Blackpool EDL and anti-fascist demos 'pass peacefully'

An EDL member showing his intelligence and style

Protests by the English Defence League (EDL) and Unite Against Fascism (UAF) groups in Blackpool were "relatively incident free", police have said.

About 1,500 people attended the EDL rally at South Pier while a further 50 people attended the UAF event at Central Pier, police estimated. Officers from three other forces were brought in to bolster police numbers after trouble at past protests. Ten men were arrested for a variety of offences, including public order.

The demonstrations were held at lunchtime and police said crowds had begun dispersing at about 1330 BST. Day-to-day policing carried on as normal in the resort while specially-trained officers - including some from Merseyside, Cumbria and West Yorkshire - monitored the protests.

Among the 10 arrested were three men from Merseyside - aged 27, 35 and 37 - who were detained on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly in a public place, along with a 26-year-old man from Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. A 29-year-old man, from Blackburn, and a 36-year-old man, from Darwen, were arrested by British Transport Police for public order offences. A 21-year-old man from Gateshead was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon.

Divisional Commander Richard Debicki said: "We are pleased that the protest has passed off peacefully and we are satisfied that we were able to give both sides the right to demonstrate and to ensure that it was business as usual for the resort.

"We would like to pass on our thanks to businesses and members of the public for their support and co-operation. Many officers will now remain in the resort over the bank holiday weekend to help reassure local businesses and communities."

BBC

Landlord’s pledge over EDL protest rally

A controversial protest group will not disrupt our town – that was the message ahead of a massive march threatening to take over Blackpool.

The English Defence League (EDL) are staging a protest on Saturday, May 28, with a major police operation planned for the protest route along the Promenade to South Pier. Demonstrators are set to arrive in town from 10am, with businessman Robert Wynne’s pub The Sun Inn on Bolton Street, South Shore, one of those they’re expected to head to.

The former Blackpool mayor said: “We had a meeting with the police yesterday morning and they’re very keen to minimise disruption to the town, keep everybody safe and hopefully this will pass off without trouble and incident. They’ve asked us if we will be open and co-operate with their security measures. The pub is not associated with the EDL or its views and we’re just co-operating with police.”

The rally is calling for justice for missing Blackpool schoolgirl Charlene Downes, and the South Shore branch of Yates’s – where EDL protesters gathered before a smaller demonstration in March – is also expected to be affected. The demonstration is scheduled to take place at the public headland close to South Pier between 12.45 and 2pm, following a short march along the Promenade from Britannia Place.

Police have stressed they are confident of a peaceful rally and Chief Supt Richard Debicki, Commander of Western Division, said: “Our top priority is the safety of the community, people visiting Blackpool on the day and the demonstrators themselves.

“This is a busy Bank Holiday for Blackpool and we want to make sure the resort remains open for business as usual on the day and that there is no disruption to daily life, although obviously there will be a highly visible police presence throughout the day.”

Blackpool Gazette

Hotelier admits 13 hygiene offences

The hotelier who hosted BNP conferences in Blackpool has been handed a suspended prison sentence after admitting 13 food hygiene charges. Peter Metcalf, owner of the New Kimberley Hotel on New South Promemade, was appearing at Preston Crown Court after environmental health officers raided his premises in October 2008.

Following the initial inspection, the 48-year-old was served a number of orders to ensure the property was clean and structurally sound. But when officers returned early last year they found the kitchen equipment and food preparation areas were caked with mould and grime. Food was stored dangerously and could have become contaminated by bacteria while there was no evidence of any systems to prevent the spread of germs.

He was given a 12 week prison sentence suspended for 18 months.

Coun Maxine Callow, cabinet member with responsibility for quality standards at Blackpool Council, said: "There's no place for people who continually flout the law and put the health of our visitors in danger. I'm pleased the sentence imposed reflects how seriously the courts take instances where public health is put at risk. We give people every chance to change their behaviour and improve the quality of their businesses but if it doesn't happen we will ensure the strongest action possible is taken."

Metcalf appeared before a crown court judge in July where he pleaded guilty to 13 food hygiene charges. He was found guilty of 20 food hygiene offences in 2008 while South Shore Travel Limited, also involved with the running of the hotel, were prosecuted for failing to comply with seven health and safety improvement notices last year.

Blackpool Council revoked the hotel's licence in August 2009 due to 'significant and long standing fire and health and safety concerns'.

