Soccer legend Stuart Pearce was stunned to discover his brother is a member of the far-right British National Party. The England Under-21 manager immediately confronted older brother Dennis after The People broke the shock news. A source close to Pearce, 46, said: "Stuart's not happy about it at all. He had no idea."
Dennis's close links to the BNP emerged after an exclusive People report last week. We revealed that Stuart, England captain John Terry and other stars, were angry at being used in a video promoting the racist party. Dennis, 56, admitted last night: "Stuart rang me and asked if I was a member of the BNP. He was shocked when I told him I was. He didn't know before. We have this rule never to talk politics in the family."
Former Nottingham Forest and West Ham player Pearce - dubbed Psycho for his bone-crunching tackles - did not even know his brother stood for election as a BNP candidate this year. But Dennis was happy to talk to us about his right wing views and boast of his friendship with BNP leader Nick Griffin.
He said: "I back the BNP's manifesto completely. The country is full up. There's too many people here. It's time to shut the door on immigrants. Immigration isn't helping crime rates drop, that's for sure. I served in the Army. It was about fighting communism, because communists stopped freedom of speech. I'm fighting for the same with the BNP. This is a Christian country. Islam is not compatible with this country."
Dennis is a passionate campaigner for the BNP. He stood unsuccessfully for the party at the London Assembly elections in May and hopes to be a general election candidate.
Recently he was at the BNP's Red, White and Blue rally with Griffin. He said: "I've met Nick about half-a-dozen times. At Red, White and Blue I complimented him on the hog roast. He'd brought a pig from his farm for us to eat. His wife Jackie cooked us a roast dinner."
Stuart, Dennis and their brother Ray grew up in North London. Dennis went on: "Stuart and I are very close and I see him regularly. I've always supported his football career and I'm proud of what he's achieved. I've been to his house in Wiltshire to see him and his wife many times. The last time I saw him was at a concert by The Police in Hyde Park a few months ago. It was a great day out."
The former engineer lives with his wife and two of his three children in Brent, North West London. He was in the Territorial Army, as a colour sergeant in the Royal Green Jackets.
One soldier who served with him said: "Quite a few of us feel he has brought disgrace on the regiment. We are disgusted by his drift into right wing politics. Dennis used to be in charge of a very multi-racial platoon and seemed comfortable with the ethnic mix. So no one can understand why he got mixed up with the BNP."
In a brief statement through the FA - which campaigns to kick racism out of football - former Manchester City boss Pearce said: "My brother's views are his own and do not in any way reflect mine."
Our source added: "Stuart is very keen to stress that his brother's beliefs are not what he is all about. He wants to distance himself completely."
The People
August 24, 2008
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4 comments:
"Stuart and I are very close and I see him regularly...The last time I saw him was at a concert by The Police in Hyde Park a few months ago."
Something of a contradiction there.
"Recently he was at the BNP's Red, White and Blue rally with Griffin. He said: "I've met Nick about half-a-dozen times. At Red, White and Blue I complimented him on the hog roast. He'd brought a pig from his farm for us to eat. His wife Jackie cooked us a roast dinner."
Health, safety, government registered abatoir?
I feel sorry for Stuart Pearce - I can only hope that he's not tainted by association with his racist BNP brother.
"He'd brought a pig from his farm for us to eat. His wife Jackie cooked us a roast dinner"
That's before they ate her, presumably?
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