Norfolk Unity

The British National Party has launched an advertising campaign in the run-up to the European parliamentary elections on June 4 that seeks to solicit the votes of Christians.

The campaign, which makes the claim that Jesus Christ would vote for the BNP, aims to build on an effort made over recent years to cultivate support among Christians. This has included selective quoting from the papal encyclical, Rerum Novarum, to make it look supportive of far-right policies

To its credit, the Church of England has passed a resolution at the General Synod banning its clergy from membership of the BNP. Meanwhile, the Roman Catholic Church is also slowly stirring to the uncomfortable truth that there are people in its pews likely to vote BNP. In east London, Father Pat Sammon, the parish priest of Our Lady of Lourdes Church, has decided to confront the threat of the far right directly. Joining with other Christian leaders, he is urging parishioners not to vote for fascists.

Father Sammon points out that Jesus stood with the marginalised. He says: “The BNP seeks to marginalise members of British society, as well as those who come to us seeking asylum – in other words, precisely those for whom Jesus’ care led to his persecution.” Father Sammon argues that: “Jesus has always loved and cared about those whom the BNP appear to treat as of less importance – the refugees and asylum seekers, the homeless and jobless.”

The danger of the BNP making gains is very real. As London Labour MEP Claude Moraes has pointed out, the BNP could win at least one seat due to low turnout and a desire to register a protest vote.

The BNP is currently tapping into the disillusion among traditional Labour Party supporters. These people feel they have been abandoned. They believe the Government cares more about the welfare of big bankers than it does about the ordinary people who have lost their jobs because of the greed and incompetence of those bankers. There has been a growing polarisation of wealth over the past 10 years between a rich elite and the rest. Once Labour existed to try to close this gap. Now it presides over a widening of it.

And this Labour Government has failed to manage immigration policy. While the flow of migrants to Britain has generated wealth, there has been a failure to allocate resources to poorer areas. Migrant workers head for areas of low-cost housing. No extra funding is provided, thereby putting pressure on public services. The BNP then blame migrants for resulting problems.

Gordon Brown’s ill-conceived remarks about “British jobs for British workers” have been adopted as a mantra by the BNP. Where there have been disputes involving migrant workers, the BNP has been spreading its poison picket lines.

The Government has also stoked racial tensions with its treatment of much of the Muslim community on the basis of the terrorist threat. The targeting of this community as “suspect” in some way plays into the hands of the far right. In times of economic hardship, people tend to look for scapegoats.

The response to the fascist threat must involve strenuous efforts to build a united front across progressive and liberal organisations, including trade unions and religious groups. The threat is such that traditional differences must be put aside.

The hierarchies of the various churches need to demonstrate some leadership. Other religious leaders should follow the example of John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York, who declared that voting for the BNP was “like spitting in the face of God”.

All people of faith must vote against the BNP and campaign to resist its electoral advance.

Tribune

The Suffolk farmer who built gallows for export has been arrested just weeks after the British National Party chose him as a candidate for the European elections.

The BNP has confirmed that David Lucas (left), of Mildenhall, was arrested on Thursday and questioned by Suffolk Police and that he had been released on bail.

A spokesman for Suffolk police said: “A 48-year-old man from Lakenheath has been arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods.

“He has been released on police bail to return to Bury St Edmunds police station on June.11.”

The BNP has said that the alleged incident will not prevent Mr Lucas, who lives at Eldon Farm in Holywell Row, from standing in the European election. He is in fifth place out of seven candidates from the East of England chosen by the party to fight for a seat in Brussels.

A spokesman said: “David woke up to find the police around the house. He was interviewed and then released.

“It follows a big fund raising party held on his property to raise funds for the campaign. We are not worried about the incident and he will remain on the party’s election list of candidates.”

Nominations for the June 4 election close on May 7.

Ipswich Evening Star

BBC report: BNP candidate quizzed by police

A candidate for the British National Party (BNP) has been arrested by armed police in Suffolk.

David Lucas, who is standing in the European elections, was questioned on suspicion of handling stolen goods.

The arrest of Mr Lucas on Thursday is in connection with an incident at Halesworth, in Suffolk, last year.

The BNP confirmed that Mr Lucas had been arrested at his farm near Mildenhall and questioned before being released on bail.

