"Tram Woman" sobs, BNP gets busy

Emma West, 34, appeared at Croydon Magistrates' Court charged with a racially aggravated public order offence.

She broke down in the dock as a video allegedly showing her racially abusing fellow passengers on a tram was played the courtroom. West pleaded not guilty to the charges and was supported by a number of her family.

Also present were a number of BNP and EDL members and supporters who have no connection to West. Among those present for the BNP were Cliff Le May and Dave Clarke from New Addington and BNP mayoral candidate Carlos Cortiglia.

Clarke is a well known BNP thug who once ran for council and was given a year's community service for assaulting two female pacifist campaigners. David Clarke, who got 518 votes when he stood in 2009 was sentenced on four counts of assaulting anti-racism campaigners.

Clarke, of Dunley Drive, New Addington, pushed and shoved Lorna Nelson-Homian, James Cox, Nigel Green and Silvia Beckett in two separate attacks outside East Croydon train station. During the 2010 general election Clarke was ejected from a JD Wetherspoon pub after a sex act was performed in full view of diners and drinkers.

Hope not Hate

MP rejects BNP claim after rant is published

The British National Party is to make an official complaint against Gavin Barwell, after the MP publicised one of its candidate's rants about "violent immigrants" in New Addington.

The far-right party alleges Mr Barwell breached the Data Protection Act when he sent a questionnaire, filled in by Clifford Le May, to the Advertiser nearly a year and a half ago. In the pamphlet, Mr Le May urged the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, to "stop ruining our community by stuffing New Addington with violent immigrants who have no right to live among decent civilised white people". He also referred to Mr Barwell, who he ran against for the Croydon Central seat in the general election last May, as a "traitor to his race and nation".

Now Mr Barwell has received a letter from the BNP threatening to take the matter to the Information Commissioner. Mr Barwell told the Advertiser: "It's completely bizarre. I've never heard of anyone in a political party complain about their views being made public. Perhaps he is ashamed of what he said, as he should be."

In the letter, Tony Martin, the BNP's Croydon and Sutton branch organiser, wrote: "In mid 2009, Clifford Le May received a questionnaire sent out by your organisation. Cliff filled in and returned the completed questionnaire only for it to be printed in the Croydon Advertiser. Recently I have been looking into the legality of this leak and who is responsible.

"It looks illegal under the Data Protection Act 1998 and Gavin Barwell has confessed to this indiscretion on his blog. I contacted the Information Commissioner's Office and was told to contact you first before making any official complaint."

When the Advertiser contacted Mr Martin, who has replaced Charlotte Lewis as Croydon and Sutton branch organiser, he pointed out a promise made on www.croydonconservatives.com not to share information with third parties. The disclaimer, under the heading Information Collection and Use, reads: "We never sell or share information to anyone outside the Conservative Party."

Mr Martin added: "I want to get the message across that we are not prepared to be trodden on.

"The Conservatives promise never to share information but this is exactly what they did. We're not looking for compensation, but an apology."

Mr Barwell admitted the privacy disclaimer existed but added: "Were it the response of a private individual I wouldn't have released it. But this was someone running for public office, so people have a right to know his views."

After giving Mr Barwell a deadline of seven days to respond to his concerns, Mr Martin says he now intends to submit an official complaint to the Information Commissioner.

This is Croydon Today

Thanks to Supporter from Croydon for the heads-up

BNP candidate sends hate mail to rival

In an abusive letter, the BNP candidate for Croydon Central has called Conservative Gavin Barwell a “traitor” to his race and said he would like to see him “hung for treason”.

Cliff Le May, wrote to Mr Barwell at his campaign office after he received David Cameron’s letter urging residents not to vote for Andrew Pelling. The letter, which was seen by Mr Barwell’s wife and his seven-year-old son reads: “You dirty, sleazy scumbags. If I have my way I will see you all hung for treason.”

Mr Barwell said he received the letter after a long day on the campaign trail and because he was tired, left it out when he went to bed, where it was seen by his family. He said: “I just think it shows what kind of people these are. I don’t understand why people, when they have different views, can’t just be polite about it. If he wants to write to me about being in the EU or immigration that’s fine, but there is no need for personal abuse.”

Mr Le May was unrepentant when asked why he wrote the letter. He said: “I am referring to the entire Conservative Party – they are dirty, sleazy scumbags. This is a personal view, not a party view.”

Mr Le May did not think his letter was “harsh” and did not care his words had been seen by a child.

