Nick Tenconi

[[File:Tenconi-leader-2.jpeg|thumb|right|165px|Out and proud!]]{{altrightnav|1}}

'''Nicholas Marcel Tenconi''' {{lived|March 1984|}}<ref name=CompaniesHouse>[https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/e_XkKxIekQ1yLwTkJBD6GBoxjWk/appointments Nicholas TENCONI] ''Companies House''</ref> is a self-employed personal trainer turned far-right Christian nationalist thug who as well as being director of Tenco Training Ltd. since 2014<ref>[https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/09154616 TENCO TRAINING LIMITED] ''Companies House''</ref> has served as COO for the violent fascist street gang [[Turning Point UK]] (TPUK) since 2022<ref name=hnhtpuk>[https://hopenothate.org.uk/case-files-turning-point-uk/ CASE FILE: Turning Point UK] ''Hope Not Hate''</ref> and leader of "Britain’s fastest-shrinking political party" the [[UK Independence Party]] (UKIP) since June 2024.<ref name=hnhpa>[https://hopenothate.org.uk/case-files-patriots-alliance/ CASE FILE: Patriots Alliance (UKIP & English Democrats)] ''Hope Not Hate''</ref> Describing himself as a “Defender of masculinity, Christianity & conservative values,” Tenconi has called for a "middle finger up to the woke nonsense," advocated for the arrest of a man holding a "queer joy is for all ages" sign, and described himself as a "huge fan" of racist murderer [[Kyle Rittenhouse]].<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/apr/17/conservatives-turning-point-uk-labour-lib-dems Opposition urges Tories to cut ties with rightwing group over ‘culture war’ comments] by Peter Walker (17 April 2023) ''The Guardian''</ref><ref>[https://religiondispatches.org/turning-point-efforts-to-export-drag-queen-attacks-and-take-back-universities-marred-by-fringe-associations-and-farcical-missteps/ Turning Point Efforts to Export Drag Queen Attacks and ‘Take Back Universities’ Marred by Fringe Associations and Farcical Missteps] by Matthew Boedy (15 May 2023) ''Religion Dispatches''</ref> He also, reportedly, has a criminal conviction for kicking someone in the head during a night-club brawl.<ref>[https://www.searchlightmagazine.com/2024/11/ukip-rats-desert-the-sinking-ship/ UKIP: Rats desert the sinking ship] (30 November 2024) ''Searchlight''</ref>

==At a turning point==
Emerging from under a rock into the bright lights of Reading local news in February 2023, Tenconi was first recognised for his role in delivering aid to Ukraine as part of his friend Jack Ross's ''Vans Without Borders'' effort,<ref>[https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/23324666.reading-mans-trip-ukraine-vans-without-borders/ Reading man's trip to Ukraine with Vans without Borders] by James Aldridge (16th February 2023) ''The Reading Chronicle''</ref><ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-64670197 Reading personal trainer goes to Ukrainian front line to deliver essentials] by James Aldridge (17th February 2023) ''BBC News''</ref><ref>[https://rdg.today/personal-trainer-from-reading-heads-to-ukrainian-frontline-to-help-civilians-caught-up-in-russias-illegal-invasion/ Personal trainer from Reading heads to Ukrainian frontline to help civilians caught up in Russia’s illegal invasion] by James Aldridge (19th February 2023) ''Reading Today Online''</ref> and then for being ordered off the {{wpl|University of Reading}} campus, when a poll, asking if convicted trans-woman should be sent to a male or female prisons, sparked calls for the TPUK university society to be shut down.<ref>[https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/23337586.clash-reading-university-survey-far-right-group/ Clash at Reading university over survey by 'far right' group] by James Aldridge (22nd February 2023) ''The Reading Chronicle''</ref>