British National Party (BNP) chairman Nick Griffin has defended a party leaflet which says that black Britons and Asian Britons “do not exist”. The BNP’s “Language and Concepts Discipline Manual” says the term used should be “racial foreigners”.

In a BBC interview, Mr Griffin said to call such people British was a sort of “bloodless genocide” because it denied indigenous people their own identity.

Mr Griffin is standing in the European Parliament elections in June.

‘Politically correct fiction’

The BNP manual, leaked to an anti-fascist group and seen by the BBC, says that “BNP activists and writers should never refer to ‘black Britons’ or ‘Asian Britons’ etc, for the simple reason that such persons do not exist”.

“These people are ‘black residents’ of the UK etc, and are no more British than an Englishman living in Hong Kong is Chinese. Collectively, foreign residents of other races should be referred to as ‘racial foreigners’, a non-pejorative term… The key in such matters is above all to maintain necessary distinctions while avoiding provocation and insult.”

The manual describes the BNP’s “ultimate aim” as the “lawful, humane and voluntary repatriation of the resident foreigners of the UK”.

Commenting on the leaflet’s content, Mr Griffin told The Report on Radio 4 that although “in civic terms they are British, British also has a meaning as an ethnic description”.

“We don’t subscribe to the politically correct fiction that just because they happen to be born in Britain, a Pakistani is a Briton. They’re not; they remain of Pakistani stock.

“You can’t say that especially large numbers of people can come from the rest of the world and assume an English identity without denying the English their own identity, and I would say that’s wrong,” he added. “In a very subtle way, it’s a sort of bloodless genocide.”

‘Delighted’

Mr Griffin was also candid about the significance the BNP places on the ogan “British jobs for British workers”.

The Prime Minister Gordon Brown famously used the phrase in a speech about skills training.

Mr Griffin claimed the prime minister borrowed the rhetoric from his party. “When I heard Gordon Brown use our slogan – British jobs for British workers – I was delighted,” he said. “What Mr Brown actually meant when he said British jobs for British workers is of course down to Mr Brown.

“But there’s no doubt that it was perceived – and was intended to be perceived – by millions of ordinary Brits as meaning that they would be at the front of the queue in front of economic migrants from anywhere else in the world.”

“So having raised our slogan, promised it, we feel that he’s legitimised our message.”

‘Pernicious’

Hazel Blears, secretary of state for Communities and Local Government, said she rejected Mr Griffin’s charge that the prime minister’s use of the phrase represents an endorsement of BNP policy.

“I certainly regret the fact that the BNP could be using language we’ve used in order to legitimise what I regard as divisive, pernicious policies which will actually do working class people no good at all,” she said.

“What I don’t regret is the fact that we need to have a proper discussion in this country about making sure that British people have a chance to get the skills, the education, to be able to get the jobs of the future.”

The “British jobs for British workers” slogan was widely repeated during the BNP’s recent council by-election campaign in Moston in Manchester, where the party’s candidate, local publican Derek Adams, came second.

Moston is in the North West region, where the BNP hopes its supporters will elect Mr Griffin as the party’s first MEP in the European Parliamentary elections on 4 June. Nominations close on 7 May.

Under the proportional representation system used in European elections, the BNP would need around 9% of the vote; in the last elections the party won 6.4%.

BBC

The British National party is urging its members not to set up official party blogs in the run-up to this year’s European elections because “they can’t write proper English” and “get carried away with conspiracy theories”, according to a leaked internal guide for senior party activists.

The handbook says that some BNP members are “oddballs”, “Walter Mitty characters”, “compulsive liars” and “born troublemakers”, and advises activists: “If you hear something odd or unpleasant about someone either forget about it or ask them about it to their face.”

Polling experts believe that the far-right party, led by Nick Griffin, has a chance of picking up its first seats in the European parliament in the June elections.

The handbook states that “while we cannot stop individuals using the internet … the BNP does not allow members or units to run websites or blogs which use the BNP logo or party name in their title, or which give the impression of being official BNP operations”. Instead, members are advised to “set up political sites which appear to be totally independent of any political party, including ours”.

