Pair are 'proud to be neo-Nazis'

Michael Heaton (circled) at one of the many 'not nazi at all' EDL rallies (Image: PMcC)

Two men "made it their life's work" to spread racist messages and encourage others to help them achieve their goal of "the eradication of ethnic minorities from Britain", a court heard today.

Michael Heaton, 42, and Trevor Hannington, 58, both "proud" neo-Nazis, are accused at Liverpool Crown Court of urging people to kill Jews.

Andrew Edis QC, prosecuting said: "Each of these men is proud to call himself a National Socialist, or a neo-Nazi in other language. Each is a member of an organisation called the Aryan Strike Force, whose goal it is to clear the country of all ethnic minorities, as they say, whatever it takes."

Both men deny that postings they made on a right-wing website solicited others to murder. Heaton is standing trial over four comments he made on the Aryan Strike Force website (ASF) between January and April 2008.

The prosecution argue that his comments about Jews - "...they will always be scum, destroy 'em with whatever it takes", and "I would encourage any religion or race that wants to destroy the Jews, I hate them with a passion..." - encourage their murder, or at least stir up racial hatred. In one post he wrote that black people are "less intelligent than other species", and in another that Jews are leeches and "treacherous fucking scum".

Hannington denies one count of soliciting to murder with the post: "Kill the Jew, Kill the Jew, Burn down a synagogue today!... Burn the scum...".

Mr Edis told the jury of seven men and five women there was no question over whether the defendants made the postings.

"That is undisputed," he said, referring to Hannington's post. "It's what he wanted to achieve when he put that on a forum on a website that matters."

The panel was told that Hannington has already pleaded guilty to possessing information which may be useful to terrorists. On Wednesday he admitted to owning the Anarchist's Cookbook, Kitchen Complete and The Terrorist Encyclopaedia, all of which are considered useful tools to someone preparing or committing an act of terrorism.

He pleaded guilty to inciting racial hatred with internet posts stating his beliefs that Jews were "parasites feeding on others" and "utterly evil sub-beings". He also admitted publishing a post on the internet with instructions on how to make a flame thrower out of a water pistol. Mr Edis said the guilty pleas should not persuade the jury that he is guilty of the count he stands trial over, but that it demonstrates he is "to be taken seriously", and has the knowledge of how to follow his comments through into practice.

The prosecutor said Heaton made more than 3,000 posts on the ASF website between January and June 2008, before he had a "bust-up" with the organisation and created his own, The British Freedom Fighters. The website changed its name to Legion 88 and then Wolfpack, before it was closed down.

Mr Edis explained that the number 8 refers to the eighth letter in the alphabet, H. So 88 stands for HH, as in Heil Hitler, a common greeting for neo-Nazis. Both men used a number of monikers when they posted their comments on the website. Heaton called himself Wigan Mike, and then later Lenny. Hannington gave himself the names Fist, Lee 88 and Paul.

The prosecutor said: "These are the descriptions they gave themselves. It's how they wish to be named."

The pair were in regular contact over the internet with two men who have now been convicted of terrorism charges, including possessing the deadly poison ricin, the court heard. Jurors were shown chatroom conversations between them and fellow racists who called themselves Sweeney and Thorburn. Sweeney was the moniker for Ian Davison, who set up the ASF website, and is now in prison. Thorburn is the name used by his son, Nicky Davison, now serving time in a young offenders' institution.

Mr Edis told the jurors they would be shown more logs of internet chat conversations between both men and their associates during the trial.

The prosecutor briefly showed the panel a collection of photographs found on Heaton's computer, as well as a video showing him training in a form of martial art. He is seen kicking a training partner, and Mr Edis said more videos of him teaching his skills to others will be shown. This, he said, shows he is not simply preoccupied by posting racist material on the internet, but is active in spreading his beliefs to other.

The trial continues.

Independent

Football fan banned after hurling abuse at Muslims

A self-proclaimed "right- wing extremist" has been given a football banning order for making Nazi salutes and shouting a torrent of racist abuse at Muslim cub scouts after a Bristol Rovers match.