Blackpool Gazette

Mystery of BNP venue

The BNP has refused to release details of where its conference will begin tomorrow.
It is believed the event will be staged in Blackpool, but the party will only confirm the date and that it will be held in the North West.

The event has been hosted by the New Kimberley Hotel, South Promenade, for the past three years. Hotel bosses have refused to say if it will be held there tomorrow, but earlier this year management did say they would be prepared to cater for the event.

Police say they have not been made aware of the location of the conference – which will be taking place on the same day as soldiers from 12 Regiment Royal Artillery are welcomed home to the resort from the battlefields of Afghanistan and Iraq, with a special parade and service.

A spokeswoman for Lancashire Police said: "Our events and planning department has not been made aware of the location of the BNP conference this weekend."

The Unite Against Fascism North West group said it believed the conference was due to take place in Blackpool, but was not aware of the exact location. Paul Jenkins, regional organiser, said: "In previous years, it has been held at the New Kimberley but we do not know if this is the case again this time. We have heard a few rumours, but nothing substantial at the moment."

Local BNP organiser James Clayton told The Gazette the venue was being 'kept under wraps'. He said: "The conference is this weekend, but I cannot confirm whether it is in Blackpool or not. As far as I know, it will be held somewhere in the North West. I don't even know where it is being held yet."

Earlier this year, the BNP said it would definitely be holding its next conference in the resort, after its 'victory rally' took place at the New Kimberley in June. The controversial right wing party was celebrating its success at the European Parliament elections. Extra police were drafted in as anti-fascist groups held a protest outside the South Promenade hotel.

BNP leader Nick Griffin was elected as North West MEP in June.

Blackpool Gazette

BNP threat in pub fracas

An engineer threatened to knock out a doorman and shouted at him: "I'm part of the BNP". The fracas took place during the weekend the BNP was holding its conference in Blackpool.

Lee Kelly, 33, pleaded guilty to threatening behaviour. He was fined £300 with £60 costs and ordered to pay the £15 victims' surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

Martine Connah, prosecuting, said Kelly was among a group causing a fracas outside Yates's Wine Lodge on June 20 at 6.30pm. Kelly, of Easton Road, Droylsden, shouted at a doorman and pushed a police sergeant in the chest, shouting "don't touch me" and struggled violently when arrested.

Kathryn Edwards, defending, said her client, who had no previous convictions, had come to the resort on a stag party. She added Kelly denied being with the BNP.

Blackpool Gazette

Four nazis arrested at anti-BNP protest

The image is blurry but you can still see these nazi twats sieg-heiling

North West UAF held a vibrant and noisy protest outside the BNP's 'Victory Rally' today. Exactly how many of their party attended the rally is unclear. But it is interesting that there was no sign of them at the hotel windows, no display of numbers or any celebration.

Just over 100 people from around the region took part in the protest; which was great, given that there were only a few days in which to organise and publicise it. Banners included those from Blackpool Trades Council; Blackpool and Fylde College UCU; Greater Manchester UAF and the local PCS.

Several speakers addressed the crowd and onlookers on the promenade. Points made included: why we say 'no platform for Nazis'; the fact that they are virulently homophobic as well as racist; the level of misogyny within the party and ended with a promise to Griffin that wherever he tries to appear publicly in the North West, we will be there too. Speakers talked about the fact that anti-fascists represent the majority and that UAF will organise protests to outnumber and oppose the Nazi BNP wherever they try to organise.

Andrew Wheatley, from Blackpool Trades Council, emphasised that, despite Griffin winning the North West seat, the BNP do not represent the majority of people in the area. Pete Marsden, of Blackpool UNISON, speaking in a personal capacity, criticised the “British Jobs for British Workers” slogan which had benefited the BNP.

Jain Gawn, of Blackpool and Fleetwood Unite Against Fascism, talked of the legacy of fighting Fascism in Britain, including the Battle of Cable Street and the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War. Jain also cited the recent attacks in Belfast as an example of where racism leads. Other speakers included Dione Bough of UNISON, Independent Socialist Councillor Michael Lavalette, and others.

Weyman Bennett, joint-national secretary of UAF, called for people to attend the demonstration against the Nazis’ “Red, White and Blue” event in August, while Dave Sewell of Manchester University Students Union spoke about the need to continue a No Platform position against the BNP.

Off to the clink we go...

There was anti-nazi representation from across the North-West, with protestors from Blackpool and Fleetwood, Lancaster, Wigan, Preston, Liverpool, Kendal, Manchester, Barrow, and elsewhere, and representation from the North West’s LGBT community.

