September 06, 2010

Singer Edwyn Collins takes on the British National Party and wins

Pop star's fury as BNP website uses hit song
City rocker Edwyn Collins demanded that the BNP remove his song from a "bizarre" party website that is being investigated by police.

The Edinburgh-born star's hit A Girl Like You featured on a Lothians British National Party website behind images of Asian men burning a union flag and veiled women waving banners saying "God Bless Hitler". The "Lothians BNP Video" site has now been taken off-line and its creator, BNP Central Scotland organiser Mike Coyle, has resigned from the party.

Police are investigating whether any action can be taken against the site. Edwyn Collins' wife and manager, Grace Maxwell, warned the BNP against using copyrighted material on their websites.

Ms Maxwell said: "There are many iffy videos on YouTube using A Girl Like You without permission and we are normally very relaxed about it. Whilst we don't believe that viewers would imagine for a moment that Edwyn has sanctioned the use of his track in this bizarre setting, for the removal of any doubt, we will require it to be deleted and will take the necessary steps to ensure that this happens."

The site, which was accessed via a link on the BNP Scotland website, also featured Louis Armstrong's What A Wonderful World with a montage calling the founder of Islam a "murderer" and "a paedophile", and several original songs by a Whitburn-based heavy metal band called Mott & Bailey.

The tracks railed against "invaders marching through our land, coming in like the night" and "darkness bringing down the walls". Videos accompanying the tracks featured images of 9/11, the London bombings and processions of coffins being carried through Wootton Bassett intermixed with images of British mosques and protesting Muslims.

Mr Coyle initially defended the site, stating that he saw nothing criminal in its content and claiming that "the BNP are not in the business of upsetting people". However, within hours of being contacted by the News, copyrighted content had been removed and the site had been re-branded "The Unofficial BNP Video Site". Mr Coyle then resigned.

The father-of-four said: "My last act as a BNP member was to dismantle this site. I put my head above the parapet and ended up being lied to. I set up this website with the full approval of the Scottish party, but now that my name stands to be dragged through the newspapers they have failed to show me any support. When I stood as a candidate in the last election my children were subjected to death threats, but I stood firm. They have lied to me for the last time."

The BNP Scotland website carries contact details for party members, party news and a page of material written by BNP Scotland leader Gary Raikes.

Edinburgh Evening News

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Who is Edwin Collins?

Anonymous said...

Just spotted this on a blog, I bet Walker's wife isn't to please?

'Adam Walker - Sexual Deviant'

http://myarrowisblue.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

the bluearrow is interesting, any idea who it is????

tulip

Anonymous said...

As fas as I know, Mike Coyle hasn't resigned. He used to be a commie too believe it or not. Sold the Morning Star in the street. The BNP Scotland site hasn't mentioned him resigning.

Anonymous said...

Crime against music... joey smith commits crimes against music to

Anonymous said...

"Who is Edwin Collins?"

He was very famous in the 1980s with the group Orange Juice, always on Top of the Pop.

Anonymous said...

Edwyn in is hay day with Orange Juice

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=No2ukc5V4EM

Anonymous said...

As an ex-BNP member I can vouch that BNP Scotland is being run on propaganda - pure and simple. Mike whathisname has not resigned. They are being taken to the cleaners by Griffin and it is pitiful to watch. They have a couple of wealthy people on their "Council" - watch them being fleeced for every penny by Jimbo and Griffo. I would not touch the BNP with a bargepole. I once believed now I can see what a farce it is. Truely. It pains me to say - you were right all along.

Anonymous said...

the bluearrow is interesting, any idea who it is????

tulip

its linked to the BNP reform group and Lee Barnes is promoting it