Tenconi (dis-)organised a series of chaotic anti drag queen story hour protests,<ref>[https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/02/25/honor-oak-pub-drag-queen-protest-turning-point-uk/ Hundreds turn out to defend London pub’s drag event for kids from pitiful far-right protest] by Will Stroude (25th February 2023) ''Pink News''</ref><ref>[https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/03/27/far-right-turning-point-uk-drag-honor-oak-pub/ Far-right group outnumbered by LGBTQ+ protesters in sad attempt to shut down London drag event] by Will Stroude (27th March 2023) ''Pink News''</ref><ref>[https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/05/28/turning-point-uk-drag-event-honor-oak/ Pitiful turnout of anti-drag protesters countered with ‘joyful’ LGBTQ+ street party]  by Chantelle Billson (28th May 2023) ''Pink News''</ref> where they were regularly outnumbered by counter-protestors, outside the Honour Oak pub in Lewisham, South-East London and a couple of other locations (including at least one which didn't even have a drag queen story hour). The protests nonetheless gave TPUK some national recognition thanks to them attracting the presence of such D-list Christian nationalist celebs as [[Laurence Fox]], [[Calvin Robinson]] and [[Rikki Doolan]].<ref>[https://freedomnews.org.uk/2023/03/15/lawrence-fox-and-fash-friends-humiliated-in-dulwich/ Lawrence Fox and fash friends humiliated in Dulwich] (15th March 2023) ''Freedom''</ref> Violent clashes with counter-protesters led by members of the local community, reportedly saw Tenconi enthusiastically engaging in threats and physical attacks.<ref>[https://transsafety.network/posts/far-right-attack-on-honour-oak/ Exclusive: The Truth About the Far Right Attack on Honor Oak] by Jess O'Thomson (27th June 2023) ''Trans Safety Network''</ref>

This increased notoriety brought with it calls from opposition parties for Tory politicians to cut ties with the gang, with Labour party chair {{wpl|Anneliese Dodds}} stating:<ref name=tg170423>[https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/apr/17/conservatives-turning-point-uk-labour-lib-dems Opposition urges Tories to cut ties with rightwing group over ‘culture war’ comments] by Peter Walker (17 April 2023) ''The Guardian''</ref><ref>[https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/04/18/conservatives-turning-point-uk-right-wing-organisation/ Tories urged to cut ties with ‘hate-filled’ right-wing, anti-LGBTQ+ group Turning Point UK] by Chantelle Billson (18 April 2023) ''Pink News''</ref> {{Quotebox|The nasty party is well and truly back. It’s extremely concerning to see senior Conservatives associating themselves with what looks to most people an awful lot like a far-right group.}}

Whilst Tory PM [[Rishi Sunak]] claimed he was "not aware of the specific allegations" in response to Lewisham Deptford MP {{wpl|Vicky Foxcroft||'s}} plea:<ref>[https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/04/26/rishi-sunak-turning-point-uk-drag-protes/ Rishi Sunak refuses to condemn Turning Point UK over protests against drag events for kids] by Amelia Hansford (26 April 2023) ''Pink News''</ref> {{Quotebox|Will the prime minister condemn Turning Point UK’s attempts to spread hatred and division in my constituency and across the country?}}

==Done up like a kipper==
[[File:UKIPPoster.jpg|thumb|right|165px|Today we celebrate our Indepedence{{sic}} Day!]][[File:UKIPValuesPoster.jpg|thumb|right|165px|Tenconi's Christian-Judeau{{sic}} values do not include spelling.]]
Tenconi was elected deputy leader of UKIP in a May 2024 leadership election which also saw anti-net zero campaigner and conspiracy nut Lois Perry succeed [[Neil Hamilton]] as the party's dear leader by taking 77% of the estimated 300 votes, with her main rival old school anti-immigration, anti-Europe traditionalist and former MEP Bill Etheridge on a paltry 21%. These (for some) surprise results highlight the once significant party's continued spiral down the far-right conspiracy rabbit hole.<ref>[https://www.searchlightmagazine.com/2024/05/conspiracy-nuts-take-over-ukip/ Conspiracy nuts take over UKIP] (15 May 2024) ''Searchlight''</ref> A few weeks into her leadership role and the campaigning for the [[2024 United Kingdom general election]], Perry suddenly resigned citing health issues,<ref name=sl220624>[https://www.searchlightmagazine.com/2024/06/newly-elected-ukip-leader-quits/ Newly elected UKIP Leader quits] (16 June 2024) ''Searchlight''</ref> leaving the leadership another in the long list of vacant roles in "Britain's fastest-shrinking political party".<ref>[https://www.searchlightmagazine.com/2024/06/ukip-in-disarray-as-members-leave-in-droves/ UKIP in disarray as members “leave in droves”] (22 June 2024) ''Searchlight''</ref>