A court heard Martyn Howlett was walking down Muller Road in Horfield after watching Rovers play Norwich City with his family and friends when he made his shocking outburst. Bristol Magistrates' Court was told that the 43-year-old gestured at a British National Party badge he was wearing as he abused a group of Asian children having a picnic outside the 1st Bristol Muslim Scout group's headquarters.

Waving his arms in a Nazi salute and pointing to his badge, he shouted: "It's BNP, racist, fascism and Hitler", before launching into a foul-mouthed tirade in front of the frightened children. The court heard he then directed abuse at a young girl wearing a head scarf.

Prosecuting, Michael Hartnell said: "He was making hand gestures towards the children, and said they were out to blow something up. The children were scared and extremely concerned for their safety."

When asked what was wrong by Scout leader Sohail Javaid, Howlett repeatedly said: "This is our country, get out."

After police arrived, he said: "What is wrong with doing this? I am a right-wing extremist and I hate blacks."

The court heard Howlett, whose father Colin was the voice of Bristol Rovers on Radio Bristol for almost 30 years, had drunk about four-and-a-half pints of beer before the incident on May 1. On May 24 he was given a two-year conditional discharge after pleading guilty to committing racially aggravated disorderly behaviour.

Mr Hartnell told the court that Howlett, a Bristol Rovers season ticket holder for 37 years, had received a caution in 2008 for similar behaviour. Howlett, 43, who lives in Muller Road, Eastville, defended himself in court.

Magistrates gave Howlett a three-year football ban, which prohibits him from entering an area 750m around the Memorial Stadium on Rovers match days for three hours before kick-off and two hours afterwards. He is also banned from going to any football match in England or Wales, must surrender his passport to police before England away games, and not to travel to any towns or cities where Bristol Rovers or England are playing.

Bristol Evening Post

Of letters pages, sneaky fascists, great films and chubby Griffinites...

As expected, the World Cup has given BNP supporters and their ilk any number of excuses for throwing about some casual racism, from hanging out the flags in a sudden frenzy of hitherto-unexpected patriotism to writing crap like that shown in the image above. Believe it or not, it's a genuine letter to a newspaper (purportedly the Daily Mail, unsurprisingly). Cheers to Anon, who sent us the link.

Wigan Patriot, a BNP-supporting blog, is nothing if not optimistic. According to a breathless article on the apparent competition between Ed Balls and David Cameron over which of them can be more anti-immigration, the writer pants;

'The INDIGENOUS POPULATION are getting angry, slowly but surely and that anger will build into resentment, hatred and rage. And what do you think will happen then? They will flock to us in their MILLIONS.'

Not based on the evidence so far, they won't. Fifty years of pretty steady immigration has seen the BNP with a few thousand members, no MPs and just twenty-eight local government councillors. The 'indigenous population' is hardly flocking to sign up to Porky Griffin's pension scheme. Millions, indeed.

The BNP is nothing if not devious though, and Wigan Patriot has obviously learned his lessons well.

'Get into local housing groups or neighbourhood committees etc now. Get active and involved in any associations which work in parternship with councils and have residents as board members . Use your influence within these groups to get things done. Then we have results to show the electors that we ,BNP, get things done even when not in power'

Interesting idea because they get fuck all done when they're actually councillors and they do nothing worthwhile at parish level (except not turn up for meetings).

The only reason Wigan Idiot (and Griffin) are promoting the idea that BNP members should join independent bodies is that they've realised the futility of trying to elect people on to councils where they either have no idea what's going on or simply don't bother taking part in the decision-making process that they are there for. Barking and Dagenham Council is a fine example. The BNP were handed an ideal opportunity back in 2006 when they won twelve seats on the council but their councillors were so utterly, laughably useless that they lost every single seat in the most embarrassing election failure in decades.

Never seen 'Who Shot the Sheriff?' Now's your chance...

Directed by Alan Miles and featuring the 1978 Rock Against Racism Carnival in East London's Victoria Park, 'Who Shot The Sheriff?' tells the story of one of the most exciting mass movements in British history. The film features interviews and unseen footage from the Rock Against Racism movement of the 1970's including The Clash, X-Ray Spex, The Specials, Misty In Roots, and Sham 69. The documentary tracks the rise of racism and the National Front in Britain during the 70's and shows how a generation, black and white, fought back against the Nazi threat.

