 The sudden escalation in the war made the BUF seem like fifth columnists, and the seizure of power in Norway by Vidkun Quisling was a matter of extreme concern because Quisling's career was superficially similar to that of Oswald Mosley.When Mosley spoke in Middleton and Prestwich, missiles were thrown at him and people tried to hit him.The British government was also preparing to make the BUF illegal under wartime powers, and arrested several Fascist activists in the run-up to the election.