Year of the Rat

Summary

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Far-right groups are now the most regular perpetrators of terrorist activity in the UK according to Prevent and are more visible than ever: on the streets, in the corridors of power. But how much do we really know about the myriad shadowy political collectives that have insinuated themselves into every stratum of British society?

Harry Shukman, a researcher with HOPE not hate, set out to explore this secretive world that seemingly hides from us in plain sight. He spent a year living under an assumed name, wearing a hidden camera, and infiltrating the extreme right-wing groups that are deliberately eroding principles about what is acceptable in public debate, promoting racist ideology and actively seeking to overturn democracy around the world. From joining a shadowy network called the Basketweavers to canvassing for Britain First, Shukman encounters neo-Nazi thugs and antisemitic conspiracy theorists, before uncovering a race science network funded by a US tech CEO and eugenicist sympathisers close to the very heart of our government.

Year of the Rat explores the historical context for these beliefs and looks at the wider European situation, with Shukman travelling to Poland, Tallinn and Greece. With the threat of discovery always looming, what Shukman exposes is chilling, but he writes with real compassion, humanity and humour. This is an urgent and vital read for anyone who wants to understand the current political climate.

© Harry Shukman 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025