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Recent stories & bits...

"BNP leader accused of exploiting sex claims"

Matthew Taylor
Monday May 24, 2004
The Guardian

Nick Griffin, the chairman of the British National party, was accused of stirring up racial tension last night after spending the weekend in Bradford trying to find evidence of young white girls being groomed for sex by Asian men.
Last week Channel 4 postponed showing a documentary on the subject after it emerged that the far-right BNP was trying to exploit the issue in the run-up to next month's local and European elections. Programme makers made their decision after West Yorkshire police said the film risked triggering violence in a racially tense area.

Colin Cramphorn, the chief constable, said white and Asian men had been arrested following a two-year investigation and the matter was one of child protection which had nothing to do with race, despite the claims of the far right.

But last night Phil Edwards, the BNP's official spokesman, said Mr Griffin was making his own film which would be included in the party's election broadcast on Friday. "This will be in the party political broadcast, because it is true," he said.

"There is something about these Asian blokes that they like these young girls, something to do with their religion, they can not get it in their own communities. I'm not sure exactly what it is, I don't know that much about their religion and really I don't want to."

His comments and the BNP's attempt to stir up trouble in Bradford were condemned last night.

(snip)

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/elect...216996,00.html

Mayoral hopefuls unite against BNP

Matthew Tempest, political correspondent
Friday May 14, 2004

Ken Livingstone, Steve Norris and Simon Hughes today put on a rare show of unity to urge London voters to turn out to defeat the openly racist British National party in next month's elections.
The three candidates for London mayor launched a joint campaign with Operation Black Vote under the slogan: "The racists are more dangerous than ever - they are voting."

The main parties fear that a low overall turnout on June 10 would make it easier for the BNP to pass the 5% hurdle which would give them a top-up seat on the London assembly.

Mr Norris, the Conservative candidate, said it would be a "stain on London" if the race-hate party was elected, while Mr Livingstone told reporters: "Politicians often ask you to vote for them but on this occasion I am just asking you to vote."

Mr Hughes, trailing the other two men in the polls, but hoping to make a final run-off and win on voters' second preferences', warned the BNP could "sneak a seat through the back door of voter apathy".

Mr Livingstone said: "The BNP is a far-right party that thrives on race hate. Every vote Londoners cast will make it more difficult for the BNP to get elected."

"[A BNP seat] would deal a devastating blow to community relations in the most diverse city in the world."

The mayor added: "They stand for racism, bigotry and the destruction of the trade unions. They have no place in the London assembly, the European parliament or the local council anywhere in Britain."

Mr Livingstone is chairman of the Unite Against Fascism campaign, which also includes leading trade unionists and church leaders.

Mr Norris said: "I am appalled at the prospect of the BNP getting an assembly member elected.

"London is the greatest city in the world and if the BNP win a seat it would be a stain on the capital's reputation."

(snip)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/st...216418,00.html

Minority retort

We can halt the far right's rise in London and the north

Hugh Muir
Friday May 14, 2004
The Guardian

In the north of England, the alarm has sounded. With the British National party holding 17 council seats and expecting gains in next month's local and European elections, the major parties are mobilising.
The BNP's most fervent hope is that its leader, Nick Griffin, will get the 9% of votes he needs to become a Euro MP for the North-west, allowing him to emulate the poisonous activities of Jean-Marie Le Pen, his mentor across the Channel.

But in fact the party's best chance of moving from the town halls to a grander stage is in London. In the past three months, two polls have revealed that Londoners love the city's diversity. But this week another poll warned that on June 10 the BNP could secure a seat in the London assembly.

Proportional representation means that the BNP only needs about 5% of the vote to catapult Jason Douglas into City Hall. According to a YouGov poll, in the current atmosphere, with Muslims and asylum-seekers seen as enemies of the state, it could succeed. Last time in London the BNP registered only 2%. The latest poll suggests it has 5% already. The survey also says the turnout could be just 24%, creating the conditions the BNP thrives in.

It is not hard to see why the racist party craves a London assembly seat. Unlike local councillors, assembly members elected from party lists have the right to claim a mandate from the whole of London. They have the benefits of office, the resources, the staffing and the media recognition. Mr Douglas and his party - which in its senior ranks includes convicted thugs, football hooligans, vandals, police bashers, gay bashers and fraudsters - will be in a position to influence key committees. He could use his own experience to help the Metropolitan police authority, with football hooligan convictions going back 14 years.

Elections of BNP councillors invariably result in an increase in racist attacks. Last week, as BNP supporters held an event in Hounslow, west London, an Asian man was seriously assaulted.

(snip)

A letter:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/letters/st...223083,00.html

Vote to keep the BNP out


Monday May 24, 2004
The Guardian

Unite Against Fascism has warned that there could be a low turnout for this year's European elections. The British National party is fielding candidates across the UK in what will be the biggest electoral assault ever mounted by the extreme right in Britain.
The goal of groups such as the BNP is to have at least 16 extreme-right MEPs from five different countries elected to be recognised as an official group within the European parliament. A Mori poll forecast that the turnout could be as low as 18% - this could allow the far-right to win seats in Britain. To not vote is to let the BNP in.
Glyn Ford MEP
Labour, South West
Chris Heaton-Harris MEP
Con, East Midlands
Liz Lynne MEP
Lib Dems, West Midlands
Ian Hudghton MEP
Scottish National party
Eurig Wyn MEP
Plaid Cymru
Caroline Lucas MEP
Green party, South East