Taking on the mantle of leadership (although, curiously, not the official "interim leader" title),<ref name=sl220624 /> Tenconi accelerated the party's continuing slide into far-right irrelevance,<ref>[https://www.searchlightmagazine.com/2024/09/ukip-and-english-democrats-move-closer-to-hook-up/ UKIP and English Democrats move closer to hook-up] (4 September 2024) ''Searchlight''</ref> cozying up to far-right figures [[Tommy Robinson]], [[Laurence Fox]] and [[Katie Hopkins]],<ref>[https://www.searchlightmagazine.com/2024/07/ukip-an-onward-march-to-the-gutter-and-oblivion/ UKIP – an onward march to the gutter and oblivion] (17 July 2024) ''Searchlight''</ref> and filling the many vacant roles in the party with their acolytes. Most significant of these appointments was alt-right commentator and soon-to-be defrocked [[evangelical]] priest<ref>[https://www.anglicancatholic.org.uk/2025/01/30/a-statement-on-calvin-robinson/ A Statement on Calvin Robinson] by Jonathan Munn (30 January 2025) ''The Anglican Catholic Church''</ref> [[Calvin Robinson]]'s ordination as its ''Lead Spokesman on Everything''.<ref>[https://www.searchlightmagazine.com/2024/08/ukip-opens-door-to-yaxley-lennon-and-anti-islam-christian-crusade/ UKIP opens door to Yaxley-Lennon and anti-Islam, Christian crusade], ''Searchlight'', 14 August 2024.</ref> Anti-fascist researchers speculate that this continued shift to the far-right might be not be acceptable to the few remaining traditional anti-EU, anti-immigration, rank and file members.<ref name=hnhpa />

[[File:UKIPMeeting.png|thumb|center|542px|Spot the fascist? Trick question, it's all of them.]]
During the [[2024 United Kingdom riots|summer race riots of 2024]], Tenconi stoked violence both indirectly, by alleging that the perpetrator of the [[2024 Southport stabbing]] had been acting "under orders,"<ref>[https://www.searchlightmagazine.com/2024/08/after-the-southport-killings-who-is-responsible-for-the-racist-riots/ After the Southport killings – who is responsible for the racist riots?] (August 1, 2024) ''Searchlight''</ref> and directly, by taking to the streets wielding a megaphone and chanting "invaders out" at protests which turned violent outside Downing Street on August 1st and in Plymouth on August 5th.<ref name=tg>[https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/aug/07/the-edl-actors-and-conspiracy-theorists-a-guide-to-the-british-far-right Actors, activists and conspiracy theorists – a guide to the British far right] by Ben Quinn (August 7, 2024) ''The Guardian''</ref> And, even after the riots had petered out across the rest of the country, Tenconi partied on, leading chants of "invaders out, close off borders, invaders out" to the dance song ''L'amour toujours'' by Italian DJ Gigi d'Agostino at a small ''Enough is Enough'' protest outside immigrant accommodation in Aldershot on August 7th.<ref>[https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/24508740.ukip-leader-personal-trainer-leads-protest-outside-hotel/ Ukip leader and personal trainer leads chants and protesters clash] (August 9, 2024) ''The Reading Chronicle''</ref><ref>[https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/24512641.reading-based-ukip-leader-replies-offensive-chants/ Reading based UKIP leader replies over 'offensive chants'] by James Aldridge (August 12, 2024) ''The Reading Chronicle''</ref>

Running unopposed in a leadership election that required candidates to stump up a non-refundable £3,000 deposit, Tenconi was appointed UKIP's "permanent" leader (despite a constitutionally imposed five-year term limit) by the party's NEC (which under chairman Ben Walker has been stacked with Tommy Robinson acolytes Ricki Doolan, Richard Inman, Stan Robinson and Dean Neil) on February 8th, 2025.<ref>[https://www.searchlightmagazine.com/2025/02/ukip-appoints-new-leader-and-the-romance-with-tommy-robinson-goes-on/ UKIP appoints new leader – and the romance with ‘Tommy Robinson’ goes on] (8 February 2025) ''Searchlight''</ref> A ''Stop the Isolation'' rally of Robinson supporters, organised by Inman and featuring such Robinson supporting Kippers as former leader Gerald Batten,  party culture spokesman Doolan, and activist and convicted fraudster Dan Morgan rallied outside the Union Jack Club in Waterloo where the NEC was meeting to make the appointment.

==References==
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{{Draft categories|
[[Category:Alt-right]]
[[Category:Anti-immigration]]
[[Category:British people]]
[[Category:British right wing]]
[[Category:Christians]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Racists]]
[[Category:Right-wing activists]]
}}

Categories: Alt-right, Anti-immigration, British people, British right wing, Christians, Living people, Racists, Right-wing activists