Row over pensioners' invite to BNP
A pensioners' group in Somerset has sparked a storm of criticism over its decision to invite a British National Party representative to attend a public meeting about anti-social behaviour.
Politicians across the three main parties have pulled out of attending the September 24 event organised by Taunton and Wellington Pensioners' Forum after refusing to share a stage with the BNP and its alleged racist views.
The event, due to be held at Wellington Football Club, is aimed at inviting Taunton Deane residents to discuss their views on anti-social behaviour and how to tackle it. But the meeting has now been thrown into jeopardy after a row broke out over the decision to invite a right-wing representative to what was billed as an opportunity for members and visitors to discuss how to improve the local community.
Disgusted by their attitude
The pensioners' forum will hold an emergency meeting on Monday to discuss whether to revoke its invitation to the BNP or whether to cancel the event completely. Conservative parliamentary hopeful Mark Formosa and Labour candidate Andrew Govier have refused to attend the meeting in light of the addition of a BNP representative. Liberal Democrat MP for Taunton Deane Jeremy Browne has also declined an invitation.
Mr Formosa said: "I refuse to be part of any event which gives publicity to an organisation associated with views that arouse deep repulsion in the majority of local people.
"The BNP has a reputation for expressing what people consider to be hateful and racist views and policies."
But the forum has reacted angrily to accusations that it has made the wrong decision to put the BNP on the guest list alongside other community figures.
Forum committee member and spokesman for the Wellington branch, Roy Maggs, 74, said: "I am disgusted with the attitude of local politicians and those who would hope to be a local MP.
"We are a non-political group. My personal view is that this event should go ahead and the BNP representative should come as it is very important to us and we have worked very hard to make it happen but we will be having a meeting on Monday to decide."
Forum member Shirley Barclay, 70, said: "What ever happened to freedom of speech and democracy? We are very disappointed by what's happened. The politicians are running scared."
BNP spokesman Simon Darby slammed the party's critics and branded Mark Formosa "ridiculous".
He said: "It's a knee jerk reaction and these politicians, particularly the Tory candidate, are trying to bully the old folk out of having an open debate.
"But it looks like the pensioners are standing up for themselves so good on them.
"Branding anyone who has concerns about immigration a racist is getting rather dog-eared. What he has said is ridiculous, it's like turning up to a dinner party in fancy dress.
"David Cameron is always saying the Tories should confront the BNP but this decision smacks of cowardice to me."
Jeremy Browne MP said he struggled to understand why the BNP had been invited to Wellington when the party had not put up a candidate for many years.
"The BNP isn't a strong political force in the area therefore it's surprising they have been invited to attend. I've no fundamental objection to a political debate with the BNP because I believe the flaws in their arguments are best exposed for scrutiny through a debate."
But Mr Darby said: "Somerset used to be a considered a quaint sort of place that wasn't affected by the problems in inner cities. But with the current economic and migrant crises, times are changing and these problems effect everyone. It's one of those areas we're always looking at."
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by Benny Durruti, Bristol
Thursday, September 25 2008, 11:42AM
“Do not be fooled by the propaganda of the BNP. Beneath the suits and ties lies a neo-fascist party full of racists.
Don't believe me? At their annual 'Red White & Blue' festival a couple of years ago, racist 'jokes' were told by the 'comedians' and music was provided by a well-known neo-nazi performer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN8MZv6Nyqc).
And at Redhill in North Somerset last weekend, 800 apparent neo-nazis attended a 'festival' where several alleged neo-nazi bands performed and seig heils were said to have been shouted through the night. The nazis are also said to have urinated in residents' gardens. Members of this group are reported to have close links with the BNP, with many of them apparently also attending BNP events like the 'Red White & Blue'. Some had apparently been at a BNP demo in Stoke on the same weekend, with the BBC reporting that 'about 300 people attended, at most - mainly tattooed males with shaved heads'. Sound familiar?
Working class people have been badly failed by the established capitalist political establishment. But turning to the BNP is not the solution. Working class people need to realise that our interests lie in fighting together for our future, not fighting each other for the benefit of the few.”
by Rob Degen, London
Wednesday, September 17 2008, 7:39PM
“What do you base that on Alex?
The following points should clear up this misconception.
1/ The BNP doesn¿t portray itself as a racist party and doesn¿t have racist policies.
2/ New members come to the BNP because they agree with those polices.
3/ BNP members vote on policy.
While there are core values BNP policy is to some extent shaped by its membership
based on the members that have been attracted to the BNP because of its reasonable policies
where would the impetus or support come from for a genocide?
If anything the policy of multiculturalism pursed by successive governments is likely to lead to genocide. Look at Kosovo then look at the banners held (as well as the views) by protesters at Islamic marches across Europe.”
by Alex, Bristol
Wednesday, September 17 2008, 4:00PM
“If the BNP got in to government, we'd have another holocaust on our hands.
They must be stopped”
by Rob Degen, London
Wednesday, September 17 2008, 12:39PM
“Ed what was the reasoning behind removing my posts?
As I stated before it¿s not the job of the free press to censor their readership or anyone else. Freedom of expression is a right that we all, for the time being, have. It¿s a right that you as paper should uphold because without it journalists become mere propagandists.
You might not like the political point of view of some your posters but that¿s democracy for you. Unless a post is abusive (this doesn¿t mean it can¿t offend someone¿s political sensitivities) contains offensive language (swearing) or is off topic, what other reason would you have for not leaving it up?
So.....
The pensioners had every right to invite the BNP. Good luck to them. The Local politicians who wouldn¿t share a platform with the BNP are not only stifling debate but are actively attempting to coerce the group, through the threat of removing their possible support and influence, into towing the ¿party¿ line. These local big three politicians are not interested in helping to solve the very real problems of the pensioners only scoring worthless party points at the cost of the local community. I wonder what the views like from their firmly held moral high ground ? Hopefully they will all now vote BNP when they get the chance.
(Ed - like B Cosworth ..you can contact me as much as you want! But please don't censor my post)”
by Brian Cosworth, Banbury, England
Tuesday, September 16 2008, 12:53AM
“Saying that the BNP have views that arouse deep repulsion in the majority of local people is living in denial. If this was the case then the BNP would not be in political vertical ascent and the pensioners' group would not have invited them.. People will no longer be bullied into doing or thinking what they are told b y those who are responsible for the decline of our nation.
(Ed - you can contact me as much as you want! But please don't censor my post)”