A letter was read out from the two Blackpool MP’s, Joan Humble and Gordon Marsden, which had been sent to the New Kimberley Hotel, opposing the Hotel’s hosting of BNP events, stating “The Nazis too deceived, frightened and scapegoated people – just the same as the BNP try to do. Perhaps it’s no surprise then that many BNP activists try to deny the Holocaust.”

Unfortunately, the rally was not entirely free from Nazis. Several of them came out of the hotel to harass people. This is a new development for BNP gatherings in Blackpool and was obviously born out of a new confidence they've gained since the elections. We will have to make sure that that confidence is short lived. While many of their thugs lolling around in gangs were dressed in suits, a small group of skins sauntered over in ‘nationalist’ t-shirts and started sieg-heiling at the crowd (with a wall and cops in between, to protect themselves, obviously). Whilst this was met with fury and much shouting, no on attempted to physically attack them. Instead we slowly moved them on along the prom.

It was quite obvious that the episode was orchestrated purely to provoke us into a violent response. When the old Nazi salute didn't cause anyone to loose control and attack them, they started chanting the names of concentration camps, as a taunt. As they descended into a tirade of racial abuse the police intervened and four of them were arrested. It would be hard to find a clearer example of the fact that the BNP is a haven for hardcore, unreconstructed, Nazis.

Some of the crowd at the demo

As time went on we noticed small groups of thugs strategically positioned down the promenade. Like vultures they were gathering in order to pick people off as they left the protest. It was agreed that the best way to avoid anyone getting hurt was to leave the area outside the hotel together as a group. With the numbers involved, this became a demonstration in its own right. We marched down the prom singing and chanting.

While it was depressing to see them so confident and closer to our demo than in other years it is important to bear the following in mind: anti-fascists are by far the majority; it looks like we had far more people outside that hotel than they had inside it and while we can march through the streets, they can't. It is going to be a long, hard summer making sure that this remains the case. They've got their seats in Europe, but that does not mean we have to allow them the chance to take over our public places. As their 'Victory Rally' was such a flop, they’re likely to try again at the Red, White and Blue gathering. We need to make sure they have nothing to celebrate when they get there!

MPs slam Blackpool BNP host

Blackpool's MPs have written an open letter condemning the hotel at the centre of today's British National Party rally.

The New Kimberley Hotel, on New South Promenade, South Shore, will play host to the far-right group who are celebrating winning their first seats in the European Parliament. But Gordon Marsden and Joan Humble have today blasted the hotel for opening its doors to the party.

In the joint letter, the two Labour MPs said: "The BNP is a group that works by dividing our communities – it deceives, tries to frighten and scapegoat people. It's a group that encourages anger to new people, ideas and experiences. Your open door to them brings hate, not happiness, to Blackpool. It hinders our prosperity and welcome to visitors – especially in Armed Forces and Veterans Week. Think about the variety and different backgrounds in your own friends and families – and next time, think again."

Mrs Humble and Mr Marsden alleged some BNP members were Holocaust deniers and claimed the party created "hatred and division". They also questioned the need for a victory rally by the BNP, saying nine out of 10 voters in Blackpool had voted against them.

But James Clayton, the BNP's organiser in Blackpool, said the MPs and protesters were the ones stirring tensions. He said: "I think it would be more appropriate for Joan Humble and Gordon Marsden to be writing to the protesters. The concern over this weekend's events is created by the protesters who are known for being disruptive. If they didn't turn up, we would basically be inside the hotel and for all intents and purposes, the people of Blackpool wouldn't even know we were here. It seems like Joan Humble and Gordon Marsden, when they're not busy claiming their expenses, are trying to disrupt what we are doing and I don't think that is appropriate."

The New Kimberley Hotel refused to comment on the letter.

At least 500 campaigners, organised by the group Unite Against Facism, are expected to hold an anti-BNP protest outside the New Kimberley Hotel today. Extra police have been drafted in to keep the peace.

Blackpool Gazette

Protests at BNP's 'victory' rally

Hundreds of anti-fascist demonstrators are expected to picket a British National Party "Victory" rally.

Extra police will be on patrol as Nick Griffin, leader of the far-right party, attends the two-day event entitled Victory 09, at the New Kimberley Hotel on the promenade in Blackpool.

About 100 BNP activists are expected at the event, which has been held in the past as a party summer school but as the party now has two MEPs in its ranks, Mr Griffin said it will be a mixture of a victory celebration and a "de-brief" about their European election campaign.