The guide says that these “apparently independent sites exposing the wrongdoings and failings of the old parties and making subtly favourable reference to the BNP, will be much more attractive and convincing to the wider public than sites which are clearly ours”.

The document was leaked to the anti-racist group Searchlight, which said: “Everyone knows the BNP is comprised of troublemakers, oddballs and liars, but it’s surprising to see them being described like that in their own training manual.”

The Guardian

British National Party (BNP) skinheads are being urged to cover up their shaven scalps as the far-right group seeks to present a new, more respectable image, according to a leaked internal “war book”.

Polling experts believe the antiimmigration party led by Nick Griffin has a chance of picking up its first seats in the European parliament in June by capitalising on recession-fuelled rows over “British jobs for British workers”.

A handbook distributed to activists discloses how the BNP, which has already won a string of council by-elections, plans to soften its extremist reputation and appeal to potential supporters as an “alternative extended family”.

The manual for activists includes: Orders to “make sure your team are tidily dressed and look presentable. No naked torsos in summer, unshaven scruffs or skinhead haircuts (put them in caps or hats)”. Suggestions for the use of internet blogs to attack opponents, including ostensibly independent local blogs that “help us to collect and disseminate material damaging to other parties”. Ideas for reviving St George’s Day traditions to combat the “growing power of Islam”.

The handbook urges activists to rebrand the BNP by always using its full name. “The initials BNP have to an extent been turned into a demonised tag by the media,” it says. “‘British National party’ sounds more reasonable and comfortable.”

It warns members not to “express extreme views or advocate violence of any description. Your e-mails are probably less secure than you think”.

The manual says campaigning events are to be graded, green, amber or red. Red events are in “areas where there are heightened community tensions” and “must include advance consultations . . . [with] the national head of security”.

There is also advice on dealing with the police and Special Branch, described in the manual as “Britain’s secret police”. BNP members are advised to tell them to “get back into their kennels”.

The handbook adds: “Millions of people live very lonely and isolated lives. The decline of the family and the break-up of communities mean there is a big gap in [their] lives. Filling that gap, giving people an ‘alternative extended family’, is the most powerful recruiting tool.”

A spokesman for the campaign group Searchlight said: “This booklet exposes the reality behind the BNP mask of respectability. What other political party feels the need to ask its senior organisers to be careful not to get caught discussing their plans for violent behaviour on the internet?”

Simon Darby, deputy leader of the BNP, defended its tactics: “We switched to recruiting on the net because we do not get a fair crack from the traditional media.”

Sunday Times

BNP cover-up

An official handbook for BNP activists reveals how they plan to cover up the LIES and DECEIT behind their election campaigns.

It shows how the far-right party has drawn up schemes to smear Labour and the Tories in June Euro elections.

And it has advised members how to make sure plots to stir up violence stay secret in an attempt to con voters into thinking they are respectable.

The Activists’ & Organisers’ Handbook tells them to:

* USE internet blogs to put out damaging stories about rivals.
* NEVER advocate violence in emails-in case they are leaked.
* ENSURE supporters wear hats over their skinhead haircuts when out campaigning.

The guide’s advice on using the internet suggests setting up blogs that do not appear to be BNP sites to help them collect information for smear campaigns.

Party thugs are told not to even mention violence in emails in case they get out. The guide says: “Don’t use it to express extreme views or advocate violence. Your emails are probably less secure than you think.”

Activists are also told to refer to the party as the British National Party not the BNP because it sounds “much more reasonable and comfortable”.

And members of the party, led by Nick Griffin, must not dress like thugs when campaigning.

The guide states: “No naked torsos in summer, unshaven scruffs or skinhead haircuts (put them in caps or hats).”

A spokesman for anti-racist group Searchlight, which uncovered the book, said: “This booklet exposes the reality behind the BNP mask of respectability.

Hate

“What other political party feels the need to ask its senior organisers to be careful not to get caught discussing their plans for violent behaviour on the internet?

“This shows they are the same old extremists, with the same agenda of hate and division.”

The BNP has revealed it is collecting masses of data on its opponents’ sexual orientation ready for character assassination campaigns if they criticise the party.

Its official declaration on the Data Protection Register shows information about “relatives, guardians and associates” of any critics is also being gathered.

