City Hall chief executive believes that BNP deputy leader Simon Darby, who works part-time at the GLA, has a 'prima facie' case to answer for remarks about John Sentamu and fellow Ugandans
A City Hall investigation is under way after a senior BNP official on the devolved London government's payroll described the archbishop of York, John Sentamu, as an "ambitious African" and said his fellow Ugandans threw spears at their enemies.
The Guardian understands that City Hall's chief executive, Leo Boland, decided to act following concerns raised by Boris Johnson, the Conservative mayor of London.
Sentamu, who fled Idi Amin's dictatorship in 1974, had criticised comments made by the BNP chairman, Nick Griffin, who said that black and Asian Britons "do not exist". But in a series of interviews and online comments, the party's deputy leader, Simon Darby, who has a part-time job at the Greater London authority, attacked the archbishop saying he should "not interfere in the political process".
"He's not in any position to tell me or anyone else who is, or isn't, English. If I went to a Uganda village and told them that they were all genetic mongrels and that anyone could be Ugandan I'd still be picking spears out of myself now."
On his blog Darby, who also tops the BNP candidate list in the Midlands in the forthcoming European elections, added: "Our old friend John Sentamu, or to give him his full name John Tucker Mugabi Sentamu, has been up to his old tricks once again. As if the responsibilities of being the archbishop of York were not enough the ambitious African has apparently used his power and influence to kindly bestow upon the world the right to be English."
A source close to City Hall told the Guardian that Boland believes that there is a "prima facie" case for Darby to answer. Though Darby, who works for the London assembly's lone BNP member, Richard Barnbrook, is not in a politically restricted post, he is subject to a code of conduct governing all staff.
Earlier this week, Jon Cruddas, Labour MP for Dagenham, condemned Darby's comments and said he should face disciplinary action for breaching his employment contract to "promote equality of opportunity".
Darby has insisted his comments were not racist. "I don't see how that is offensive or racist. It can be twisted or distorted to look that way, but what I am saying is factual. There are lots of indigenous people there [in Uganda] and in the bush they have spears – that is their lifestyle. I am not implying that all Ugandan people use spears at all. I was speaking specifically about the indigenous people. The spear is an integral part of their culture and lifestyle."
Polling experts believe that the far-right party has a chance of picking up its first seats in the European parliament in the June although leaked documents obtained by the anti-fascist organisation Searchlight show it has already scaled back its ambitions to focus on two regions, the north-west and the west Midlands.
"They had hoped to hide their campaign of hate behind a mask of respectability, but now that has been torn away," said a Searchlight spokesman. "Even someone as internationally respected as Dr Sentamu is not immune from their poisonous slurs."
Guardian
Showing posts with label Dr John Sentamu. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dr John Sentamu. Show all posts
May 06, 2009
May 05, 2009
MPs urge City Hall to stop pay of BNP aide
City Hall bosses were urged to withdraw taxpayer funding from a BNP official today after he suggested Ugandans threw "spears" at their enemies.
Labour MPs demanded action after the remarks by Simon Darby, the British National Party's deputy leader whose part-time job at the Greater London Authority is funded by Londoners. Mr Darby, an aide to Assembly member Richard Barnbrook, also branded the Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu "anti-British" and suggested he "deserved to be attacked".
The remarks came after the Archbishop criticised the BNP's leader Nick Griffin for claiming that black Britons were not British.
Like all City Hall employees, Mr Darby is required under the terms of his employment contract to "promote equality of opportunity". Now Labour MPs are demanding that GLA chiefs take disciplinary action.
Mr Darby, who tops the BNP European candidate list in the West Midlands, wrote on his blog: "If I had travelled to Africa and insulted the indigenous people in the same arrogant, conceited and insensitive way that John Sentamu had I would have deserved to be attacked. If I went to Uganda and told them that they were all genetic mongrels and that anyone could be Ugandan I'd still be picking spears out of myself now."
Today, Labour MP for Dagenham, Jon Cruddas, told the Standard: "The GLA has got to act. The BNP are dragging the whole system into the gutter. If Darby's vicious cocktail of thinly-veiled racism and threats aren't in breach of the GLA code of conduct then clearly the code isn't worth the paper it's written on."
It follows criticism last month, when the Standard revealed Mr Darby attended a far-Right rally in Italy.
In November, Mr Darby said he did BNP work while earning his public salary. A spokesman for campaign group Searchlight said: "[Mr Darby] is allowed to swan around peddling his messages of hate whilst being effectively subsidised by hard-working Londoners."
