Entity: Patriotic Defence League (PDL)

Basic Information

Type: Street movement / Activist group
Status: Active
Founded: 2024 (successor to DFLA)
Key figure: John Myles (aka John Smith)
Predecessor: Democratic Football Lads Alliance (DFLA)
Registration: NOT a registered political party — no Electoral Commission oversight
Platforms: Telegram, YouTube, Rumble

Role in Ecosystem

The PDL is the most active UK far-right street movement as of 2024-2025. It organises counter-protests at asylum hotels and immigration-related sites. Because it's NOT a registered political party, its funding is completely opaque — no Electoral Commission disclosure requirements.

Money IN (Funding Received)

Date	From	Amount	Type	Confidence	Source
Ongoing	Telegram donation drives	Unknown	Informal donations	REPORTED	Pattern from similar groups
Ongoing	Crowdfunding campaigns	Unknown	Platform fundraising	REPORTED	JustGiving, GoFundMe patterns
Ongoing	Member contributions	Unknown	Informal	SPECULATIVE	Pattern-based
Ongoing	Merchandise sales	Unknown	T-shirts, banners, flags	SPECULATIVE	Pattern-based

Narrative: PDL funding is entirely informal and opaque. No formal donation records exist because the group is not a registered party. Funding likely comes from:

Telegram donation bots and wallet addresses
Crowdfunding for specific events/campaigns
Member contributions for travel, banners, equipment
Merchandise sales

JustGiving: John Myles ran a charity challenge ("4 Miles For Myles & MND Challenge") that raised £16,544 from 445 supporters. While this was for charity, it demonstrates his fundraising network.

Money OUT (Funding Given)

Date	To	Amount	Type	Confidence	Source
Ongoing	Counter-protests	Unknown	Travel, banners, equipment	SPECULATIVE	Pattern-based
Ongoing	Legal fees (members)	Unknown	Legal support	SPECULATIVE	Pattern from arrests
Ongoing	Media production	Unknown	Video/streaming equipment	SPECULATIVE	Pattern-based

Known Associations

Person/Org	Relationship	Evidence
DFLA	Predecessor organisation	Public knowledge
John Myles	Key figure	Public knowledge
Various local "Patriot" groups	Network	Telegram

Research Notes

Key questions:

Telegram channels: What wallet addresses are posted? Crypto donation totals?
Arrests/legal fees: Have PDL members been arrested? Who funds legal defense?
Event costs: How much do counter-protests cost (coaches, banners, stewards)?
Informal patrons: Are there wealthy individuals backing PDL privately?
Overlap with registered parties: Do any PDL members also donate to Reform UK or Heritage Party?

Red flags:

Completely opaque funding — no regulatory oversight
Street movement with potential for violence
Growing presence at asylum hotels
Informal funding = impossible to trace through normal channels

Significance: PDL represents the gap in UK political finance regulation:

Street movements don't have to declare funding
Telegram/crypto donations are untraceable
Crowdfunding platforms have minimal oversight
The most active far-right street movement has zero financial transparency

Last Updated

Date: 2026-06-14