Celebrities, faith and community leaders call for a vote against fascism

BNP to contest record seats in May elections – celebrities, faith and community leaders call for a vote against fascism

Today, a coalition including Scottish author Iain Banks, Welsh actor Rhys Ifans, Ken Livingstone, trade unionists, faith groups and students spoke out against the threat of the fascist British National Party (BNP) at the May Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly and local council elections.

The coalition, co-ordinated by Unite Against Fascism (UAF) was responding to today’s announcement by the fascist BNP that it is standing a record number of candidates for the Scottish Parliament in May, and the close of nominations for the local council elections and Wales Assembly seats.

The BNP, which believes in an all-white Britain and admires Hitler, announced it is standing in the Scottish parliamentary elections, leaving it set to receive £670,000 in state funding. It may gain free party political broadcasts in both Scotland and Wales.

UAF’s public call to oppose the BNP launches a nationwide program of campaigning to stop the fascist party winning further elected positions. UAF’s campaign includes days of action - leafleting areas targetted by the BNP and awareness-raising to turn out the anti-fascist vote, gigs with high profile bands and rallies.

Ken Livingstone, Chair, Unite Against Fascism said: “If we want to protect democracy and our society from extremism then there is a duty on all of us to stop the BNP from becoming the equivalent of the fascists who now are embedded in mainstream European politics. The British National Party is the biggest extremist electoral threat in Britain. The tolerance of the British National Party’s racist agenda is paying grotesque dividends, with fascists being elected to local councils in many parts of the country, and at these elections voters have the chance to halt the fascists in their tracks. Only by voting in big numbers against the BNP can we be sure of driving the fascists out of elected office.”

Dr. Abdul Bari, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain said: "We are all mindful that the fascist BNP uses divisive tactics; scapegoating minority communities in order to spread hatred. They have branded Islam a wicked and vicious faith, whipping up hatred for electoral gain. The Muslim community is an integral part of British society - fascism is not. We are proud to join the diverse coalition of Unite Against Fascism to stand against fascism - we call on all Muslims, and fellow Britons everywhere, to register to vote by April 18th and use their vote on May 3rd."

Henry Guterman MBE, Holocaust Survivor says: “Having lost many members of my family in the Holocaust, I do not want to see a repetition of the Nazis systematic annihilation of many communities who spoke up against their evil policies. That is why I am determined to fight the BNP who are try to copy Hitler’s method of coming to power. Please follow me by using your democratic right to vote, as low turnout will benefit the BNP.”

Actor Rhys Ifans said: "To Nick Griffin and the BNP: The ethnic communities that you dare to vilify in Wales are speaking Welsh, feeling Welsh and forever be welcome in Wales. Let our immigrants stay and take your ignorance away. A Griffin is a badly drawn dragon".

Iain Banks, Author said: “The BNP are a bunch of desperate fascist losers. They have halitosis of the brain; their ideas stink”

Billy Hayes, General Secretary of Communication Workers Union said: “The trade union movement represents the diversity of Britain. It is criminal that fascists are allowed to masquerade as a political party in this election. The trade union movement will continue fighting to stop them infiltrating our ranks - we stand with asylum seekers, migrants, muslims and all those that are threatened by the BNP”

Gemma Tumelty, President of the National Union of Students said: "The BNP poses a threat to the diverse student community on our campuses. The BNP’s attempts to recruit students is very worrying and NUS is working with our members to resist this. NUS utterly rejects racism and fascism. Students can make the difference by registering to vote and using their votes in the forthcoming May elections. NUS maintains that all students have an interest in defeating fascism and urges that they harness their votes to ensure that BNP candidates are not elected. For its part NUS will continue to work with Unite Against Fascism to ensure that our movement pulls out all stops to halt the rise of the far right."

Weyman Bennet, Joint Secretary, Unite Against Fascism said: “It is a disgrace that the fascist BNP will be given hundreds of thousands of pounds of tax-payers money, and free TV broadcasts to spread their dangerous message of race hate and division. We call on postal workers not to deliver the BNP's literature and BBC employees to pull the plugs on the BNP's broadcasts. For evil to prosper all that is necessary is that good people do nothing.”

UAF