Evening Standard
Labour MPs demanded action after the remarks by Simon Darby, the British National Party's deputy leader whose part-time job at the Greater London Authority is funded by Londoners. Mr Darby, an aide to Assembly member Richard Barnbrook, also branded the Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu "anti-British" and suggested he "deserved to be attacked".
The remarks came after the Archbishop criticised the BNP's leader Nick Griffin for claiming that black Britons were not British.
Like all City Hall employees, Mr Darby is required under the terms of his employment contract to "promote equality of opportunity". Now Labour MPs are demanding that GLA chiefs take disciplinary action.
Mr Darby, who tops the BNP European candidate list in the West Midlands, wrote on his blog: "If I had travelled to Africa and insulted the indigenous people in the same arrogant, conceited and insensitive way that John Sentamu had I would have deserved to be attacked. If I went to Uganda and told them that they were all genetic mongrels and that anyone could be Ugandan I'd still be picking spears out of myself now."
Today, Labour MP for Dagenham, Jon Cruddas, told the Standard: "The GLA has got to act. The BNP are dragging the whole system into the gutter. If Darby's vicious cocktail of thinly-veiled racism and threats aren't in breach of the GLA code of conduct then clearly the code isn't worth the paper it's written on."
It follows criticism last month, when the Standard revealed Mr Darby attended a far-Right rally in Italy.
In November, Mr Darby said he did BNP work while earning his public salary. A spokesman for campaign group Searchlight said: "[Mr Darby] is allowed to swan around peddling his messages of hate whilst being effectively subsidised by hard-working Londoners."
Evening Standard
May 04, 2009
BNP deny racism comments aimed at Archbishop of York
The deputy leader of the British National Party has denied allegations of racism after branding the Archbishop of York an “ambitious African” and accusing him of being “derogatory, condescending and arrogant”.
Simon Darby said comments made to a local newspaper and on his online blog in which he made “spear-thrower” references to people from Uganda – Dr John Sentamu’s country of birth – were not a bigoted blast. But the senior figure in the far-right organisation has been condemned as “disgusting “ and “poisonous” by anti-fascism campaigners after alleging the Archbishop – a vociferous critic of the BNP – was trying to rob English people of their identity.
In a blog entry dated April 23, Mr Darby – second-in-command to BNP chairman Nick Griffin – wrote: “As if the responsibilities of being the Archbishop of York were not enough, the ambitious African has apparently used his power and influence to kindly bestow upon the world the right to be English.”
He also labelled Dr Sentamu – who recently supported making St George’s Day a public holiday to promote English unity – “a professional anti-British zealot” and said: “If I went to a Ugandan village and said the people there were genetic mongrels and that they had no right to their Ugandan identity, I would be picking out spears for days.”
But defending his comments, Mr Darby said: “I stand by my quotes – I don’t see how that is offensive or racist. It can be twisted or distorted to look that way, but what I am saying is factual. There are lots of indigenous people there (in Uganda) and in the bush they have spears – that is their lifestyle.
“I am not implying that all Ugandan people use spears at all. I was speaking specifically about the indigenous people. The spear is an integral part of their culture and lifestyle. I wouldn’t dream of denying Ugandan tribespeople their identity, but the contrast is that that is what he (Dr Sentamu) is doing. If I went there and preached to those indigenous people in the same way that Sentamu does to us, then I’d be attacked.
“If I was derogatory, condescending and arrogant – because that’s what John Sentamu is – I would be attacked. And rightly so.”
Last month, the Archbishop slammed the BNP for trying to define “Englishness” and said its suggestions that a “bloodless genocide” was taking place in the UK were “beyond belief”, having previously pleaded with people not to vote for the party at the 2007 local elections. His office was unavailable for comment on Mr Darby’s views.
A spokesman for anti-fascism campaign group Searchlight said: “These disgusting threats and thinly-veiled racism from its senior leadership exposes the real face of the BNP. Even somebody as internationally respected as Dr Sentamu is not immune from their poisonous slurs.”
The Press (York)
Simon Darby said comments made to a local newspaper and on his online blog in which he made “spear-thrower” references to people from Uganda – Dr John Sentamu’s country of birth – were not a bigoted blast. But the senior figure in the far-right organisation has been condemned as “disgusting “ and “poisonous” by anti-fascism campaigners after alleging the Archbishop – a vociferous critic of the BNP – was trying to rob English people of their identity.
In a blog entry dated April 23, Mr Darby – second-in-command to BNP chairman Nick Griffin – wrote: “As if the responsibilities of being the Archbishop of York were not enough, the ambitious African has apparently used his power and influence to kindly bestow upon the world the right to be English.”
