Politicians round on 'irrelevant' BNP drive

A war of words has broken out between the British National Party and other political parties after a membership drive by the BNP in Llanelli.

The BNP accused the major parties of "puerile and pathetic name-calling" and blasted them as "the failed gang of political parties, who are directly responsible for the state of Wales and Llanelli today". And the BNP denied being racist.

"We are quite simply realists, not racists," said councillor Kevin Edwards, organiser of the West Wales British National Party. He added: "It is in the public domain that 30 per cent of Welsh children are being brought up in homes with incomes below the poverty level."

He was speaking after BNP leaflets circulated in the town, which declared "billions given away to foreigners, while child poverty eats at the heart of Britain", were roundly condemned.

But Llanelli's Plaid AM Helen Mary Jones hit back at the BNP. She said: "We all know that the economy is in a difficult state, but we can't solve the economic problems of our country by blaming migrant workers from other countries poorer than our own. We have known for a long time the British National Party is trying to dress up its message of division and racism in respectable clothes. The people of Llanelli and Wales are not going to fall for this."

Independent councillor John Jenkins said: "The BNP are playing politics with people's fears and are only making it harder to have a sensible debate about the problems they inflame in their literature. However, they have no relevance in Llanelli. They have made fun of our town with some of their awful sites. Their rent-a-mob of activists sent to the town ahead of the European elections are completely irrelevant and should be ignored."

Llanelli's Labour MP Nia Griffith accused the BNP of stirring up "discontent and strife in our communities".

"I think we have to take a very strong stand against any parties which are seen to be using racist tactics," she said. "What we are not hearing from them is anything about a constructive way forward. We know these are very difficult economic times, which is why there have been a number of significant steps taken by the government over the past couple of months to try to give support to those who might be unlucky enough to be losing their jobs."

She said the Treasury was putting pressure on the banks to pass on rate cuts, and help was being given to smaller businesses, those who might be losing their jobs or who fear repossession of their homes, as well as those worried about their savings.

Ms Griffith said: "What we need at the moment is concerted action and not stirring up trouble with ill-founded nonsense."

South Wales Evening Post

Dinner lady to stand for BNP in may elections

A dinner lady has been selected by the far-right British National Party to fight for the South Wales West seat in the Assembly elections.The move is being seen as an attempt by the party to shed its skin-head image and show it has a broad membership. The dinner lady who will represent the party is Tracy Si'Ree, a mum-of-four.

The party was unable to confirm more details about where she worked or lived yesterday. But it is known she will join fellow BNP candidates for the South Wales West seat, Clive Bennett, and controversial party leader Nick Griffin in the May 3 elections. Mr Bennett is the party's first choice candidate for the seat, which means that Mr Griffin would be unlikely to become an AM unless Mr Bennett was elected, but could not take up his seat for some reason.

Because the BNP will eventually put forward four candidates in each of Wales's five regional seats, it will be entitled to a free party political broadcast on BBC television. It will also get a taxpayer-funded mail-shot to every home. The party's bid to represent the region in the Assembly has been attacked by Plaid candidate Ian Titherington.

He said: "I dread to think how much intimidation they will create within the minority communities of Wales."

But Mr Griffin, who lives in Welsh- pool, said he liked the people of Swansea. "I get on very well with Swansea people and they were looking for people to stand. I live in Wales so I am local, but not as specifically local as others, which is why I am the second name. But I will be in the area campaigning. We simply can't tell how well we will do, but we are hopeful of one or two seats."

This is South Wales