Stories that asylum-seekers are being given money to buy cars are all part of a BNP bid to create division, an MP is claiming.
Graham Stringer, who represents Blackley, said it was time to dispel some of the myths that have been spread by the party and other far-right bodies. He told fellow members that race relations had improved but on occasions, when there had been waves of immigrants, the nasty bottom-feeding racists had exploited the situation to spread myths.
Mr Stringer said: “One is that Oldham Council provides asylum-seekers with cheques for second-hand cars. If I have heard that once, I have heard it 10 times. It is unusual and ridiculous, but it creates resentment if people are gullible enough to believe it.”
Oldham Council said there was absolutely no truth in the myth.
Mr Stringer said people also believed that asylum seekers were being given free bus travel across Greater Manchester. He said the matter was constantly brought up at meetings he attended, adding: “A number of councillors in the area have heard the same myths and, with me, have investigated the cause of the misconception.”
The Labour MP said he had spoken to the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive which had assured him that no such scheme operated although it was aware of the stories that were circulating.
It is believed some of the myths started after people saw an asylum-seeker with special bus tickets which are not available to the public. These were issued for travel on days when the asylum-seekers had to report to one of the government centres. Transport Minister Tom Harris said payment of travel expenses was a fundamental part of the Government’s policy to encourage asylum-seekers to comply with requirements and keep in touch with the immigration and nationality directorate. It is part of national policy that people living three miles away from a centre are given help.
Mr Harris said: “Asylum-seekers are not being provided with bus passes as some people are claiming. However, it is sadly typical of the extremists of the British National Party to try to exploit the fears of ordinary people and to whip up resentment and hatred against a vulnerable group of people purely for political gain. Frankly, that is a disgraceful attitude. Given the record of the British National Party on fact and truth, I am not optimistic that the myths will stop being circulated.”
Oldham Evening Chronicle
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5 comments:
What a load of lying rubbish, you are looking incredibly desperate trying to label the BNP as Racist. Maybe you have not seen how the parties membership has changed over the last few years, the character of members, is not what you now portray, they are basically just decent everyday people worried about where Britain is heading.
I have the feeling that the leftist Marxists have no love of Britain and would happily see it destroyed. I am sorry my father lost his life at Dunkirk holding off the German advance towards the beaches. You youngsters should be ashamed at trying to demolish what our brave men and woman fought for. Perhaps when you see the gradual change that’s happening to Britain and how the people you support secretly look at you with contempt, and are only using you as and end goal you may realise the error of your ways. For a man like me in his late fifties with grandchildren I will now vote BNP top protect their futures.
Smiler from Aberdeen
"you are looking incredibly desperate trying to label the BNP as Racist"
Um, it IS racist
"the character of members, is not what you now portray"
You need to look at the Crap Councillors page
"For a man like me in his late fifties with grandchildren"
Big deal. My dad's a man in his fifties with grandchildren and he wouldnt touch you lot with a bargepole. You shame us all.
To Smiler from Aberdeen:
What about all the Commonwealth soldiers, such as Indian soldiers (Muslim, Sikh and Hindu), who died at Dunkirk???
First of October
'you are looking incredibly desperate trying to label the BNP as Racist'
We don't have to try. The BNP is racist - or hadn't you noticed?
'I have the feeling that the leftist Marxists have no love of Britain and would happily see it destroyed.'
I have no idea what 'leftist Marxists' want.
'For a man like me in his late fifties with grandchildren I will now vote BNP top protect their futures.'
More fool you then.
@dan and anon
Well said.
Anonymous said...
To Smiler from Aberdeen:
What about all the Commonwealth soldiers, such as Indian soldiers (Muslim, Sikh and Hindu), who died at Dunkirk???
I would assume they are all turning in their graves that a soldier could spawn such a prat
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