Who Shot The Sheriff? PART 1 from Alan Miles on Vimeo.

Who Shot The Sheriff? PART 2 from Alan Miles on Vimeo.

Who Shot The Sheriff? PART 3 from Alan Miles on Vimeo.

Regarding Porky Griffin-lookalike Tom Holmes, who we reported on here, several of our readers have forwarded the replies they have received from TalkTalk and they are, not surprisingly, identical. Here it is;

'Thank you for your email of your yesterday regarding Tom Holmes. We take these allegations seriously and can confirm that the individual concerned is not an employee of TalkTalk Group. The person in question is an employee of a third party acting on our behalf and we¹ve informed this company of the information we¹ve received. TalkTalk Group expects its employees to adhere to our equality policies and we do not tolerate behaviour which is racist or discriminatory.'

It's a good reply and rather more than I expected, to be honest. I'll write back to TalkTalk today to ask them for the name of this third party company, on the grounds that I would like to give them information about Holmes directly, and I'd ask that readers do the same. Let us know how you get on...

Thanks to JS and AB for the heads-up.

Father jailed after violent EDL protest in Hanley

The EDL - violent, racist and usually drunk

An English Defence League demonstrator who was at the forefront of a group which broke police lines has been jailed for 16 months. Mark Doel became involved in violence at the demonstration in Hanley city centre on Saturday, January 23.

Prosecutor Paul Spratt told Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court yesterday that at about 1.30pm, items were being thrown at police including glass bottles, cans and a smoke cannister.

"About 100 people had broken free from the group being cordoned to come round the rear of the police lines," said Mr Spratt. "A police dog handler became aware of a group of men at the rear of the police unit. He then saw the defendant run to the front and shout abuse at the officers. He (Doel) kicked out to the back of a slightly built female officer and punched her to her helmet, causing her to fall to the ground. She was later assaulted by another individual and was kicked and stamped on."

The court heard the police dog took hold of the defendant. He kicked out and struck the dog and others tried to drag him back into the crowd. But the dog maintained its grip and Doel was arrested. In his police interview, he admitted being present at the demonstration but denied violent disorder and assaulting a police officer. He pleaded guilty to affray at an earlier hearing. The pleas were accepted by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Peter McCartney, for the defence, said Doel was not a member of the EDL and visited the Potteries on the invitation of a friend. He said the 43-year-old, who has numerous convictions for violence and disorder but none for 15 years, regrets getting into trouble.

"It was the first demonstration he has attended," said Mr McCartney. "He came along. He did not intend to involve himself in violence, but the situation carried him along and he did get involved."

Judge Granville Styler said an immediate custodial sentence had to be passed.

"This was a very serious matter," the judge told Doel, a father-of-one from Primrose Hill, Batley, West Yorkshire. "You travelled to Stoke-on-Trent and, I take the view, you travelled in order to take part in a demonstration. You consumed five pints of lager. You knew the police were having difficulties restraining an increasingly violent crowd. You were at the forefront of a breakaway group. You attacked a policewoman from behind and knocked her to the ground. It was an extremely dangerous situation. And it encouraged others to attack this officer while on the ground, and she was stamped on. It is clear to me you have not put your violent past behind you."

Judge Styler said he would like the Chief Constable to commend the dog handler for his bravery.

The Sentinel

Neo-Nazis face charges of "soliciting murder" in Liverpool

Two neo-Nazi member of the extremist English Defence League have appeared in court accused of soliciting the hate killings of Jews.

Trevor Hannington, 58, and Michael Heaton, 42, face a total of seven counts of "soliciting to commit murder", and "using threatening or abusive language likely to stir up racial hatred".

At the beginning of the hearing at Liverpool Crown Court, stocky shaven-headed Hannington entered guilty pleas on five further charges which he had previously denied. These included posting vile, racist slurs on a website for violent extremists The Aryan Strike Force which read "Jews are parasites feeding off others" and "Jews will always be scum".

