Bristol posties told they can refuse BNP leaflets

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."