Postie BNP leaflet row

Sheffield postmen say they are "disgusted" after being asked to deliver leaflets for the British National Party along with normal mail. Some posties at the Barnsley Road sorting office in Firth Park are refusing to deliver the leaflets for the far-right party.

Political parties, along with any other organisation, can pay Royal Mail to deliver flyers on their behalf as long as they meet "advertising and legal" guidelines.

But one member of staff, who did not wanted to be named, said: "We have received a load of BNP leaflets to be delivered to every house on each route. Bearing in mind large areas of S5, like Firth Park, have a large Asian and other ethnic minority population, I find it disgusting that Royal Mail would allow this to happen. I myself will be refusing to deliver the leaflets and, like other members of staff, am disgusted Royal Mail would let this happen. The people in charge should be ashamed."

The BNP said it wasn't up to postmen to decide what to deliver. Spokeswoman Marlene Guest said: "There are a lot of things that go out by mail that people could object to, but it's the postmen's job to deliver things. We are a legitimate political party. Some of these people who are objecting should come to one of our meetings and listen before they object."

Royal Mail declined to say if staff would face any disciplinary action for refusing to deliver the leaflets. But a spokesman said: "If any member of staff with a genuine concern raises it with their manager, they will be happy to discuss it with them."

Sheffield Star

CWU National Equality Officer Linda Roy says:

"The CWU have in fact taken a very proactive stance on this issue and we have negotiated an agreement with the business which effectively is a conscience clause and this allows our members the opportunity to decline to deliver material of this nature.

Given the Euro elections are coming up we actually communicated this to all our branches [including those in the Sheffield area] as it is especially important in times like these."