Category:Labour Party (UK) people
Category:Leaders of political parties in the United Kingdom
Category:National Health Service people
Category:Place of birth missing (living people)
Category:Politicians from Dublin (city)
Category:UK Independence Party parliamentary candidates