Community centre bans BNP after Golliwog row

The venue set to host the British National Party's controversial Christmas party tonight has pulled the plug on it after a host of complaints.

The Ore Community Centre in London Road had been hired by the party to stage its festive fundraiser at a cost of £10 an hour. However, the BNP sparked widespread outrage after announcing it would be selling Golliwog dolls at the event alongside St George crosses, Union Jacks and BNP regalia.

Critics branded the dolls racist and condemned the BNP as biggotted far-right extremists - demanding to know why a community centre would allow such a group to use its facilities.

At the time (last Thursday) a spokesman for the centre said the BNP used the hall on a monthly basis and that they "had never had any problems with them". However, he later confirmed a meeting would take place to decide whether or not the BNP was a suitable client. Now, hours before the event was set to take place, it seems the committee has decided to ban the right-wing party - much to the disgust of its local organiser.

BNP bigwig Nick Prince has slammed the decision. He said: "The British National Party has used the venue since April 1 2008 and has always treated the venue with total respect and there had never been a problem or an incident."

He claimed he was informed by telephone and told the decision was taken after pressure from certain individuals - individuals Mr Prince believes include a host of local politicians. Hastings MP Michael Foster and local Labour leader Jeremy Birch were among those who criticised the controversial BNP last week.

Mr Prince said: "I believe it is pressure from the likes of Cllr Birch and Mr Foster that has started this. A community centre should be used by all for all and there is no reason for the British National Party not to be allowed to use it."

The Christmas party, which was set to include a quiz and Activist of the Year prize, was due to be picketed by anti-fascist protestors. Representatives from Hastings and District Trades Council, Unite Against Fascism and Love Music Hate Racism had all planned to protest against the BNP outside tonight's event.

Hastings and St. Leonards Observer

BNP slammed for selling 'Golliwog' dolls at Christmas do

The British National Party have sparked a new row by advertising Golliwog dolls for sale at its Christmas party.

A flyer sent out by the party this week advertising a Christmas quiz and social evening set to take place at Ore Community Centre in Old London Road on Monday night. Alongside the time and details of the festive bash was a line advertising a wide range of Golliwog merchandise on sale and it is this that has caused the most outrage. The dolls are seen by many as racist but in recent years have been used by the far-right as a symbol of political correctness gone mad.

The term was first used in Florence Upton's 1895 book The Adventures of Two Dutch Dolls and subsequently picked up by Enid Blyton, who included a Golliwog in her Noddy books. Since then Golliwog has been seen by many as a derogatory term for a black person.

Just last year a shop in Rye was criticised in The Observer for selling Golly dolls and the news the local BNP will be flogging the dolls alongside St George crosses, Union Jacks and BNP regalia has sparked a host of angry complaints.

Chris Laverick, who recently organised a Love Music Hate Racism gig in Hastings, was one of many who was appalled. He said: "I understand the BNP is selling Golliwog dolls at there events. They clearly think that is amusing. That shows us that underneath their new image of suits and respectability there is still the racist and fascist thug that we remember from the 70's and 80's."

Hastings MP Michael Foster was equally outraged. He said: "I am surprised a community centre is dealing with an extremist group such as the BNP. What is more outrageous is the fact they are provocatively selling Golliwogs as a perfect Christmas gift."

Councillor Jeremy Birch, also condemned the BNP. He said: "This just confirms that this is a racist organisation. By selling these dolls as Christmas presents they are basically saying they are a party just for white people. I am also disappointed that a community centre meant to be serving local people has agreed to let an extremist group use its facilities."

A spokesman for the Ore Community Centre confirmed the BNP used the hall on a monthly basis, paying £15 an hour to do so, and that they "had never had any problems with them". However, the source added they would be holding a committee meeting to decide whether it was appropriate to let them continue to do so.

Nick Prince, the leader of the local BNP, defended the decision to sell the dolls. He said they also sold Golly fridge magnets and a range of patriotic toys such as teddy bears with England flag t-shirts on. He said: "Golliwogs are traditional toys which pre-date teddy bears by five years. People have a choice whether or not to buy them. If they offend people then they should not buy one. There is huge demand for Golliwog toys. We have actually sold out but we will be getting more in stock."

Bexhill Observer

Protestors tell the BNP they are not welcome during town centre rally

Protestors held a town centre rally urging people not to vote for British National Party at the local council elections.

A crowd of more than 120 people marched from Hastings Pier to Robertson Street on Saturday handing out leaflets and waving banners as they went. When the march reached the town centre organisers Hastings Against Fascism invited a host of local political figures to address the crowd, which by that time had swollen to more than 200.

Among those who spoke was Hastings and Rye MP Michael Foster. He told the crowd: "The British National Party is not wanted in Hastings. Their message is one of hate and intolerance."

LibDem parliamentary candidate Nick Perry was another who spoke out against the BNP - as did borough councillors Peter Chowney, Trevor Webb and a representative of the Public and Commercial Services Union. Labour leader cllr Jeremy Birch was another who voiced strong opinions.

He told the gathering that the issue of the BNP in Hastings would have a negative impact on the future of the town.

He said: "How can a town like ours which welcomes thousands of foreign students each year and visitors from every corner of the globe afford to get a reputation for intolerance and discrimination. Those visitors will just go somewhere else. Just as we are regenerating the town and trying to attract in investment and jobs how can we afford to get a reputation of intolerance. Those investors will just go somewhere else with more harmonious and peaceable."

The event had been quickly organised by concerned local residents after the Observer broke the news that the BNP would be standing four candidates in tomorrow's borough council elections.

A spokesman for Hastings Against Fascism said: "It was a successful day and it certainly got our message across. Hastings Against Fascism is here to stay and will continue to organise anti BNP events to raise awareness about the racism and hate it is trying to spread."

Despite the protest the BNP was confident of making major inroads in tomorrow's elections and no less a figure than national leader Nick Griffin has identified Hastings as one of the party's main electoral targets.

Hastings and St Leornards Observer

BNP-backing officials in polls row

A Labour MP is urging Gordon Brown to ban members of the BNP from working on services dealing with the public after it was revealed that the Department for Work and Pensions has given permission for two civil servants to stand for the party in next week's local elections.

Michael Foster, MP for Hastings, is taking up the issue after the Public and Commercial Services union objected to Frank Swayne standing in Hastings and Daniel Thorlby standing in an inner city ward in Newcastle upon Tyne. Foster said yesterday: " It is outrageous that the DWP should have allowed these people to stand and I am asking the prime minister to look at this. We should follow the example of the police who do not employ members of the BNP because they would be perceived to be racist when dealing with the public."

Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the PCS, plans to launch an attack on the department's decision at the Love Music, Hate Racism rally in Victoria Park, east London, on Sunday. He will say: "This department is supposed to be about helping some of the most vulnerable people in society, and promoting equality. How can it possibly be right for active BNP members to be working there?"

Swayne handles claims from single parents at the Hastings Child Support Agency office while Thorlby handles pensions claims in Newcastle.

A DWP spokesman said: "Standing for election as a local councillor is, for a civil servant at this level, permitted by the civil service management code."

Guardian