Simon Bennett, the BNP's former and now much-loathed webmaster, has always had a strange and manic desperation for recognition. Several weeks ago, when the British Freedom Party (or BNP-Lite) had only existed for about twenty minutes and had less than ten members, he appeared on TV as a representative of the BFP pontificating about whatever the current disaster was in the British National Party, which he had only recently left. As is common with many on the far-right, his complete devotion to his former party and its crooked leader turned to an all-consuming hatred almost overnight, and he found himself unable even to mention the BNP without exploding in all directions in his fury.Having completely fallen out with the BNP, he then joined the BFP, a tiny far-right grouplet made up solely of BNP rejects and swivel-eyed lunatics like Lee Barnes, the BNP's former legal officer and resident fruitloop.
The BFP is a curious entity: it has done nothing of any consequence, has no real policies, has stood in no elections and has a membership that currently stands at around thirty, all of whom are committed losers, yet it seems to be sneaking around behind everyone's backs, trying quietly to gain some indefinable power from somewhere. Anywhere, in fact. And now it has bumped up against (and linked up with, if our correspondents are correct) the English Defence League.
Bennett's only claim to fame (apart from being a rabid fantasist - remember the BNP's very own James Bond plot?) is that he can put together a website that appears to work relatively well, even though it only runs as fast as Martin Reynolds after a heavy lunch. This talent appears to be much-valued on the far-right and Bennett therefore has a skill that others want to exploit - which one imagines is why the Islamophobic EDL is suddenly interested in Bennett and his little gang, and why Bennett is now running the EDL's website.
Rumour has it that the EDL is planning, in the near future, on moving more into politics and away from incessant street confrontations. The group's leaders can hardly have failed to notice that attendance at their numerous rallies is trending downwards (though the Luton demo this coming weekend is expected to be a biggie) and it is said that Stephen Yaxley-Lennon and the other twats who lead the EDL would like to gain some political recognition before it loses any more of its momentum.
Thus, they are seeking advice on how to break into politics. And who are they seeking this advice from? Yes, the barely-visible British Freedom Party, that doesn't have a clue about politics and couldn't break into a wet tissue with a chainsaw.
Political realities aside, the BFP has its own troubles to deal with at the moment in any case, having split over a suggestion that Bennett may have walked off with £752 from one of its bank accounts. One half appears to believe he has already paid the money back while the other seems to think he's nicked it. It's not the first time Bennett has been caught up in money troubles - one of the accusations that followed him after his separation from the BNP was that he had walked off with a pile of money earned by badge sales. In fact, the far-right is and always has been rife with accusations of theft and fraud - all the way from Porky Griffin's spectacularly sticky fingers right down to Yaxley-Lennon and co being accused of diverting money from T-shirt sales.
Missing dosh aside, it's easy to see why the BFP wants to jump on the current EDL bandwagon but it's hard to see what's in it for the EDL apart from the embarrassment of being associated with the likes of Simon Bennett and the BFP. Rumour suggests that the EDL is also involved in talks with another far-right group, the English Democrats. Though just as crap as the BFP, the ED at least have had the experience of standing in the occasional election (readers may recall that in the recent Oldham East and Saddleworth by-election they scooped up a staggering 0.4% of the vote).
Asking the likes of the BFP and the English Democrats for political advice is about as currently sensible and completely pointless as entering Nick Clegg into a popularity contest - and having Simon Bennett involved in anything at all is a disaster waiting to happen.
Hmm, maybe Bennett's lot and the EDL could be a marriage made in heaven, after all - for us, anyway.
16 comments:
I'm surprised the EDL will touch Simon Bennet, everyone knows what a nutter he is.
How DARE you say the BFP only has 30 members??? It has 31!
