Bristol couple say BNP leaflet 'offensive'
A sales rep who received a leaflet promoting the British National Party through his letterbox has taken it to the police claiming it was hate mail.
Reg Shaw, 47, is among hundreds of people in the Bristol area to have received the election material through the post in the past few days.
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Bristol couple Reg and Kameca Shaw say the BNP leaflet 'offensive'
He says he couldn't believe the leaflet had been delivered to his home in Thornbury by the Royal Mail.
He said: "It's the sort of thing you would expect to be delivered by a BNP supporter or councillor, but not the Royal Mail. If you look on the Royal Mail website, it says the company supports diversity. But I believe this is an out- and-out racist leaflet. I took it to the police station and said it was hate mail and I wanted it treated as a racist incident.
"The leaflet said the European elections were the 'new Battle of Britain'. It had pictures of white families on it and had a list of all of the country's military battles on it in history.
"It's horrible and I find it offensive because I come from a military family. I also find it offensive because my wife is black and American."
Mr Shaw added: "When the postman handed the leaflet to me I said to him 'Are you happy distributing this stuff?' He said he had no choice and that if he refused he would be sacked."
The BNP leaflets have also been delivered in Whitchurch, where it is claimed that some people have associated local businesses with the BNP because their promotional material was delivered through their doors at the same time.
Spokesman for the BNP, John Walker, said leaflets promoting the BNP in the run up to the European Elections would be delivered by Royal Mail to every home in country.
He said: "Every leaflet has been cleared by the Royal Mail legal department beforehand so it appears that Mr Shaw is just pushing his own political agenda rather than anything else.
"If he has an issue with legality, he should go to the Royal Mail."
Electoral Commission spokeswoman Sarah Garrett said parties were entitled to leaflet voters as long as they stuck to spending limits and adhered to rules "defamatory remarks and anything offensive".
Each party can spend up to £45,000 for every candidate they have standing in each region. In the South West, the BNP has six candidates so is entitled to spend £270,000 on promotional material in the region.
97 Comments
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by Justin, Bristol
Tuesday, May 19 2009, 2:22AM
“I've read the leaflet, theres nothing offensive about it.
Can't speak the truth nowadays can you, without upsetting someone.”
by Fed up with pc goverment, bristol
Sunday, May 17 2009, 8:00PM
“What a dumb thing to say about giving leaflets to a mixed raced couple on purpose how would bnp or royal mail know what back ground they are and give the postman a break get your facts right first , it is there job to delivery there mail and leaflets as directed by management if you don't like bnp just put it in the bin don't give the postmen hassle for doing there job !”
by anthony, truro cornwall
Sunday, May 17 2009, 5:24PM
“Don't for get the word our governments enjoy for themselves, "FREE SPEECH."
Providing that one is not saying one race is more superior than another, then it is not racist, races differ but are not better than another.”
by Hugo Syn, England
Sunday, May 17 2009, 3:52PM
“Typical of the crafty fascist BNP!
Sending a leaflet to one mixed race couple as a deliberate act of harassment and then posting out millions more, all over the country, just to cover their tracks.
How despicable ;)”
by liam, bristol
Sunday, May 17 2009, 12:25PM
“The only reason we are getting these bnp leaflets is because labour is letting europe control this country more and more also not donig enough on illeagal imigration people are getting fed up i don't fully agree with this party but i can see why they are getting stronger .”
by Ashley, Bristol
Sunday, May 17 2009, 7:17AM
“THE BNP ATE MY HAMSTER”
by tony, Mangotsfield
Saturday, May 16 2009, 5:30PM
“Lets not forget that the cost of producing these leaflets is actually helping out ecomony by paying local firms to produce them which in turn creates jobs and earnings that can be spent in local shops thus supporting local employment that will probably include minorities earnings that could also be spent in the local area, but it will be ll taxed, so money back in to the system to keep all these sponging benefit takers in a better house and lively hood than me, a worker gets.”
by gerry, bristol
Saturday, May 16 2009, 3:38PM
“Fair point Emma, and come to think of it i am always getting oriental gentlemen posting leaflets through my door, could this be racist ?”
by emma, bristol
Saturday, May 16 2009, 3:13PM
“Right taking this to extreme here... I dont like bills through my letter box, sometimes they come in white envelopes sometimes not. IS THAT RACIST of the bill company????
And all the local takeaway leafets i dont want them, they go through the letter box then straight to the bin it that simple, dont read it just bin it.
I dont talk 2 postman about it he is doing his job, i do mine. I am a full time mum so there is lots of things i dont want to be doing but i do them without getting wond up about it.
END of the day he was just doing his job.”
by Dave, Hull
Saturday, May 16 2009, 3:07PM
“Cheers Adrian,
When will the stasi come for me & do the political re-education ?”