Mr Griffin, one of the party's MEPs, will speak at the event just weeks after he was targeted by protesters who attacked his car and pelted him with eggs when he arrived for the Euro election count at Manchester Town Hall. He had to be smuggled in by a back door after emerging from a police van. And he was again attacked by demonstrators on the Green outside the Houses of Parliament as the BNP tried to stage a news conference the day after his election.

A spokesman for Unite Against Fascism (UAF) said he expects "hundreds" to turn up outside the hotel to protest. The UAF said trade unionists, students and ordinary members of the public had pledged support to show their opposition to the BNP.

Lancashire Police said officers will be on patrol around the area of the venue to keep the peace. Chief Inspector Karen Simister said: "A policing operation focused on ensuring the safety of the public has been put in place to ensure that the event and associated protests pass without incident."

Southport Visitor

BNP protester attacked in Blackpool

A man was left with a broken nose when he was attacked after leaving an anti-BNP demonstration in Blackpool. His companion suffered cuts and bruises during the altercation.

It happened after the pair had walked away from a Unite Against Fascism protest held outside the Kimberley Hotel on South Promenade where the BNP was holding its annual conference.

The demonstration itself was heavily policed and went off without any trouble, but the victims had left the vicinity of the hotel when the incident occured.

The Socialist Party, of which they are members, believes the attacker was a far right supporter. But the BNP today dismissed claims that it was someone attending their event.

Blackpool Police has confirmed the attack took place at around 2.30pm on Saturday, but said they could not link it directly with the BNP conference.

Blackpool Gazette

Over 200 protest against BNP conference

The demo arrives...

Well over two hundred anti-fascists attended an enthusiastic and lively demonstration outside the wretched New Kimberley Hotel in Blackpool yesterday, in a protest at the British National Party bringing its conference to Blackpool for the third year in a row. Demonstrators and speakers came from as far away as Oxford and speakers for the day represented numerous organisations including Blackpool and Fleetwood UAF, UNISON, Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre TUC, Barrow and South Cumbria UAF, Lancaster University SAAR, North-West UAF, the NUT, national UAF, Manchester UAF, Gay Activist's Alliance International and the CWU.

The demo began with us gathering outside the rear entrance to the Winter Gardens, where a couple of pro-BNP louts shouted abuse for no apparent reason. We heard a number of speakers there, then marched briskly along the prom, giving out hundreds of leaflets and receiving many supporting cheers on the way to South Shore, where we gathered for the demo proper outside the tatty New Kimberley Hotel, a hazard to humans though not, apparently, to members of the BNP, which tells us quite a lot about the party.

There is a reasonable report on the demo (that sadly includes a moment of Nick Griffin) which you can access by going here and clicking on Latest News Bulletins over on the right. Just select the one for Saturday and there we are.

Demonstrators arriving at the New Kimberley

To stop them making abusive gestures (as they have in previous years) and generally attempting to intimidate protestors, the BNP conference delegates (once again, about sixty of them, according to an ITV reporter who had been inside the rathole) were ordered to remain behind the closed and filthy curtains of the New Kimberley by the police. To be fair, most of them did as they were told, with the exception of bone-headed Clive Jefferson, who seems to be the current head of security and the Cumbria organiser, who stuck his ugly mug out on at least a half-dozen occasions.

According to our man in the BNP's security team, they spent most of the day concerned with the seating arrangements for lunch and dinner - at least until someone asked for a glass of water and nobody could find any. Headless chickens, was the phrase used. Here's a tip for future members of possibly the most idiotic security team the BNP has ever put together - use the tap.

Security spent a good deal of Saturday worrying about someone who was round the rear of the Kimberley, apparently taking photographs of the hell-hole from the back. This caused major panic, mostly because with the police in close proximity the heavies couldn't just go out and beat the crap out of the guy and nick his camera. Jefferson was eventually forced to order the bovine Martin Reynolds to go and speak to the police while his mates took a note of the photographer's vehicle registration number - no doubt soon to appear on Redwatch. Reynolds had no idea how to do this and was humiliatingly lectured by the appallingly arrogant Jefferson on what he should say, how to say it and told in no uncertain terms to get on with it.