He also labelled Dr Sentamu – who recently supported making St George’s Day a public holiday to promote English unity – “a professional anti-British zealot” and said: “If I went to a Ugandan village and said the people there were genetic mongrels and that they had no right to their Ugandan identity, I would be picking out spears for days.”
But defending his comments, Mr Darby said: “I stand by my quotes – I don’t see how that is offensive or racist. It can be twisted or distorted to look that way, but what I am saying is factual. There are lots of indigenous people there (in Uganda) and in the bush they have spears – that is their lifestyle.
“I am not implying that all Ugandan people use spears at all. I was speaking specifically about the indigenous people. The spear is an integral part of their culture and lifestyle. I wouldn’t dream of denying Ugandan tribespeople their identity, but the contrast is that that is what he (Dr Sentamu) is doing. If I went there and preached to those indigenous people in the same way that Sentamu does to us, then I’d be attacked.
“If I was derogatory, condescending and arrogant – because that’s what John Sentamu is – I would be attacked. And rightly so.”
Last month, the Archbishop slammed the BNP for trying to define “Englishness” and said its suggestions that a “bloodless genocide” was taking place in the UK were “beyond belief”, having previously pleaded with people not to vote for the party at the 2007 local elections. His office was unavailable for comment on Mr Darby’s views.
A spokesman for anti-fascism campaign group Searchlight said: “These disgusting threats and thinly-veiled racism from its senior leadership exposes the real face of the BNP. Even somebody as internationally respected as Dr Sentamu is not immune from their poisonous slurs.”
The Press (York)
May 02, 2009
Why Jesus would never have voted BNP
Despite arguably putting more into the UK’s economy than they take out, immigrants remain a tempting target for those seeking a scapegoat for the country’s financial problems.
The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Dr John Sentamu, Lord
Archbishop of York, at his inauguration as chancellor of University of Cumbria
Not that the rate of unemployment or inflation is always the motivation for attacks on people from different ethnic backgrounds, however long they and their families might have lived here. Skin colour and religious persuasion remain perennial factors.
When they are attacked, with words or with other weapons, persecution seems an apt way to describe the plight of some immigrants to the UK.
But the British National Party has just given the word “persecution” a novel twist. The far-right party, whose “ultimate aim” is the “lawful, humane and voluntary repatriation of the resident foreigners of the UK” is using next month’s European elections to claim that it is being persecuted by the Church.
A BNP billboard campaign, which has dismayed many Christians, uses a picture of Jesus alongside a BNP logo and a quote from John 15:20 “If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” A spokesman said: “We are putting them up in response to the way the Church has attacked us. We believe we are being persecuted and turned into martyrs.” The posters also ask: “What would Jesus do?”
According to religious figures in Cumbria and further afield, the answer is unequivocal: Jesus would not support the BNP, nor would he appreciate his name being used to promote the party.
The Church in Cumbria is extremely unhappy that the BNP should use Jesus in an attempt to legitimise the party’s policies. Seven church leaders in the county have signed a statement condemning the BNP and asking Cumbrians not to vote for the party in the elections on Thursday June 4.
The statement, headed “Use your Cross: Vote for hope not hate”, says: “Cumbrian church leaders are deeply concerned that British National Party election publicity suggests Christians should vote for them. We disagree. In fact, BNP policies would have turned Jesus, Mary and Joseph away from their party and our shores. The Christian vision of society is one where each person is treated with dignity and respect, whatever their race or religion. It is a vision of hope.
“The Christian churches are totally opposed to the BNP’s attempts to stir up racial and religious hatred, use false and distorted claims to exploit people’s fears, and create suspicion between communities. We reject their message of division and conflict. To defeat racist policies and platforms, a high turnout on June 4 is vital. We urge all our congregations and communities to use their vote for one of the other parties in the elections and so ensure that the BNP do not get a seat in the north west.
“In the words of Edmund Burke: ‘It is necessary only for the good to do nothing for evil to triumph’.”
The Archbishop of York, who is chancellor of the University of Cumbria, has also criticised the BNP in recent days. Dr John Sentamu – who was born in Uganda – said it was not up to the BNP to define Englishness and he condemned claims by party chairman Nick Griffin that a “bloodless genocide” was taking place in Britain.
Griffin argued that black and Asian Britons “do not exist”, saying that calling such people British denied indigenous people their own identity. “In a very subtle way, it’s a sort of bloodless genocide,” he said.
