September 09, 2009

Birmingham's politicians clash over EDL protests

EDL supporters are nazis? Whatever gives you that idea?
An EDL supporter snapped at last Saturday's Birmingham demo.
City leaders have rejected claims that they can ban the controversial English Defence League group whose protests sparked violence and disorder in Birmingham city centre last weekend.

Senior councillors, although united in condemnation of the troublemakers, clashed how to deal with the demonstrations which resulted in 90 arrests. City cabinet members Alan Rudge, in charge of equalities, and Ayoub Khan, responsible for community safety, were both quizzed over the handling of the protests during city council question time. Opposition Labour group leader Sir Albert Bore accused them of lacking the will to ban the EDL, saying the council did just that in 2001 when they successfully lobbied the Home Secretary to ban a rally by the National Front at a time when UK cities were rife with race riots.

Coun Bore said: “I am speaking on behalf of shoppers and visitors who had witnessed disorder on the streets of Birmingham for the third time this summer.”

He suggested that the demonstrations had been down played by the ruling Conservative and Liberal Democrat administration. “In similar circumstances in 2001 Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Police secured a ban on the National Front.”

But Coun Rudge insisted that, working with West Midlands Police, they had done everything they could. “Coun Bore is trying to make a party political issue of this. We have done all we can within the law for the good of this city. There is a Labour Home Secretary, Alan Johnson, and perhaps Coun Bore should ask him to ban the demonstrations. Our advice is that the police had no power to ban a static protest.”

He told the council that the police had done an excellent job to contain the trouble and blamed a tiny number of people for provoking violence, which had been blown out of proportion by the media. “99.9 per cent of the communities of Birmingham had nothing to do with these protests and are behind us.”

Coun Khan pointed out that the first EDL protest on July 4 had been ‘brushed away’ as there were no rival protests to provoke trouble, but the August and September demonstrations met with rival protests and each time further escalated into serious public disorder, bringing violence to the city centre.

“Members of the EDL wore T-shirts and chanted slogans targeting the Muslim community which provoked a response and led to the anti-social behaviour.

“No amount of planning and intelligence could prepare for that,” he added.

Birmingham Mail

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a little fucktard. I wonder if he was one of the 90 arrested?

Anonymous said...

Wow! A genuine 'bonehead' - takes me back to the 1980's.

I'm surprised the EDL Casuals would be seen dead standing next to this guy.

Anonymous said...

The boy's a cretin.

Anonymous said...

By the looks of him he should have been in school.

tulip

Jamie The Antifascist said...

Next they'll be saying that they support the S.H.A.R.P movement...

btw; why is Gollum dressed like a skinhead?

Kev Scott loves The Jam said...

Lol at the 'Not in service' above his head....... says it all really!

milton said...

The wording above Gollum's head says it all...

Anonymous said...

One of the EDL leaders was on LBC for two hours on Wednesday night.

Anonymous said...

Someone the other day made mention of them all looking the same - more proof that they all come out of the same mould. Actually this is a manifestation of insecurity etc - they all need to conform and be part of the gang - can't stand out and have any individual identity. In fact they are all like a bunch of teenagers who are rebelling nad trying to find themselves, even though some are in their 50's and 60's. Problem is this requires the ability to think and have a personality........

Anonymous said...

Er.. someone needs to inform the EDL that skinheads and bomber jackets don't quite have the same image they used to.

Anonymous said...

Smash the fash!

Anonymous said...

The Not In Service sign refers to his brain and it's not on the bus. It's attached to his head all the time.

Anonymous said...

To mimik a Nazi slogan used by Nick Gri££in, "political correctness cuts both ways, lol!"