Demonstrators listening to speakers outside the 'conference'

A demo is useful for a number of reasons, not the least of which is to let the BNP know (and to continue letting them know) that there is opposition to their fascism out here and that there are people who are prepared to stand up and voice that opposition despite intimidation from the lunatic element of the far-right party. One demonstrator, who was waiting to meet up with some friends after the demo, was abused and spat at by a BNP supporter. Rather than putting her off organising against the far-right party, this has added to her determination to do all she can to fight against it. Demo's are also useful for making new contacts or re-establishing old ones - a fact that was borne out when I got back and realised that I'd collected twenty-odd email addresses and phone numbers to go on our contact list.

Thank you to everyone who made the effort to turn out, particularly to our many friends who travelled from well out of the area. Many thanks also to our speakers who all did a sterling job and our great thanks to the many members of the Blackpool public who stopped to chat or who were driving past but gave us the thumbs-up. Even the weather behaved itself (for a change).

Remember, this 'conference' was the starting point for Nick Griffin's attempt to heave himself on to the European Parliament. They started their campaign for Europe at Blackpool - for no reason other than that the New Kimberley is the only rancid shithole in the country that will take the scum of the BNP for a whole three days. Saturday's demonstration should be seen as the beginning of a massive and unrelenting campaign to keep Griffin and the rest of his party out of Europe. Let's keep them out!

Caption Competition: What the hell?

We can always trust Mad King Nick's unofficial court jester Mark Collett to embarrass the British National Party in some way while the party's 'conference' is going on, usually along with his mate, the buffoon Dave Hannam. Last year, Collett and Hannam appeared at the windows of the ghastly New Kimberley Hotel in Blackpool, waving and grinning like a pair of sub-normal clowns on the demo below - despite orders from his lordship that no-one was to show their face at all. The year before, Collett and Hannam got themselves in trouble over the small matter of inviting a couple of underage girls back to the hotel, for which they were disciplined - not for anything to do with the girls being illegally young but for bringing non-BNP people into the hotel while the conference was taking place.

This year, it looks like Collett is attempting to take on a new assistant idiot and it's possible that the picture above is of the job interview or audition for Hannam's replacement. But we wouldn't know about that. All we know is that the picture is ideal for a caption competition, so go for it. Be warned: comments/captions will be deleted if we feel the cold hand of the libel lawyer on the corporate shoulder...

Join the demo against the BNP Conference at Blackpool on Saturday November 15th

This post is sticky - newer posts appear below it

Once again, it has become clear that the fascist BNP is holding its annual conference in Blackpool. This year's conference has a special edge to it though because the party's leader Nick Griffin is using the event to springboard his NW England campaign for a seat on the European Parliament - the elections for which take place next June. Griffin has been yearning for a place in Europe for years - desperate to get his sticky mitts on the vast expenses that can be run up by the greedier and more unscrupulous Euro MP.

Should he win a place, we could see the income of the BNP improve dramatically, to the detriment of everyone who opposes it. Richard Barnbrook tithes 10% (£5,000) from his income as a London Assembly member and Griffin would be expected to do the same. This amount can buy an awful lot of lying leaflets and/or petrol for the infamous Lie Lorry. Once inside Europe, Griffin's BNP would also strengthen its links with the many other far-right groups that are represented at Brussels, some of which are a good deal more overtly to the right of the BNP.

We have a good deal of work to do to keep Griffin or any of his acolytes out of Europe, and he knows there is a real possibility of winning a seat this time. With Euro-scepticism rife and the right-wing press slagging off the EU on any pretext, the mood is in his favour. But we'll fight him and we'll keep him out - and Blackpool is the very first stage of this fight. While he announces his campaign, we'll be there to show him and Blackpool BNP that there is massive opposition that is prepared to stand up and be counted.

A triple demo then - opposition to the BNP conference, opposition to the BNP in Blackpool and a big two-fingers to Griffin's opening shot in his campaign for a seat on the European Parliament.

Time: 12 noon

Date: Saturday November 15th

Location: the square at the top of Victoria Street at the side entrance to the Winter Gardens. A map that clearly shows the location is at the top of this post.

Directions: If you're coming from the prom, aim for Blackpool Tower and Victoria Street is just a few metres to the North of it. Victoria Street is pedestrianised so walk to the other end of it and you'll find us in the big square next to the Winter Gardens. For drivers, the best way is to park up in the Hounds Hill shopping centre multi-storey car park, go out through the shopping centre and you're in Victoria Street. Turn right and the demo is a fifty metre stroll.

Dress up warm. It's chilly in Blackpool in November.