Dr Sentamu countered: “You don’t have to be a member of the BNP to be clearly English, and it is quite a mistake to suggest that everybody who wants to affirm Englishness affirms that narrow thinking. This ‘bloodless genocide’? I think that is just language which is beyond belief.”
The outgoing Bishop of Carlisle, the Right Reverend Graham Dow, retired yesterday after more than eight years as Cumbria’s most senior Church of England figure. In his final press interview Bishop Dow told The Cumberland News that the BNP’s attempt to use Jesus to promote its cause is misguided and misleading.
“The BNP’s message is a travesty of the truth,” said Bishop Dow. “Jesus was inclusive. He taught us to love all people and he sent his disciples out to share the good news with every nation. The BNP’s message is in contradiction of all that.
“At a time of severe financial restrictions, it’s very easy to look around for someone to blame. The truth is that our economy is deeply dependent on, and enhanced by, overseas workers. We need to learn from history. All the things now being said about immigrants were once said about the Irish, and we now take it for granted that the Irish are one with us.
“A fundamental Christian principle is that the human race is one. Jesus Christ sought to bring us back together again. When I meet people from overseas, for example working in a restaurant, I always say ‘You’re very welcome.’ I always like mixed marriages. They are a testament to God bringing people together.”
Bishop Dow rejected the suggestion that the Church could be more forceful in refuting the BNP. “I think the Church needs to be careful. We have nothing against members of the BNP as people. They are in the image of Christ as all of us. The Church doesn’t want to come over particularly heavy. But it does want to point out the denial of humanity inherent in BNP policy.”
The signatories of the “Use your Cross” statement include Reverend Rachel Poolman. Rev Poolman is president of the United Reformed Church in Cumbria and president of Churches Together in Cumbria: a coalition of eight Christian denominations in the county.
“I was really quite offended that the BNP would use Christ in its publicity,” she said. “The churches in Cumbria are trying to work together more closely. We spoke out here because this was an area of community concern. We felt we had to stand up and be counted. The BNP work by trying to play on people’s fears. They talk about having a Christian country, which implies that non-Christians are not welcome. It’s not just about churches offering a welcome. It’s also about Christians themselves offering a welcome to the stranger, and loving your neighbour as yourself.”
Reverend John Goddard, Baptist network minister for Cumbria, said of the BNP campaign: “I almost didn’t believe what I was seeing. There is no justification to use His name and image for their propaganda. I genuinely believe Jesus would offer a welcome to all people whatever their ethnicity. But in another sense I perhaps wasn’t surprised. The BNP seems to be targeting people who describe themselves as Christians. They seem to think they can recruit within the Church. I think they are mistaken.
“I believe the greatest danger is people simply not turning out to vote. There has been a growing apathy in terms of the ballot box. My concern is that on June 4 many people who would never wish to vote for this party will not turn out because they are disillusioned with politics in general. I would hope people will vote for absolutely anyone else other than a party with a policy of division.”
Rev Goddard is a member of Furness Multi-Cultural Community Forum. “The group was formed to help support the coming together of different cultures,” he said. “That’s partly a response to that minority of people in our county who do hold racist views. I believe the vast majority of people in the UK have no tolerance for that sort of intolerance at all. Maybe we need to say that more often, and more loudly.”
News and Star
The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Dr John Sentamu, LordArchbishop of York, at his inauguration as chancellor of University of Cumbria
When they are attacked, with words or with other weapons, persecution seems an apt way to describe the plight of some immigrants to the UK.
But the British National Party has just given the word “persecution” a novel twist. The far-right party, whose “ultimate aim” is the “lawful, humane and voluntary repatriation of the resident foreigners of the UK” is using next month’s European elections to claim that it is being persecuted by the Church.
A BNP billboard campaign, which has dismayed many Christians, uses a picture of Jesus alongside a BNP logo and a quote from John 15:20 “If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” A spokesman said: “We are putting them up in response to the way the Church has attacked us. We believe we are being persecuted and turned into martyrs.” The posters also ask: “What would Jesus do?”
According to religious figures in Cumbria and further afield, the answer is unequivocal: Jesus would not support the BNP, nor would he appreciate his name being used to promote the party.
The Church in Cumbria is extremely unhappy that the BNP should use Jesus in an attempt to legitimise the party’s policies. Seven church leaders in the county have signed a statement condemning the BNP and asking Cumbrians not to vote for the party in the elections on Thursday June 4.
