August 25, 2008

Loyalist helps BNP spread race hate message

A Belfast-based loyalist night defended his decision to link up with the extremist BNP.

Former Orangeman James Dowson, who runs Midas Consultancy, told Sunday Life that he had “no problem” providing senior members of the right-wing party with management training and marketing skills. Scots-born Dowson, who is also a hardline anti-abortion campaigner, has been responsible for helping the BNP send letters to businesses throughout the UK in a bid to raise cash.

The loyalist, who makes regular trips to Northern Ireland, helped mastermind the party’s ‘Truth Truck’ campaign [see here and here], which included lorries visiting towns in England to spread the BNP’s ‘nationalist message’. And Dowson, who admitted coming from a “loyalist background”, claimed the BNP’s message would soon be coming to Northern Ireland.

He said: “I specialise in a business pool which includes Belfast and Scotland and I’m proud to describe myself as a loyalist and a unionist. A wide range of organisations come to us because we provide management training and marketing skills. When the BNP contacted us, I had no option but to work with them — it was an exciting business proposal. I understand the truth truck could soon be on its way to Northern Ireland, but that’s nothing to do with me.”

Added Dowson: “The BNP are not an illegal organisation so why shouldn’t I work with them? I don’t think their members are involved in criminal activity. I have worked in Northern Ireland for a long time, but not for any proscribed organisations. The BNP is not a proscribed organisation. It would be wrong for me to pontificate about the views of the BNP and I honestly can’t think of anyone I wouldn’t work with.”

The link between the BNP and Dowson caused concern among anti-racism campaigners in the province. Said one campaigner: “Dowson’s marketing plan is nothing more than a begging letter. The BNP is in very serious financial trouble and this is how they think they can get money. The BNP may not be illegal, but they articulate views which clearly motivate people to commit very serious attacks on minorities.”

Sunday Life revealed last year how Northern Ireland’s only Chinese politician slammed the BNP’s latest attempt at a recruitment drive in the province. The right-wing party published a leaflet — entitled ‘What Now for Northern Ireland?’ — claiming the province was on its way to a “multi-cultural hellhole” and that towns here had become “dumping-grounds” for migrants.

But Alliance MLA Anna Lo said she was “disgusted” by the BNP's intolerant language — and said the party was wasting its time in Northern Ireland “because people are not racist here”.

She added: “There is an element of inciting hatred. There is no attraction in Northern Ireland for this type of politics and I would discourage this party from coming over here. We have always had good race relations in Northern Ireland. There may be the odd incident, but that does not represent the majority of people here.”

In 2006, the BNP’s leader Nick Griffin was cleared by a court of stirring up racial hatred — a move that prompted then-chancellor Gordon Brown to consider changing Britain's race laws.

Belfast Telegraph

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

He may be a successful businessman but his begging letters are still a pile of wank and the so-called Truth Truck is still a fucking great scam to rip off the BNP members.

Anonymous said...

Before James Dowson goes round helping the BNP in Northern Ireland, he should read Lancaster Unity’s series of articles on the BNP’s anti-Catholic bigotry:

Beware “the Lure of Rome”: BNP writer says Catholics are the “Anti-Christ” and “Satanic”

BNP accuses Catholics of “heresy” and “blasphemy”

The Whore of Revelation and the BNP speaker who wants to destroy Catholics

BNP candidate in anti-Catholic claims: the indefatigable Alan Girvan strikes again!

Anonymous said...

As an Orangeman I don't suppose Dowson would really care that the BNP are anti-Catholic.

Anonymous said...

It doesn't matter if Nick Griffin rips off the membership of the BNP or not - they don't care. Everyone knows the Truth Truck appeal was to BUY the heap of shit then they were asked to give money to run it and even though everyone now knows it HASN'T been bought at all, people are still saying well done Nick. The BNP membership is called suckers by Nick Griffin and he's right to call them that. They're fucking idiots LOOKING for someone to rip them off!

Anonymous said...

Derry IRSP are on record as stating fascism will not be allowed to gain a foothold in the north and those who attempt to establish its presence will be actively monitored.

Anonymous said...

Sounds as though Mr Dowson is going the right way to get kneecapped in Belfast.

Anonymous said...

"a move that prompted then-chancellor Gordon Brown to consider changing Britain's race laws."

The gutless bastard never did though.

Anonymous said...

"Everyone knows the Truth Truck appeal was to BUY the heap of shit then they were asked to give money to run it and even though everyone now knows it HASN'T been bought at all, people are still saying well done Nick. The BNP membership is called suckers by Nick Griffin and he's right to call them that. They're fucking idiots LOOKING for someone to rip them off!"

Sad but true. Griffin has found a never-ending source of money.

Anonymous said...

I was a financial supporter of Dowson's UK Life League but after finding out about his links with the BNP I have decided to donate my money elsewhere.

Anonymous said...

Marketing guru?

Still, got to laugh at the BNP membership. They know they're being ripped off and still they stump up the cash. I thought these people were supposed to be the master race?

Anonymous said...

I see Lee Barnes is posting this nonsense on Stormshite

"LU/UAF threaten to kneecap loyalist"

I can't see any threats to kneecap anyone unless you count this comment

"Sounds as though Mr Dowson is going the right way to get kneecapped in Belfast."

Hardly a threat.

Antifascist said...

'I see Lee Barnes is posting this nonsense on Stormshite'

Poor old Lee Barnes. If he wasn't such a sad twat, I'd feel sorry for him.

Anonymous said...

18 months ago the INLA Derry Brigade, warned the BNP press office and Herr Griffin that the BNP would not be allowed to gain a foothold in the north of Ireland. It seems the BNP ignore this warning at their peril.

Anonymous said...

Derry IRSP would be better off dealing with the drug dealers in its military wing than a tin pot nutter like Dowson.

Anonymous said...

Its important to gather as much intelligence and data as possible on these BNP/combat 18 people and anyone else involved in far right neo nazi groups and confront with them with the clear message that this activity will not be tolerated . Their intent was very definitely to kill only recently, when they cut the throat of a young nationalist in the north.


Neo nazi groups are now murderously active on Irish streets,the working class have a right to defend their communities, as George Seawright found out.

Theyve thrown down the gauntlet, as a statement that they wont be going away of their own accord.

Anonymous said...

Can I make this clear please:

No such warning was made by the INLA in Derry to the BNP.

The IRSP as an Internationalist movement are anti-imperialist and antifascist.

We would challenge the imperialism of Mr Griffin and his ilk politically.

Please stop putting up info proporting to have come from the IRSP/INLA. It has not.

Anonymous said...

I refer you to the IRSP Derry board and a thread from 18 months ago, the BNP are fully aware that their presence will not be tolerated.

Anonymous said...

Dowson is hoping to win over the sectarianism of Rangers fans.