He also admitted posting copies of notorious bomb-making handbooks associated with terrorism on the website, which he administered, known as the "Anarchists Cookbook" and the "Terrorism Encyclopaedia". Wearing a plain white t-shirt, Hannington, of South Wales, scowled in the dock as he admitted a final charge of circulating instructions for constructing a flamethrower out of a water pistol.

In a five hour hearing, prosecuting counsel Andrew Edis QC, told the court that co-defendant Michael Heaton had posted a string of threatening messages on the Aryan Strike Force website, which he ran with Hannington. Mr Edis told the court that Hannington's obscene postings included messages that said:" Kill the Jew, Kill the Jew! Burn down the synagogue. Burn the scum."

Mr Edis described Heaton's alleged hate-filled postings. They are said to include: "Jews will always be scum and must be destroyed" and "I would encourage any religion or race which wants to destroy the Jews, I hate them with a passion".

A further racist tirade is said to have said: "Black people have high sex drives and are more aggressive than all other species".

Heaton, of Manchester, denies soliciting to murder, and stood stony-faced in the dock sporting a large black scorpion tattoo on his neck. His co-defendant, Hannington, also denies a similar charge of soliciting to murder. The offences are said to have happened in January and April 2008.

After the seven remaining charges were read out, Judge Stephen Irwin QC reminded the jury, of seven men and five women, to put all prejudices aside. He had earlier rejected defence requests that jurors should declare their ethnic and religious backgrounds before being sworn-in. Reporting restrictions on publication of the addresses of the accused remain in place, for the protection of members of their families.

Trevor Hannington was remanded in custody. Michael Heaton had his bail renewed with the condition that he is barred from contacting members of the Aryan Strike Force or English Defence League. The trial commences at 10am on Friday.

Click Liverpool

Peter Tierney trial moved from Monday 14th to Wednesday 16th June

Urgent! Change of date for Peter Tierney trial and protest - Wednesday June 16th

Liverpool Antifascists have learned that BNP member and donor Peter Tierney’s trial has been moved from Monday 14th June to Wednesday 16th June. The planned antifascist protest will now take place on this date.

Tierney is accused of assaulting a trade unionist and anti-fascist protester in April last year. The change of court date represents a clear attempt to diminish the attention this trial receives, but Liverpool Antifascists remain determined that fascist violence cannot simply be forgotten. We have demonstrated at every one of Tierney’s previous court appearances and this will be no different.

Assemble at 8.30am, Liverpool Crown Court, Derby Square, on Wednesday 16th June

We are looking to get the largest possible turnout at the court on the Wednesday and the two following days for which the trial is scheduled. We urge all local and regional trade unions and anti-fascist organisations to ensure their banner is at the demonstration.

Liverpool Antifascists

Dutch poised to elect rightwing liberals as economic fears dominate

Polls suggest VVD win but raise questions over inclusion of anti-Islamic Geert Wilders in possible coalition government

Dutch voters are expected to elect their first liberal prime minister in almost a century tomorrow in an election dominated by the age of austerity looming over Europe.

As in Britain and Germany, the liberals are tipped to prosper at the expense of the two big parties that traditionally command the centre-right and the centre-left in the Netherlands: the Christian Democrats (CDA) and Labour (PvdA). Opinion polls indicate a triumph for the VVD, rightwing free-market liberals campaigning for swingeing public spending cuts, tighter rules on immigration and pragmatic scepticism towards the EU.

The election was called a year early after the collapse of the Christian Democrat-led coalition in February over the presence of Dutch troops in Afghanistan. But neither the Afghan war nor the explosive issue of Muslim immigration has played a prominent role in the campaign, meaning the anti-Islamic populist Geert Wilders has failed to capitalise. Wilders and his Freedom party are nonetheless predicted to double their share of seats to 18 in the 150-seat second chamber in The Hague, while coming in fourth. Only a few months ago, he was being tipped to win the election.

There was little doubt in The Hague today that Mark Rutte, the VVD leader, would be the new prime minister. In a highly fragmented proportional representation system, however, he will struggle to cobble together a coalition of the right. [Today's] vote will be followed by weeks, perhaps months, of horse-trading over possible coalitions.