This BFP seems like a joke, are they seriously a party. 30 members,maybe they can hold their annual conference in a telephone box. I get the impression that now they have been expelled from the BNP they are trying to find a new home,trying to unite the EDL,BFP and the ED is a disaster waiting to happen. Who would vote for the EDL, most of their followers cant even read, never mind vote
There's been a thread on the BDF stating that Simon Bennett runs the EDL website and even though hes posted on it a dozen or more times, he's avoided answering the question of whether he does or not. Now all of a sudden he's posted to say he doesn't. Well I can tell you for a fact that he did until he saw this article and realised you had been given all the information. He's had to stop the link with the EDL temporarily because a lot of people will be angry about it but once the fuss dies down he'll carry on. Bennett is a loose cannon and will destroy anything he's a part of.
Rumour has it that the EDL is planning, in the near future, on moving more into politics and away from incessant street confrontations.
and enter an already crowded far-right electoral market. There are about 5 or 6 competing British or English "national" parties out there - what are their USP (unique selling point)? Their relative success has come from blending football hooliganism and the prevailing zeitgeist of anti-Islamism on the streets. I can't see that changing any time soon and if it does I can't see it being a success.
"Simon Bennett, the BNP's former and now much-loathed webmaster, has always had a strange and manic desperation for recognition."
The only recognition he gets is as a complete and utter tosser.
Bennett used to post screeds about 'mudbloods' and percentages of sub-saharan DNA in various populations (along with all the sycophantic Griffin-loving chatter, pre-ousting) on Britchan.co.uk before it closed. The users there nicknamed him 'Stormfag' and it even spawned a few memes.
How many different factions are there in the BFP alone?
32!
Sadly I disagree. Younger voters would be far likely to vote EDL than BNP.
As most young people over 18 don't vote, this would be a real coup for the EDL.
Plus they would get free election broadcasts to talk about boycotting Halal meat and so on.
Please anti-fascists do not discount what might happen when the EDL become a proper political party, especially if they get some of the more literate BNP candidates to stand for them.
We must not be complacent.
At least with the street demos, we know what they are up to and anarchists can give them a run for their money, and we can monitor them better than if they try to become a supposedly "respectable" political party.
They would get far more rights to speak their fascist bile in public on the news if they were a political party. This is our worry as antifascists that the BBC would feel obliged to give them lots of airtime.
BEWARE AT OUR PERIL!
There are about four sections of the BFP forum referring to this post with Little Si going bonkers on each of them. Well done. :)
'Sadly I disagree. Younger voters would be far likely to vote EDL than BNP.
As most young people over 18 don't vote, this would be a real coup for the EDL.'
I disagree. 18 year olds have no interest in politics at all,they are less likely to vote than anyone else. The EDL attract thugs, they are based on football hooligan groups looking for a punch up. If the EDL delved into politics they would soon flounder. People dont like violence, groups that take part in violent street action will get nowhere, thats why the old NF failed, people will not vote for shaven headed thugs. Its true that the EDL have support from some sections of the white working class youth but they cant take that support anywhere. The only danger from the EDL is that violent confrontations could spark race riots and a backlash against the white community. Its the BNP who will benefit from that because they have the organisation and experience in how to tap into the anger it will generate
In the nest 12 months we will see the EDL in decline, their numbers are dropping already, kids get bored, the novelty has worn off, soon they will be back kicking the crap out of each other outside the football grounds again
I have just been viewing the BFP section of the BDF forum. It looks like its all over for Simon Bennett. He talks about the membership. How can he refer to 30 people as the membership.I wonder if hes kicking himself now. i dont think they will allow him back into the BNP. I think his days as a politcal collossus and leading the country are numbered. Such a blow to the nation..
How DARE you say the BFP only has 30 members??? It has 31!
LOL :D
In the nest 12 months we will see the EDL in decline, their numbers are dropping already, kids get bored, the novelty has worn off
That's why they know they need a big riot soon.
More than likely Luton will be a damp squib, rivals will be kept apart, a few arrests made and a few bottles thrown with lots of shouting.The EDL is on a path to a dead end
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