Grimy BNP-link hotel 'a hazard to humans'

New Kimberley Hotel 'a hazard to humans'

The Blackpool hotel used by the far right British National Party for its annual conferences was branded a hazard to humans by health chiefs.

Officers investigated after guests complained about diarrhoea and vomiting while staying at The New Kimberley Hotel, Blackpool. They were also told of guests being given uncooked food and meat which smelt bad. Officials found the kitchen of the 50-bedroom hotel on South Promenade was filthy and discovered food which was out-of-date and in danger of cross-contamination from bacteria.

Peter Metcalf, 45, of Wyredale Road, St Annes, the hotel's former-leaseholder, admitted nine offences of breaching food hygiene safety rules and was found guilty of 11 similar offences after a trial. He was fined £1,000 with £500 costs and ordered to pay the £15 victims' surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

Victoria Cartmell, prosecuting for Blackpool Council, said there were complaints in 2006 about the hotel.

Health officers first visited the hotel in July 2006 and Metcalf was given numerous chances to clean the kitchen. Officers again visited on August 14 last year and found the kitchen was filthy. Ceilings, walls, sockets, surfaces, pipes, floors, a cooker, fryer and freezer were greasy and dirty and food debris was scattered around. Black mould was on chopping boards, freezer seals and an ice-making machine. A wash basin was dirty and there were no paper towels.

Ms Cartmell said: "Double cream in the fridge was past its use-by date. Containers of ice-cream were stored next to boxes of raw bacon which could have caused cross-contamination of bacteria."

Mitch Sarangi, defending, said at the time Metcalf's mother-in-law had been diagnosed with a terminal illness. He and his wife travelled to and from Scotland to visit her before she was transferred to a hospice and died. Metcalf had now been declared bankrupt and he no longer held the hotel's lease.

The hotel hit the headlines in November 2006 and 2007 when it twice held the BNP's annual conference.

Tim Coglan, head of trading standards at Blackpool Council, said: "The conditions were disgusting and totally unacceptable. We know the majority of premises in the town are well run but we will continue to crackdown on those that aren't. Blackpool has the most robust enforcement regime in the country."

The hotel is now under new management.

Blackpool Gazette

Griffin's Blackpool meeting cancelled

Griffin gets in a sweat as his Euro campaign gets off to a bad start

A meeting organised by Blackpool BNP for Monday evening, at which Nick Griffin was to be the star attraction, has been cancelled following numerous phone calls by anti-fascists to the Marton Men's Social Club in Dagger's Hall Lane, Blackpool. So much for the grand launch of Griffin's Euro campaign in the North West.

Our thanks to the many people who made the effort to ring up. Keep up the good work, folks. :-)

The Mark Collett/Dave Hannam underage girls saga gets murkier as story unfolds

A poster to the BNP-dissident blog Enough is Enough has recounted the story of the alleged visit of the two underage girls to the New Kimberley Hotel in Blackpool at the BNP's 2006 'conference'.

This story, whose repercussions are only just beginning to develop, has taken its time emerging but now starts to take on more credibility as the animosity between the rebels and the Griffinite BNP membership forces the disclosure of information that was hitherto kept quiet 'for the sake of the party'.

The latest disclosure was a response to a post by Chris Hill, Lancaster's very own dissident BNP member (who you'll recall announced his support for the rebels, promptly backed down when told off then got his courage back and supported them again) who stated;

'I believe [Collett's] story that he chatted up a girl in a disco who looked 18, and then took her back to his hotel room. His offence was to bring a guest back to the conference hotel room, nothing else! He was quite rightly given a final warning for that, which meant the next incident should have been automatic expulsion. But that’s just one of many problems with this whole Collett thing, it seems the rules don’t apply to him, he’s untouchable. Mark Collett is a nasty megalomaniac, but he’s not a sex offender.'

The response, posted by someone calling themselves 'i was there', was clear.

'With all due respect Chris you were not in the hotel bar when Collett and Hannam came in with the 14 and 15 year old girls and I was and so was Kenny Smith and several others. We all could tell they were underage as soon as they walked through led by Collett and many of us said as much to each other including the barman.

When the girls came back down complaining about the demands for sex it was even more obvious they were children and it was Kenny Smith who persuaded them not to go to the press with the mobile phone footage and promised them that Collett and Hannam would be disciplined by the party.

One of the girls bluetoothed the footage to Kenny and I believe he gave it to security (pos. Martin Reynolds) the next morning.

If Kenny hadn't persuaded them and their mother - who arrived later with a security guy - out of going to the press Collett and Hannam would have had to be expelled, but such a media furore would also have been very damaging for the party.'

