The study found the image of young unemployed people alienated by tough economic times and turning to the anti-Muslim and anti-immigration group was a myth.
In fact half of sympathizers are in full time work, almost one in five is university educated and more than two thirds own their own home.
The report, by the think tank Chatham House, warns ministers and those combating extremism need to reassess who they target.
.... More than 1,666 people were polled for the study, of which 298 identified themselves as EDL supporters.
The report, The Roots of Extremism, found 53 per cent of sympathisers were in professional, management or non-manual jobs and another quarter were in skilled work. [Telegraph Media Group] Read more