Your local Guardian

BNP "too racist" for black vicar

A black reverend who defected from the BNP because it was “too racist” is standing in the general election as a Christian Party candidate for the Croydon Central seat.

Reverend James Gitau, 63 from West Croydon, joined the BNP and went on the campaign trail on April 10 with Nick Griffin in Barking and Dagenham, the constituency where he is standing.

The Kenyan, who moved to Britain in 1997, said: “I actually decided to join them when they opened up for all races. I campaigned for them to open up to other races. I asked them to give me one of the constituency seats in Croydon and they refused so I decided to leave. I also realised then that they were too racist.”

Rev Gitau will be standing against BNP candidate Cliff Le May in Croydon Central who has come under fire for his racist views.

He wrote to London Mayor Boris Johnson asking him to “stop ruining our community by stuffing New Addington with violent immigrants who have no right to live among decent civilised white people” and called Gavin Barwell a traitor to his “race and nation” for the Conservative’s immigration policy.

Rev Gitau, who is affiliated to the United Holy Church of America, said he was approached by the Christian Party on April 17 who encouraged him to leave the BNP and join their party. However, he said he still gave advice to BNP leader Nick Griffin. He said: “I am giving him advice and telling him that racism is not the way forward.”

Mr Gitau said he told Nick Griffin there should be immigration controls but “genuine immigrants” should be allowed into the country. Rev Gitau said one of the reasons he campaigned to join the BNP was because it was “the only party that boldly speaks against sodomy in public”.

However, he hastened to add, he was not homophobic. He said: “I preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and he preaches against homosexuality. I don’t hate homosexuals, I love them. They are my friends, they are human beings. We should love them but teach them to be better people.”

Rev Gitau said he wanted homosexuals in Croydon to vote for him “because we are all sinners”.

Croydon Guardian

Croydon BNP election candidate investigated over immigrants rant

The political career of Croydon Central's BNP candidate is in jeopardy as he is being investigated by his own party after ranting about "violent immigrants" in New Addington.

Clifford Le May [pictured centre, left] is in trouble for his response to a Tory questionnaire encouraging residents to raise any concerns with London mayor Boris Johnson. His reply was to write: "Stop ruining our community by stuffing New Addington with violent immigrants who have no right to live among decent civilised white people."

In the questionnaire he also refers to his Tory rival for the Croydon Central seat, Gavin Barwell, as a "traitor to his race and nation". Despite admitting the words were written in "anger", Mr Le May has refused to retract anything and is now hoping he will not be deselected as a result.

"I'm not a racist – I'm a British patriot," he insisted. "I hope what I wrote won't affect my candidacy."

Mr Le May, a 50-year-old postal worker and dad-of-three, explained the basis for his strong views. He claims his 15-year-old daughter, Eve, was "pepper sprayed and attacked" by a West Indian immigrant in 2007 and that his mum Marie was punched in the face by two black men at Bayswater station 20 years ago. He also says his gran was mugged by a gang of young black men who left her with a broken hip. She died during surgery to have it replaced.

Speaking at his home in Redstart Close, he claimed: "There's a problem in this country with aggression coming from young black men. I can recount hundreds of incidents – 99 per cent of all violent crime will be at the hands of black youths. Everywhere I go I see violent young black men and women. I read the New Scientist and they say there's evidence that people in gangs are predisposed to violence. They didn't bring race into the equation, but you can read between the lines."

Referring back to his comments on the survey, he denied trying to be inflammatory.

"I was so annoyed and angry to get this survey from a failed party who are not interested in what I've got to say," he said. "The Tories and Labour have ruined our economy and our prospects. My two eldest daughters Natalie (a 20-year-old nightclub waitress) and Jodie (an 18-year-old shop assistant] are working part-time jobs because of this terrible situation. I stand by what I wrote. But when I address the electorate when a general election date's set I'll probably use different words."

Mr Barwell, says he was appalled when he read the questionnaire response.

"Mr Le May's comments show the BNP remains a party that judges people not by their actions but by the colour of their skin," he said. "Hundreds of thousands of British servicemen gave their lives to defeat these views in the Second World War – there's nothing patriotic about them. People who are thinking of voting BNP should be aware what kind of people they really are."

Simon Darby, a BNP press spokesman, says the result of the inquiry will be reported in due course to Mr Le May. He added: "While I agree with the sentiments, he could have put it a bit more politely – he should have couched his language more. But what he says is not too far from what's actually happening."

Croydon Today