There are so many questions that arise from this brief statement that it might be better to tabulate them properly.

• Why didn't Kenny Smith and the other witnesses report this alleged crime when it happened?
• If Smith and co 'could tell they were underage as soon as they walked through led by Collett', why weren't they stopped immediately?
• If the barman at Blackpool's New Kimberley Hotel could tell that the two girls were underage, why didn't he report these activities to the police?
• Matt Single, formerly one of the BNP's security team, has admitted that he knew about this incident when it happened. Why didn't he report it?
  
• Why did Kenny Smith persuade the girls and a parent of one of them not to go to the police with the mobile phone footage of the alleged incident?
• If Kenny Smith sent the mobile phone footage to Martin Reynolds, the BNP's pervert Head of Security, who was it who then sent it both to us and the Blackpool Gazette?
• What kind of political party would rather hide alleged child abuse than cause any harm to itself?

There are a lot of questions still to be answered about this incident and there will probably never be a definitive answer that will satisfy everybody but there is just one more question that we feel should get a reasonable response, even if nothing else comes to light.

• Why has Mark Collett never even been questioned by the police about these allegations?

We are assured by our correspondents, who know the nazi-loving Mark Collett rather better than we do, that Collett has never been approached by the police; nor does he expect to be. If that's truly the case, we wonder why?

BNP conference video report

Another gem from our mate Irish Tony!

BNP 'extremists will fail in resort'

Blackpool's political leaders have hit back at the BNP leader's claims his party will "succeed" in Blackpool.

Nick Griffin, leader of the controversial right-wing party, told The Gazette he believed the town was a prime target for a BNP campaign. He cited the influx of foreign workers as a divisive factor and said people were fed up with the resort losing out on much-needed investment while other towns, with a greater ethnic diversity, received regeneration cash. But the resort's councillors say they do not fear the BNP, which gained three per cent of the vote in the May elections, getting a foot in the door.

Council leader Peter Callow said foreign workers were welcome in Blackpool.

He said: "Many are doing valuable work and I don't think the Blackpool electorate thinks that way. Mr Griffin may think the BNP are making inroads in Blackpool but the only party to come out of the May elections well was the Conservative party with our stunning victory. I can't say I noticed the BNP. I would rather they didn't come to Blackpool with their conference as they are controversial and court trouble. But if they do choose to stand I would hope the electorate would treat them with contempt for the extreme views they hold."

The town's Labour leader Ivan Taylor believes the electorate should be given more credit than to vote for extremism.

He said: "I don't see the BNP as a major force in Blackpool. I think the people of this town are too sensible to be taken in by extremist views. The BNP and National Front have in the past made attempts in Blackpool but fortunately have not had any success. That is partly because we have put to the electorate just how odious their policies really are. Blackpool may have missed out on some recent funding but we have been well supported by the Government on various initiatives over the years."

Doug Green, leader of the town's Liberal Democrats, was even more scathing.

He said: "The BNP is consideredto be the direct descendants of Mosley's Blackshirts
and the natural successor to the National Front. I would like to think the main parties would be able to spot the seats they intended to fight and would be galvanised and denounce them for what they are. They do not have constructive policies, their rhetoric is simply negative with an unsaid agenda of racial hatred. I believe many of their votes come as a protest from people who are disillusioned with mainstream politics not who believe in their extreme views."

He added: "Blackpool has always had seasonal workers and I don't believe they take local jobs or drive down wages. Wages are comparatively low because Blackpool is in competition with resorts abroad, not because of out-of-town workers, whether they are from Poland or Preston."

The BNP's seven candidates won 2,371 vote in Blackpool Council elections in May.

Blackpool Gazette

200 protest against dismal BNP conference

Around two hundred anti-fascists gathered outside the ghastly New Kimberley Hotel in Blackpool yesterday to protest at the British National Party holding their conference at the resort for the second time. Protesters came from Blackpool itself, Lancaster, Barrow, Manchester, Tyne and Wear, Nottinghamshire and Liverpool, and included students and trades unionists.

Speakers included Donna Guthrie: UAF, Stephen Mullen: Blackpool and the Fylde College Student's Union, Alec McFadden: North West TUC, Jane Rogers: Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre TUC, Paul Jenkins: Barrow and South Cumbria UAF, Dan Ratcliffe: Lancaster University SAAR, Mike Killian: Manchester UAF and others.

