Man behind pro-Trump propaganda websites sets sights on Scottish independence

During the U.S. presidential elections, James "Jim" Dowson, a far-right millionaire with hardline Ulster Unionist views, threw his weight behind the campaign to elect Donald Trump.

Dowson was linked to a series of websites, including the Patriotic News Agency, that published pro-Trump hoaxes and anti-Hillary conspiracy theories, according to the New York Times.

Now Dowson said he's planning a social media and financial campaign to support Scottish independence, following First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's announcement of plans for a second referendum.

It may seem like a controversial decision for a unionist hardliner, who raised millions of pounds for the British National Party (BNP) and later formed the ultra-nationalist Britain First.

But Dowson told the Guardian he's pessimistic about the future of the UK.

"I have been a fanatical defender of the union, but I am a pragmatist, and England is finished. It is not just finished because of the Muslim problem and immigration, but also because as of now we are looking at permanent Tory rule. There is no effective opposition to the Tories, so what do you want then – permanent Conservative rule for the next 30 years?" he said.

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

The "Hope Not Hate" advocacy group also quoted him as saying that Scotland should separate from England because the latter is "stuffed."

Dowson wants to create a "vast network of patriotic networks just like the ones that backed Trump and Brexit" to spread pro-independence propaganda in case of a referendum.

Now based in Budapest, the millionaire has campaigned for 30 years against abortion and gay rights. In 2015 he was given a three-month suspended jail sentence for offences linked to union flag protests in Northern Ireland.

A Christian nationalist with anti-immigrant views, Dowson, 52, is also a big fan of Vladimir Putin of Russia and even spoke at a conference of far-right leaders in Russia.