News of the World

Redbridge Police have launched an investigation after an apparently pro-British National Party (BNP) website published threats against a woman who was allegedly the victim of a racist attack.

The news comes after officers arrested a BNP by-election campaigner in Wanstead on Tuesday after she allegedly called the woman a “n****r.” The police have not commented on whether the BNP canvasser has been charged.

The website, which claims to be written by an unnamed “proud BNP member”, has published full details of the woman and photographs of her Wanstead home along with the threats. The website has been taken down within the past hour.

It said: “I intend to publicise your details on as many web sites as possible. You will wish you had never lied about the BNP; and that’s not a lie, that’s a promise.”

Despite the police action, Wanstead BNP candidate John Evans said he thought the website was a fake. He said: “I think it’s an absolute fake. I haven’t heard of it. We don’t need to resort to this rubbish. I hope they find who did it. If we can take legal action against the person that did this then we may well do so.”*

Waltham Forest Guardian

*Oh really?

Norfolk Unity has 76 comments to date in its moderation queue. Some are death threats, some are threats of violence, some are racist, some praise Nazism. All of them come from BNP members.

Shirlene Tobin with one of the BNP leaflets

A frightened mum-of-two has been left too scared to leave her home after she was allegedly called a ‘nigger’ by a British National Party (BNP) canvasser during a racist tirade in front of her five year old son.

Charleen Tobin, of St Margaret’s Road, Wanstead, has refused to leave her house since the incident – on Tuesday evening – during which she alleges the female BNP activist told her to ‘come to me because I don’t come to niggers’ when she tried to hand back a political leaflet that was posted through her front door.

The 43 year-old – who works as a nurse at Whipps Cross University Hospital – called the police immediately after the alleged attack at about 7.30pm – which she said has left her fearing for her family’s safety.

She said: “I couldn’t believe what this woman said to me in the middle of the street in front of my son. I walked after her to try and give the leaflet back but got a load of racist abuse. She told me to run to her because ‘niggers should be used to running.’ “This is the first time I’ve suffered racist abuse like this. I moved to Wanstead from Stratford because it has a special village community character, and then this happens.

“My neighbour has been brilliant and supported me, but I have been unable to leave the house since this happened. I’m worried about what might happen to me and my children. My husband is Irish, and black and Irish people in our parents generation suffered abuse like this, but I didn’t think this would happen to me today, in a place like Wanstead. My son is on his Easter holidays from school, and we were going to go out and look at the bluebells in the park, but I don’t feel safe to do that now.”

John Evans – who is standing as the BNP candidate in the upcoming Wanstead ward by-election – played down Mrs Tobin’s claims. He said: “I am aware of this incident but knowing the BNP members in this area as I do I am sure none of them would have done this. As our leader Nick Griffin has made clear – anyone found bringing the name of the British National Party into disrepute will be expelled with immediate effect.”

This is Local London

This chilling picture shows BNP deputy leader Simon Darby being given a NAZI SALUTE at a fascist rally.

Three extremists flashed the banned Hitler-style sign to the British far-right boss outside the event in Italy.

Our exclusive snap fuels fears of danger ahead as the British National Party gains popularity in the recession.

Darby, leading a drive for seats at the European Parliament elections in June, was following Stratos Karanikolau, from the Greek nationalist Proti Grammi (Front Line) party.

They were joined by MEPs Roberto Fiore, a convicted terrorist, and Holocaust denier Bruno Gollnisch at the 400-strong meeting in Milan.

Last night Labour MP Jon Cruddas said: “This shows the BNP are a gang of thugs parading as politicians.”
_________________________________

Beat a bigot in a ballot

Anyone doubting the danger of the BNP should look no further than the straight-arm salutes greeting deputy leader Simon Darby at a meeting in Mussolini’s old stamping ground.

Darby is leading his party’s drive for votes in June’s Euro elections – and they may win up to three seats.

Giving them the right to stick their snouts in a money-trough that could fund yet more of their bile.

Labour’s deputy leader Harriet Harman is right to warn that the BNP “are a bigger threat than ever.”

And on polling day, they will rely on the apathy of mainstream voters.

So on June 4 remember these salutes. Use your vote wisely.

And keep the BNP out of Brussels.

Source: News of the World