One big question is whether the maverick Wilders will be offered a cabinet seat for the first time. Rutte's party is predicted to get 36 seats. His logical coalition partner, the CDA, are polling at 24. They need 76 for a majority. Wilders' seats would enable a majority for a rightwing coalition. Unlike in neighbouring Flanders, in Belgium, there is no cordon sanitaire erected by the mainstream around the extreme right, but the Dutch centre-right remains reluctant to go into government with Wilders.

The Islam-bashing leader wants a total stop to Muslim immigration and mosque-building, and a tax on Islamic headscarves. He has offered tacit support in parliament for a VVD-CDA minority government in return for tough immigration policies. A similar arrangement exists in Denmark, where the far right props up a rightwing government.

While Rutte looks certain to be the big winner, the main loser is expected to be the prime minister, Jan-Peter Balkenende. The CDA leader has headed three governments since 2002, all of which fell. The polls suggest a heavy defeat for his party, from 41 seats to around 23. The PvdA, under the new leadership of Job Cohen, the former mayor of Amsterdam, is also expected to lose a couple of seats.

The election is the first national ballot among the 16 eurozone countries since the eruption of the Greek debt crisis, which then escalated into a full-blown single currency emergency. The campaign has highlighted the degree to which voters' economic worries have hijacked the agenda. Rutte is promising spending cuts of €20bn (£16.5bno) euros to balance the budget over four years from a deficit currently of almost 7%.

In what has become almost routine in Dutch politics, he is also bashing Brussels, demanding, British-style, a slimming down of EU powers and their repatriation to member states, the possibility of British-style "opt-outs" from areas of EU legislation and a British-style big fight over the EU budget when it comes up for review from next year.

Guardian

Carmarthen school 'should clamp down on pupil's racist website'

Carmarthenshire council has been criticised for distancing itself from an extreme right-wing website created by a county borough schoolboy.

A 16-year-old GCSE pupil at Queen Elizabeth High School in Carmarthen has been identified as the creator of The Carmarthenshire Front website, which calls for the closure of all mosques and warns of a threat against white men.

Campaigners for racial equality and members of a leading teaching union say the local authority should be working to educate youngsters in order to eradicate racial prejudice. The call comes after both the council and school declined to take action against the pupil.

Rex Phillips, from teaching union NASUWT Wales, said: "Although the school has correctly and swiftly dissociated itself from this racist website, the Carmarthenshire authority is wrong to claim that this is not a school matter. Such complacency is wholly unacceptable."

The website features videos of BNP leader Nick Griffin talking about the "Islamification" of Europe, and describes the dangers facing the "white man" from a "tsunami of immigration".

A member of the senior leadership team at Queen Elizabeth High School said: "We have got no control over what an individual writes in their spare time. We completely and totally dissociate ourselves from anything of this nature."

Meanwhile, a statement from the council added: "Queen Elizabeth High School completely disassociates itself from this website and its contents. This is not a school matter."

However, Taha Idris, director of Swansea Bay Racial Equality Council, said: "Protesters like the Welsh Defence League may influence young, impressionable people so it is vital that we educate our youths."

Chris Keates, General Secretary of NASUWT added: "There is still much more to be done to protect young people from having their attitudes poisoned in this way. Families, schools, communities and government all have a responsibility to combat and challenge these unacceptable views. It is not acceptable for either the school or local authority to claim to have no responsibility in this matter."

However Carmarthenshire Council has defended its stance. Head of improvement and skills Wyn Williams said: "The county council is very active in working with schools and instilling core values and beliefs in our children and young people. Our Children and Young People's Plan promotes a number of key values and beliefs, which are taught in our schools. It clearly states that children and young people should appreciate and respect their own and others' beliefs and attitudes."

This is South Wales

Rotherham fascist leads secret double life

A BNP activist is living a secret double life, desperate to prevent his employers from finding out about his extremist views – despite having stood as a candidate in last month’s election.

Tom Holmes (25) received 715 votes in the recent elections for Rotherham Council but has managed to keep his politics a secret from his work colleagues.

