Fury as the BNP is given show slot

A row has erupted following a decision to allow the British National Party to have a stall at tomorrow’s Vale of Glamorgan Show.

Last year the BNP was allowed to have a stall for the first time in the event’s history. The party will again be setting up on the showground this year, alongside other political parties, including Labour, Conservative and Plaid Cymru.

All three mainstream political parties have expressed concern the BNP has again been granted permission to set up a stall on the showground at Fonmon Castle Park, near Rhoose. But show organisers say that the BNP is a legitimate, licensed political party and that if it was banned from the showground all other political parties would have to be banned too.

Councillor Margaret Alexander, who is Labour leader of the Vale of Glamorgan Council, will be hosting a “Business Brunch” at the authority’s marquee on the showground. She said: “I am not particularly happy at having to share the showground with the BNP. The Labour Party made representations last year that the BNP should not have a tent at the showground this year.”

Plaid Cymru AM Chris Franks, who is also a Vale of Glamorgan councillor, will be attending the show. He said: “Whether it is appropriate to have their stand at the show is questionable. The way they play on people's fear is totally abhorrent.”

Councillor Michael Kemp, leader of the Conservative group on the Vale council, said: “I recognise that the BNP is a political party and as such has a right to be at the show. But their views, and the fact that they will be promoting them at the show, concern me.”

Nicola Gibson, general secretary of the Vale of Glamorgan Show, said: “The Vale of Glamorgan Agricultural Society is a non-political organisation. If we allow one political party onto the showground, we have to allow them all. Similarly, if we banned the BNP we would have to ban all the other political parties. We did have a few complaints about the BNP tent at last year’s show from people who just don’t like them.”

A spokesman for the BNP could not be contacted for comment. But at last year’s show a spokesman said the party had policies on rural issues affecting places like the Vale and people were interested in learning more about them.

icWales