Fred Willis (Fred CPO)

Semantic Summary

Fred Willis, operating under the moniker "Fred CPO," is a Manchester-based fascist activist and former bodyguard to notorious far-right YouTuber Charlie Veitch. He was identified by Searchlight Magazine as one of the "more recently recruited activists" in the Manchester fascist network that has been "increasingly active" targeting women MPs. Willis was documented as part of the March 2026 attack on Green MP Hannah Spencer in Manchester's Piccadilly Gardens, alongside Chris Messenger (English Ned) and anti-trans extremist Steve James. Searchlight described Willis as "formerly a bodyguard to the notorious Charlie Veitch, who was driven out of the city last year." His "Fred CPO" handle — CPO potentially standing for "Close Protection Officer" — signals his claimed security/bodyguard identity. Willis is embedded in the Mancunian auditor cluster documented by HOPE not hate, operating alongside English Ned, The Ginger Patriot (Ben Mills), MKR Audits, and My Brakes Don't Work. His documented involvement in the attack on a female MP places him among the most explicitly violent elements of the Manchester far-right street movement, which Searchlight characterised as a "small but well-organised group of fascist thugs."

Platform: YouTube, street activism Category: Far-right activist / Bodyguard / Street-level fascist Status: Active Real Name: Fred Willis Location: Manchester Monikers: "Fred CPO" Affiliated Groups: Manchester fascist network, ex-Charlie Veitch entourage

Overview

Fred Willis, known online as "Fred CPO," is a Manchester-based far-right activist who was formerly a bodyguard to Charlie Veitch, the notorious far-right YouTuber. Searchlight Magazine identified Willis as one of the network of "fascist thugs" who have been "increasingly active in Manchester" targeting political opponents, particularly women MPs.

Willis was named and photographed by Searchlight in their March 2026 investigation "Manchester – fascist thugs target women MPs," which documented the attack on Green MP Hannah Spencer in Piccadilly Gardens. Searchlight described him as among the "more recently recruited activists" in the Manchester fascist network, noting his previous role as "bodyguard to the notorious Charlie Veitch, who was driven out of the city last year."

The "CPO" in his moniker likely stands for "Close Protection Officer," reflecting his claimed security/bodyguard identity. This professional-criminal crossover — from hired muscle for far-right influencers to active participation in street-level political violence — exemplifies the ecosystem Searchlight has warned about.

Background

Willis's most significant prior affiliation was as bodyguard to Charlie Veitch, a far-right YouTuber based in the North West who was "driven out of" Manchester. Veitch is known for confrontational street content, anti-Islam activism, and has been charged with public order offences (appeared before Manchester Magistrates' Court, pleaded not guilty to using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress).

After Veitch's departure from Manchester, Willis appears to have transitioned from personal security to active participation in the Manchester fascist street network. His recruitment into this network coincided with an escalation of targeted attacks on left-wing events and politicians.

Content Style

Street-level activism rather than content creation — Willis is primarily a physical presence rather than a YouTuber
The "CPO" branding suggests self-presentation as a security professional
Embedded in the wider Manchester auditor network that films and provokes at protests

Controversies

Attack on Green MP Hannah Spencer (8 March 2026)

The defining incident in Willis's profile. Searchlight Magazine documented in detail:

Fascists in Manchester attempted to attack Hannah Spencer, the newly-elected Green MP for Gorton and Denton, as she left a rally organised by the Together Alliance in Piccadilly Gardens. Spencer had to be driven away by police.

Searchlight identified the perpetrators as "a small but well-organised group of fascist thugs" including:

Chris Messenger (English Ned) — screamed abuse, incited violence, filmed everything, threw punches at a steward
Steve James — anti-trans extremist with a sandwich board who positioned himself at the front of the crowd
Fred Willis (Fred CPO) — named and photographed as one of the attackers

The Green Party responded: "There is a bitter irony that today, on International Women's Day, these few men claiming to 'protect women' behaved like this towards parliament's newest female MP, chasing her to a police car."

Searchlight noted this was the second attack on a female MP in Manchester within a week — the first being an assault on a Stop the War meeting featuring Zarah Sultana MP.

Manchester Fascist Network

Willis is part of a network that Searchlight characterised as having members with "criminal records, criminal associations and demonstrable links to some of the most violent elements of the British far right." The network is "friendly with neo-Nazi Ryan Ferguson, also based in the North West, who has attended their rallies and events in Manchester."

Charlie Veitch Connection

Willis's former employer, Charlie Veitch, has his own documented controversies:

Charged with a public order offence, appeared before Manchester Magistrates' Court
Received an Osman warning (credible death threat) from police
"Driven out of the city" of Manchester, per Searchlight

Connections

Charlie Veitch — former employer; Willis was Veitch's bodyguard
Chris Messenger (English Ned) — documented alongside Willis in the Hannah Spencer attack
Steve James — anti-trans extremist, co-participant in the Spencer attack
Ryan Ferguson — neo-Nazi based in the North West, friendly with the Manchester network Willis belongs to
The Ginger Patriot (Ben Mills) — part of the same Mancunian auditor cluster
MKR Audits (Kelsea-Leigh Cunliffe) — part of the same network

Timeline

Date	Event
Pre-2025	Bodyguard to Charlie Veitch in Manchester
2025	Veitch "driven out of the city" — Willis transitions to street activism
Feb 2026	Manchester network attacks Stop the War meeting featuring Zarah Sultana MP
8 Mar 2026	Attack on Green MP Hannah Spencer at Piccadilly Gardens — Willis named and photographed
Mar 2026	Searchlight publishes "Manchester – fascist thugs target women MPs" naming Willis

Known Associations

Auto-generated from cross-references in this archive.

Charlie Veitch — 24 mentions
English Ned — 14 mentions
Ben Mills — 8 mentions
The Ginger Patriot — 8 mentions
MKR — 8 mentions
My Brakes Don't Work — 2 mentions
Ryan Ferguson — Neo-Nazi Activist — tagged

Sources

Searchlight Magazine: "Manchester – fascist thugs target women MPs" (Amir Mohammed, 9 March 2026) — primary source naming and photographing Fred Willis
Searchlight Magazine: Charlie Veitch coverage — context for Willis's bodyguard background
HOPE not hate: Case file on Auditors — contextualises the Mancunian network Willis belongs to
Manchester Evening News: Charlie Veitch court appearance coverage

Created: 4 July 2026