Holmes brags online that he is a “gold member of the British National Party” and models himself on his idol, Nick Griffin. However, he has hidden his political beliefs from employers TalkTalk, where he works as a field representative. In one online post he confessed: “I’m done for if my boss decides to look my name up as I was in the local papers. I told a ickle porkie and said I stood as an independent. Half of the office staff I work with are foreign…I don’t believe they’d be too understanding of my BNP loyalties.”

Holmes has even discussed online with pals measures he would take against his company if they discovered his true identity and tried to take action against him.

The self-styled “loyal Griffinite” was left running scared when one local nearly revealed his identity and BNP links. “One day I’m gonna run into someone that knows me and out me as a BNP candidate in front of one of my colleagues,” he explained in an online posting. “Only just started this job not quite ready to get the sack yet. Someone in Dinnington recognized me whilst I was with a colleague but thankfully couldn’t put his finger on where from.”

The far-right loner has become obsessed with online chats since his girlfriend left him over his views on immigration. He now uses his Facebook profile to vent his anger and regularly posts rants in support of Griffin, the EDL, and even conspiracy theorist David Icke. He says: “The BNP is in no-way affiliated with the EDL. But I admire them for standing up for their country. We’re doing it by the ballot box, they’re doing it the old fashioned way – a visual presence. Either way we’re both standing the same fight.”

He also uses his profile to discuss his contempt for co-workers “the people (at work) are a bit gay…who the fuck high fives in this day and age?” he declared in a rant. “Whoo wheyy we have to try and prove to ourselves that we’re a fun office so we’re going to go wheyyy then hand-slap each other whoo! – grow up ya gang of twats”

Holmes uses his page to discuss his “black book” of people to be “put up against the wall” as well as his anticipation for the coming “race war”. He also spends much of his spare time chatting online on his own personal adult chatsite – friendlychatrooms.co.uk

Expose the BNP

Anti-Islam website written and run by schoolboy, 16

An extreme right-wing website calling for the closure of all mosques and warning of the threat to “the white man” is the work of a 16-year-old Welsh schoolboy, Wales on Sunday has learned.

Website ‘The Carmarthenshire Front’ – named after the far-right National Front – features videos of BNP leader Nick Griffin talking about the “Islamification” of Europe, and describes the dangers facing the “white man” from the “tsunami of immigration” coming into Britain. It also features a section called “How and where to spread propaganda” which tells people to “hit” libraries, residential neighbourhoods, supermarkets and schools in order to pedal the sinister material.

But rather than a large-scale organisation, the website is written and run by a GCSE pupil at Queen Elizabeth High School in Carmarthen. Wales on Sunday is not naming the youngster. The school immediately sought to distance itself from the website, emphasising that they go out of their way to have an inclusive policy towards students. There is no evidence that the pupil worked on the website during school hours.

The “about us” section on the website reads: “Carmarthenshire Front is a collection of nationalist friends and comrades from various groups and organisations. We are here to promote racial awareness in the county of Carmarthenshire, amongst all classes. We do not promote anything illegal.”

The website fights against mosques, saying: “Say NO, Vote NO, Mosques must GO!”

It particularly attacks plans to build a mosque near the site of the 9/11 massacre in New York, saying: “This is the sickest thing I have ever heard, and it’s perhaps no surprise when we note that Obama is a Muslim himself, which I would say must go a long way to explaining why this evil plan has been passed.”

The website goes on to attack the media for “failing to report on racist attacks against whites” and also lays into the British Government for sending aid to foreign countries. It says: “Only the nationalist parties have called for an immediate halt to all foreign aid programmes, and the reallocation of that budget to pressing internal problems inside Britain.”

It claims to have links with other “fronts” across the UK, including Liverpool, Stoke-on-Trent, York and Newcastle. The website also features a page dedicated to printable posters and stickers showing masked protestors with their fists in the air under the banner “National Resistance”. There is also a picture of former UK PM Tony Blair and Barack Obama standing underneath a giant figure wearing a gas-mask and wielding a giant grim reaper-like scythe.