The BNP, rather than standing around sneering at us from inside the hotel as they did last year, chose instead to hide behind drawn curtains - except for a few who appeared momentarily to snap off a picture or two, much to the annoyance of the police who had told them not to. While most of the people who choose to do this at least tried to be discreet, Mark Collett, being the BNP's most arrogant moron, pulled his curtain wide open and stood in front of it grinning down at us until ordered to stop being a prat by the police.

This buffoon craves the limelight, good or bad, and one wonders why any party leader, particularly one as paranoid as Nick Griffin, would want such an uppity and ambitious little snot standing very closely behind him. I'd advise Griffin to check for concealed knives.

Cumbria BNP's Clive Jefferson made a couple of appearances at the door for no apparent reason, though maybe he simply wanted to be caught on Granada TV's camera. While on the subject of Granada TV, there was an excellent report on the demo last night including (sadly) a snippet of Griffin followed by three of our people. Nice. If anyone managed to get a digital recording of it, please sling it across to us at lancaster.uaf@zen.co.uk

A number of people at the demo speculated on the reason for the curtains being closed and it was suggested that the most likely reason was that there was hardly anyone in there attending the conference. This was borne out an hour or so after the demo had ended, when a group of us drove past the hotel on our way home only to see that the curtains had been opened and that there was a small cluster of around fifteen to twenty people sitting around a table in the dining room apparently engaged in a discussion. Maybe they were asking where the missing accounts have got to.

Assuming that a similar discussion was taking place in the resident's lounge (though it looked empty to us) that indicates a 'national' conference attended by about forty people. Wow.

All in all, a good demo. The weather didn't get too out of control, the conference looked pretty dismal and our speakers were great.

Thank you to everyone who made the effort to turn out, particularly to our friends who travelled from well out of the area. Many thanks to our speakers who all did a sterling job despite being frozen and our thanks to the many members of the Blackpool public who stopped to chat or who were driving past but gave us the thumbs-up.

Well done everyone (and thanks to Jim B. and Phil for the pics). :-)

Download leaflet/poster for BNP Conference demonstration in Blackpool

The British National Party (BNP) has announced it is to hold a conference on 17th/18th November in Blackpool at the New Kimberley Hotel. Local people including members of the council, hotels, trade unions, students , residents and anti-fascist have condemned the BNP for holding it's conference in Blackpool for the second time.

We must show our opposition to the fascist BNP and it's politics of race hate and division. We must show that there is united opposition to the BNP and ensure that Blackpool is a fascist-free zone. Unite Against Fascism calls on all those that oppose fascism to mobilise and attend this protest of unity.

HQ double-sided poster/leaflet for BNP Conference demonstration (pdf file - 2MB). Click here to download.

Please download the leaflet and poster and spread them around to your friends and colleagues.

Lancashire TUC calls on public not to use Blackpool hotel

The Lancashire Association of Trades Union Councils (LATUC) is the representative body of the national TUC in Lancashire and brings together thousands of trade union members across the county. There are local TUCs in Blackburn, Blackpool, Fylde & Wyre, Burnley, Chorley, Hyndburn & Rossendale, Lancaster & Morecambe, Pendle, Preston & South Ribble, Skelmersdale (SW Lancashire).

The LATUC is calling for trade unionists and all decent people not to use a hotel in Blackpool which is the venue for the BNP conference. The hotel concerned is the New Kimberley Hotel, 585-589 New South Promenade, Blackpool FY4 1NQ.

LATUC Secretary, Peter Billington, said "we want trade union members and all decent people not to use this hotel. There are 2.7 million workers in the North West and 34% (918,000) of them are trade union members. We are writing to the national TUC and asking it to circulate the hotel's details to all UK unions so that members can avoid this place. The hotel is knowingly providing support for a group of violent, racist, criminal thugs. It shouldn't be forgotten that a Lancashire BNP member, who was also a BNP local council candidate, is currently in prison after having been convicted on bomb-making charges. Robert Cottage, three times BNP candidate was jailed in August this year for having stockpiled chemicals, bomb making equipment and a rocket launcher. Cottage is the latest BNP member to have been found guilty of criminal charges.

In the last year, another five BNP members and councillors have been found guilty of offences ranging from racially aggravated assault to attempted firebombing. The BNP is not a normal political party. BNP officials and members have convictions for rape, armed robbery, aggravated assault, unlawful wounding, firebombing, theft, issuing racially obscene publications, electoral fraud, football hooliganism, and other criminal acts.