When Nicola Wilding received a letter from her brother in prison, his casual warning that their mother had "turned into a fascist" sparked a decade-long journey into family history. Sandra, a 59-year-old care worker and lifelong Labour voter, had just attended her first English Defence League march. What began as a bemusing adventure for her daughter became a profound exploration of why working-class families feel abandoned by mainstream politics.
Wilding's new memoir, These Wild English, traces three generations of her family from a Cumbrian farm to the scrapyards and care homes of Kent. It is a deeply personal account of bootstrap fatalism—a mix of hopefulness and hopelessness that defines lives caught between aspiration and economic reality. The book asks a crucial question: ten years after the Brexit vote, what drives people who once voted Labour to march with far-right groups?
The Making of a Care Worker Turned Activist
Sandra Wilding was no stranger to hard work. She earned a place at grammar school but left at 15, pregnant with Nicola by 18. For decades, she worked as a care worker, a role that demands patience, empathy, and resilience. Yet by 2013, she was marching with the English Defence League, a group known for its anti-Islam stance.
Nicola Wilding, a television producer who has covered social issues from adoption to the housing crisis, admits she was initially dismissive. "I thought: 'Oh, Mum's just being daft. She's having an adventure. She'll get over it,'" she recalls. But the anger stayed, and more marches followed. The shift from caring for the vulnerable to embracing a divisive political movement is a paradox that lies at the heart of the memoir.
Economic Insecurity and Political Disenchantment
Research from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation shows that working-class communities in post-industrial areas have faced decades of wage stagnation, cuts to public services, and a housing crisis. For people like Sandra, who worked in care—a sector notoriously underpaid and undervalued—the promise of better days never materialized. The British Social Attitudes Survey indicates that trust in politicians has plummeted since the 2008 financial crash, with many feeling that Labour no longer represents their interests.
Wilding's family is a case study in this disenchantment. Her grandparents farmed in Cumbria; her father worked in scrapyards. The family's banger race tracks and care homes are settings where money is tight but pride is fierce. The memoir is shot through with what Wilding calls "crazy energy" and love, but also violence, alcohol, and a sense of being left behind.
Why the EDL? A Search for Belonging
For Sandra, the EDL offered something that mainstream politics did not: a sense of identity and purpose. Sociologists at the University of Oxford have found that far-right groups often attract individuals who feel economically and culturally threatened. The EDL's rhetoric of "taking back control" resonated with those who saw immigration as a scapegoat for their struggles.
Nicola Wilding's brother, Billy, was serving time for attempted carjacking when he broke the news about their mother. His own path—from petty crime to prison—reflects the cycle of poverty and marginalization that the book explores. The family's story is not exceptional; it is a microcosm of broader trends in post-industrial Britain.
From Labour to the Far Right: A Long Journey
Wilding's research reveals that her mother's shift did not happen overnight. It was a gradual erosion of faith in institutions that had failed her. Brexit was a turning point, but the seeds were sown earlier. A 2023 study by the Centre for Towns found that areas with high levels of deprivation and low social mobility were most likely to vote Leave in 2016 and to support far-right parties later.
Sandra Wilding died in 2024 without reading the finished book, but she knew its purpose. "She loved the idea of the book," Nicola says. The memoir is both a tribute and an indictment—a portrait of a woman who was an excellent care worker but felt unseen by the system she served.
FAQ: Understanding the Shift from Care Worker to EDL Marcher
Why would a care worker join the English Defence League?
Care workers are often undervalued and underpaid, leading to economic insecurity. When combined with a perception that immigration is straining public services, some individuals turn to far-right groups that promise to prioritize native-born citizens. The EDL's anti-Islam stance also provides a clear, albeit divisive, enemy for their frustrations.
What does the book These Wild English reveal about working-class politics?
The memoir shows that working-class communities are not monolithic. Many feel abandoned by both Labour and Conservative parties, leading to a search for alternative voices. Wilding's family story highlights how bootstrap fatalism—the belief that hard work should pay off but often doesn't—fuels political disenchantment.
How did Brexit influence the rise of far-right sympathies among working-class voters?
Brexit tapped into existing anxieties about immigration, sovereignty, and economic decline. For people like Sandra, the Leave campaign's promise to "take back control" resonated deeply. Post-Brexit studies show that areas with high Leave votes also saw increased support for far-right groups, as unfulfilled promises deepened cynicism.
What role does family history play in political radicalization?
Wilding's book traces three generations of family trauma, economic hardship, and resilience. It suggests that political choices are often shaped by inherited narratives of struggle. When parents and grandparents have experienced poverty or social exclusion, their children may be more receptive to radical solutions.
Can understanding personal stories help bridge political divides?
Yes. By humanizing those who join far-right movements, memoirs like These Wild English encourage empathy rather than condemnation. They reveal that many marchers are not monsters but ordinary people who feel unheard. Addressing their grievances—through better wages, housing, and community investment—may be more effective than shaming them.
