Bristol posties told they can refuse BNP leaflets

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Wednesday, May 20, 2009
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This is Bristol

Some postmen and women in Bristol have been told they can refuse to deliver British National Party leaflets in the run up to the European elections.

The Communications Workers' Union says some Royal Mail managers have changed their stance after they were last week accused of "bullying" their staff into delivering the material.

On Thursday, the Post reported about 30 postmen and women in the city were refusing to deliver election leaflets promoting the BNP along with their normal mail.

John Walker, spokesman for the BNP, said the Royal Mail was legally bound to deliver the party's election material.

Royal Mail said it would try to be "flexible and sensitive to individual personal circumstances or beliefs" whilst sticking to its legal obligations.

Dave Wilshire, spokesman for the Bristol branch of the CWU, has accused the Royal Mail of failing to honour an agreement made with the union in 2005 that allows staff to refuse to deliver literature they find offensive.

Mr Wilshire said: "It's been a bit of a mixed bag. The penny has now dropped with certain managers who are showing sympathy with requests not to deliver the leaflets. Managers have made alternative arrangements in some units.

"However, on the other hand, we have some managers who are, in the words of our members, bullying and harassing them into delivering the material and not showing common sense.

"Some people are really upset."

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    by abitofcommon, bristol

    Friday, May 22 2009, 5:56PM

    “It is with great regret that I have read some of the replies in this thread.People with left & right leanings saying the other should not be to have their say. A comment about the undeniable fact that fascists murdered millions of people but not one word about the countless murders committed by communists under Stalin. (I think some of the present day MP's were members of the communist party in their younger days). What was done in the past must be learnt from and that in my eyes makes any person to the left or right equally as bad. But that is my view, the crux of the argument is that the postman have an old fashioned value called duty. And that is to deliver the Royal Mail.We also have a great tradition called freedom of speech, and by certain postal workers refusing to deliver BNP literature, whilst delivering other political literature certainly enroaches on that freedom. It also denies certain people, the choice to make up their own minds of whom to vote for. (please don't say people shouldn't have the choice to vote BNP as that would make you worse than them). Having read some of the insults traded here as well as some of the arguments I believe that, unfortunately, the BNP are winning their arguments quite cleverly. So postmen, please deliver the mail, even if you do disagree with the contents. Otherwise by denying that freedom you are in fact acting like fascists yourselves.”

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    by Pogo the Clown, Still here

    Thursday, May 21 2009, 10:54AM

    “The bottom line is that I don't believe that anyone should restrict my right to make an informed decision over who to vote for.

    Any attempt to undermine that, due to whatever form of personal prejudice, is un-democratic.

    Posties provide a service. They are a link in a communications chain. Nothing more. They have no right to choose what I can and cannot receive.

    This issue is only cloudy because it features the BNP. Take that emotive issue out of the equation and things become a lot simpler.

    If you're unable to make that observation, you deserve to have your choices limited.”

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    by :-)), Bristol

    Thursday, May 21 2009, 8:19AM

    “No 'unbeleivable', as your typo proves, we are not all perfect and a typo does not make for poor education though the comments made by many on here certainly does.
    But ironically this proves the point that people will see what they want to see and are blinkered to reality by beleieving what they want.”

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    by Unbelievable, Sydney

    Thursday, May 21 2009, 5:48AM

    “:-)) wrote:
    "I'm sure the majority of people who write on these threads are the same ones who classify road rage as a personal hobby, pust to the front of queues and turn it not lager louts when holidaying abroad.
    All this thread has proven is that the education in this country has a lot to answer for"

    It obviously does ad you either cant spell or type!”

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    by Ben, Clifton

    Wednesday, May 20 2009, 10:42PM

    “This was always about common sense.

    Yes the literature from the BNP has to be delivered by the Royal Mail, by law.

    But mail bosses needed to be sympathetic to workers who didn't want to deliver it.

    I am for freedom of speech and freedom of expression, and armed with the literature, I can then expose the BNP members for what they are, when they come knocking at my door.

    But if I was a postie, I would have delivered the material, in the knowledge, that residents could then challenge the BNP during the local and European elections.

    Just needed some discretion by mail bosses.”

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    by gertbigwheels, South Bristol

    Wednesday, May 20 2009, 10:11PM

    “George you are twisted.We value our right to information and a free democratic Country.You blindly hate the BNP, Perhaps you have been reading the wrong papers.The sun told a lie about the BNP and the Gurkhas.They of course are now very sorry but the damage is done.I dont vote the BNP but i do believe they have a right to be heard.Do you trust the Socialist worker?Anti British anarchist.George you would be better off living in Uganda.For to long The British have had to put up with Propaganda from the Liberal Lefty BBC.The EU as been pushing there Socialist message down our necks.I don't hate any one but i do not want to live in the Britain that Labour is creating.When is enough enough?The post office as got huge problems but are forced by Government to take on people that can hardly grasp English and have no loyalty to the UK.It is the left that is making people think of the BNP.In fact they have a clear message in which most Brits agree.There are far to many people crossing over the all of Europe to come here.”

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    by AJ, Bristol

    Wednesday, May 20 2009, 7:43PM

    “Vote Socialist Labour party (Ricky Tomlinson was campaigning for them after the news tonight!!) or UK Independence Party! We dont need anymore racisim, people are unpleasant enough in this country as a whole, we just need to get out of Europe and go it alone, not be stitched up big time by Brussels over everything!!!!”

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    by Shelly, bristol

    Wednesday, May 20 2009, 7:37PM

    “Hang on Keith but you are saying that these ignorant people SHOULD listen to the other side of the debate and moreover take their advice. How is that any different? Why should one side be classed as better/more reliable/more ethically sound just because someone says so? that like a child saying why should I..? and the parent saying because I said so! If you want people to learn and grow then you have to give them the info and let them make their own mistakes.

    I would rather eat my own hands than vote BNP however the MAJORITY of the people who occupy this country have the wherewithal to make up their own minds and should be allowed to do so. We are all entitled to a free vote and if people don't have access to information how can they be relied upon to make the 'right' choices?I understand why some no white posties feel offended but they should be big enough to rise above the pap they are sending out and deliver it anyway. The BNP hate women however as a woman I would still deliver this drivel. Why? because all this attention is what the BNP want. I am guessing that all this attention is doing is raising the profile of this party. If the posties had done their job the BNP would have been kept in their place instead of being thrust into the lime light”

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    by T Shirt, Bristol

    Wednesday, May 20 2009, 7:35PM

    “Old Uncle Joe would have recruited you like a shot, Keith.

    And you so eloquantly proved my point for me. I thank you.”

  • Profile image for This is Bristol

    by keith, knowle

    Wednesday, May 20 2009, 7:17PM

    “what you have to remember Kaye is the BNP prays on the weak and neglected, the failiures, the small-browed types. They dont need any more encouragement by having filth on their doormat. they truly cant think for themselves or at least properly.”

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