Party’s over as BNP disappear

Porky Griffin - getting chunky on all that EU gravy

Far-right political party the BNP will not field a single candidate in South Tyneside in May.

A spokesman for the party said the move was a political decision in a bid to persuade national leader Nick Griffin to stand down. Martin Vaughan, fundholder for the party in South Tyneside, said the party was “finished” under Mr Griffin’s leadership. The move comes despite the BNP standing candidates in all borough electoral wards up for grabs at last year’s local elections.

Rival parties in South Tyneside today expressed their delight at the announcement. Coun Jane Branley, Independent Alliance representative for Westoe, said she believes the real reason is “disillusionment that they can’t get a toehold in what they thought were winnable seats in South Tyneside”.She added: “I am delighted that the BNP are not fielding any candidate as I abhor everything they stand for.”

Coun Iain Malcolm, the Labour leader of South Tyneside Council, also welcomed the party’s non-participation, adding: “I look forward to the day that the BNP as a political party is disbanded.”

But Coun George Elsom, Real Independent for Cleadon Park, described the withdrawal as a “big surprise”. He added: “I abhor the BNP and what they stand for, but I defend anyone’s democratic right to stand for election. Their candidate polled well in Cleadon Park last time round, so some people obviously agree with their policies.”

Mr Vaughan said: “Mr Griffin has attracted a lot of bad publicity and the party is in debt. There is a lot of disillusionment with him, and the party in South Tyneside want him to stand down. Under his leadership, the BNP is finished and we need him to go before we can rebuild. Previously loyal BNP members are being sacked throughout the country for speaking out against him. I don’t expect to remain in my role for much longer.”

Mr Griffin had been invited to meet his critics at a gathering at the High Lane Social Club in Hebburn at the weekend, but did not attend.

Mr Vaughan added: “He wasn’t even willing to answer his critics.”

Mr Griffin was unavailable for comment.

The Shields Gazette

BNP bidding for borough support

Extreme right-wingers are targeting South Tyneside as part of their campaign to win more political support.

Activists for the British National Party (BNP) this week distributed copies of their newsletter, called South Tyneside Patriot, in parts of the Primrose ward, Jarrow, where the party enjoyed its biggest share of the vote in May's local elections. BNP candidate Peter Hodgkinson came second in the ward, with 504 votes, to Labour's Barrie Scorer.

Apart from highlighting knife crime, anti-social behaviour and under-age drinking and violence, the BNP leaflet also attacks South Shields MP and Foreign Secretary David Miliband for his alleged stance on suspected terrorists from Guantanamo Bay.

Ged Grebby, project co-ordinator for Show Racism The Red Card, said: "We know the BNP has been targeting parts of South Tyneside and Sunderland, and places like Northumbria University.

"The BNP's vote increased in certain areas during the May local elections, and they will be aiming to increase their support in those areas. So far, the party has not won any seats in places like South Tyneside, but we have to
remain extremely vigilant. Often, the BNP will take a different approach, away from racism, and target Islam."

South Tyneside BNP operates from a PO box address in Newcastle, and there was no reply on the contact telephone number on the South Tyneside Patriot.

Copies of the national BNP newspaper, The Voice of Freedom, have also been distributed in the Primrose ward this week. The paper restates BNP calls for an end to immigration and cash for schemes "to encourage immigrants to return to their land of ethnic origin."

Coun Emma Lewell, a Labour member for the Primrose ward, said: "The BNP prey on disadvantaged people in areas of multiple deprivation. But I would advise people to be wary of them, because their arguments are not based on valid political arguments. The BNP is a party based on hatred, which targets minorities."

Shields Gazette