The statement, headed “Use your Cross: Vote for hope not hate”, says: “Cumbrian church leaders are deeply concerned that British National Party election publicity suggests Christians should vote for them. We disagree. In fact, BNP policies would have turned Jesus, Mary and Joseph away from their party and our shores. The Christian vision of society is one where each person is treated with dignity and respect, whatever their race or religion. It is a vision of hope.
“The Christian churches are totally opposed to the BNP’s attempts to stir up racial and religious hatred, use false and distorted claims to exploit people’s fears, and create suspicion between communities. We reject their message of division and conflict. To defeat racist policies and platforms, a high turnout on June 4 is vital. We urge all our congregations and communities to use their vote for one of the other parties in the elections and so ensure that the BNP do not get a seat in the north west.
“In the words of Edmund Burke: ‘It is necessary only for the good to do nothing for evil to triumph’.”
The Archbishop of York, who is chancellor of the University of Cumbria, has also criticised the BNP in recent days. Dr John Sentamu – who was born in Uganda – said it was not up to the BNP to define Englishness and he condemned claims by party chairman Nick Griffin that a “bloodless genocide” was taking place in Britain.
Griffin argued that black and Asian Britons “do not exist”, saying that calling such people British denied indigenous people their own identity. “In a very subtle way, it’s a sort of bloodless genocide,” he said.
Dr Sentamu countered: “You don’t have to be a member of the BNP to be clearly English, and it is quite a mistake to suggest that everybody who wants to affirm Englishness affirms that narrow thinking. This ‘bloodless genocide’? I think that is just language which is beyond belief.”
The outgoing Bishop of Carlisle, the Right Reverend Graham Dow, retired yesterday after more than eight years as Cumbria’s most senior Church of England figure. In his final press interview Bishop Dow told The Cumberland News that the BNP’s attempt to use Jesus to promote its cause is misguided and misleading.
“The BNP’s message is a travesty of the truth,” said Bishop Dow. “Jesus was inclusive. He taught us to love all people and he sent his disciples out to share the good news with every nation. The BNP’s message is in contradiction of all that.
“At a time of severe financial restrictions, it’s very easy to look around for someone to blame. The truth is that our economy is deeply dependent on, and enhanced by, overseas workers. We need to learn from history. All the things now being said about immigrants were once said about the Irish, and we now take it for granted that the Irish are one with us.
“A fundamental Christian principle is that the human race is one. Jesus Christ sought to bring us back together again. When I meet people from overseas, for example working in a restaurant, I always say ‘You’re very welcome.’ I always like mixed marriages. They are a testament to God bringing people together.”
Bishop Dow rejected the suggestion that the Church could be more forceful in refuting the BNP. “I think the Church needs to be careful. We have nothing against members of the BNP as people. They are in the image of Christ as all of us. The Church doesn’t want to come over particularly heavy. But it does want to point out the denial of humanity inherent in BNP policy.”
The signatories of the “Use your Cross” statement include Reverend Rachel Poolman. Rev Poolman is president of the United Reformed Church in Cumbria and president of Churches Together in Cumbria: a coalition of eight Christian denominations in the county.
“I was really quite offended that the BNP would use Christ in its publicity,” she said. “The churches in Cumbria are trying to work together more closely. We spoke out here because this was an area of community concern. We felt we had to stand up and be counted. The BNP work by trying to play on people’s fears. They talk about having a Christian country, which implies that non-Christians are not welcome. It’s not just about churches offering a welcome. It’s also about Christians themselves offering a welcome to the stranger, and loving your neighbour as yourself.”
Reverend John Goddard, Baptist network minister for Cumbria, said of the BNP campaign: “I almost didn’t believe what I was seeing. There is no justification to use His name and image for their propaganda. I genuinely believe Jesus would offer a welcome to all people whatever their ethnicity. But in another sense I perhaps wasn’t surprised. The BNP seems to be targeting people who describe themselves as Christians. They seem to think they can recruit within the Church. I think they are mistaken.
“I believe the greatest danger is people simply not turning out to vote. There has been a growing apathy in terms of the ballot box. My concern is that on June 4 many people who would never wish to vote for this party will not turn out because they are disillusioned with politics in general. I would hope people will vote for absolutely anyone else other than a party with a policy of division.”
Rev Goddard is a member of Furness Multi-Cultural Community Forum. “The group was formed to help support the coming together of different cultures,” he said. “That’s partly a response to that minority of people in our county who do hold racist views. I believe the vast majority of people in the UK have no tolerance for that sort of intolerance at all. Maybe we need to say that more often, and more loudly.”
News and Star
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