‘Ivan is a role model’ - Former EDL organiser from Lowestoft speaks out in Amazon Prime documentary

Ivan Humble with journalist Aran Tori while filming Amazon Prime's Britain's Ultra Nationalists. PHOTO: Journeyman Pictures (Image: Archant)

Ivan Humble welcomes journalist Aran Tori to Lowestoft for the documentary, which focuses on the rise of far right extremism in Britain.

Mr Humble features on 'Britain's Ultra Nationalists', where he shares his story of how he rejected hate after being a key role in the local EDL.

He said: "It is about the rise of far right extremism. There are a range of views from people who are still involved and I was there as someone who had walked away from it.

"It is important to get both sides of the story out there. It is not always a boogeyman on the far right.

"When I wasn't listened to it let me down the wrong path, but listening is important to start these difficult conversations.

"Once people get into their groups on social media it can be hard to challenge their views. The minute someone is challenged they are deleted and blocked, but when people aren't challenged it leads them down a more hardcore path.

"It is important to sit down and have that dialogue with someone who you don't necessarily agree with."

The 57-minute documentary is available now on the streaming service.

Mr Tori said: "Ivan is a role model, proving that change is possible. It's encouraging to see a u-turn from causing hatred and division across the country to helping your community and supporting unity across Britain, and we need more of this at a time when political rhetoric has become so divisive.

"Lowestoft voted heavily out of the EU because it wants more economic focus on it's fishing industry, but the overwhelming vote can be misinterpreted anywhere in the country because the far right threat is never far away to manipulate people's language.

"We need people like Ivan because they shaped the far right narrative and understand the mentality of nationalists in these groups, but it comes at a cost. When Ivan is in the press he receives hate messages and is at risk of being attacked by those who deem him as betraying the nationalist cause."