A member of the senior leadership team at Queen Elizabeth High School said: “We have got no control over what an individual writes in their spare time. The school has been recognised for, and has an ethos of, inclusiveness for everyone. We completely and totally disassociate ourselves from anything of this nature.”

A statement from the Carmarthenshire Local Education Authority read: “Queen Elizabeth High School completely disassociates itself from this website and its contents.”

“This is not a school matter,” it said.

Wales Online

Thanks to Old Sailor for the heads-up.

BNP not 'open and honest' says East Midlands councillor

One of the British National Party’s few remaining councillors has joined the growing calls for a challenge to Nick Griffin’s leadership of the party.

Graham Partner, who holds one of the party’s two seats on North West Leicestershire District Council, says the BNP is not “being managed in an open and honest way”. Writing on his blog he comments: “I see people are being expelled for asking questions about the accounts and have to wonder what is there to hide. Therefore I conclude there is something to hide and I don’t like it.”

Drawing on his council experience, he notes: “Some good activists have been lost over recent years simply for speaking out. This is not acceptable to me either. I believe in people’s rights to challenge everything in the same way as scrutiny operates on the council. The answers are not always what we hope for but we still ask and don’t get sacked for having the nerve.”

In a reference to the widespread accusations that the party is being run for the benefit of Griffin and his “consultant”, the anti-abortion extremist Jim Dowson, Partner declares: “How can I be expected to encourage people to join, knowing that it is run as a personal empire where the members are merely a source of income.”

Partner would welcome a challenge this year to Griffin’s leadership but believes the new constitution makes it impossible. “I am totally supportive of anyone who wants to challenge for the leadership on the grounds of democracy and if Nick wins again then so be it. The constitution is a farce and designed to make it near impossible to instigate regime change. Those who voted for the current version must be deluded if they think that is democratic. What is more, I haven’t got a clue who the Founders are and would think collecting the required number of nominees as impossible.”

Party members were required to vote for the new constitution at an EGM in February under extreme pressure to settle the action brought by the Equality and Human Rights Commission over the party’s discriminatory membership conditions. If the BNP had not agreed to admit non-white members, the resulting legal proceedings might have prevented the party contesting last month’s elections.

However Griffin used the party’s desperate position to insert clauses imposing onerous requirements on anyone wanting to challenge for the leadership. Members could only vote for or against the constitution as a whole, without amendment and without even seeing these clauses, which were not presented to the meeting.

Under the new BNP constitution candidates for the chairmanship, who must be “voting members” (members of two years’ standing who fulfil activist and ideological training requirements) with at least five years’ continuous party membership, must secure the signatures of 20% of all party members with at least two years’ membership and 20% of all voting members. They must also by supported by 10% of the members attending a general meeting of the “Founders’ Association”, a body that is separate from the BNP but in which all party assets are vested. The constitution does not define the Founders’ Association but it is understood to be people who were paid-up members before the constitutional changes and are still members.

Griffin has promised to resign from the chairmanship by the beginning of 2014 to concentrate on securing his re-election to the European Parliament in June that year. Partner says: “If Nick Griffin is to step down in three years time, there will be a leadership contest anyway so let him accept a challenge now and save the Party three more years of squabbling and membership losses”.

Partner himself will not be a candidate. Apart from the fact that he does not rate himself as a speaker, is not interested in being chairman and would not want “the workload or the travelling about that Nick does”, Partner would not qualify as his party membership has lapsed. “Belfast [the BNP’s purportedly efficient call centre run by Dowson] were supposed to ring me on May 28th but failed to do so, therefore my five years continuous has been broken, ruling me out as a candidate and voter.”

Hope not hate

A gun in every household?

Nick Griffin, the British National Party leader, very properly expressed his condolences to all those affected by the shootings in West Cumbria, part of the North West region for which he is an MEP.

It seems that Derrick Bird was an ordinary man who suddenly snapped under pressure, whether from an impending tax investigation, arguments at the taxi rank where he worked, a family dispute or some other reason that has not yet come to light. We may never know the precise cause.

Unfortunately Bird was able to inflict such carnage because he had guns. Someone else in a similar situation might have killed a person or committed suicide and innocent people might have suffered in the process, but it is very unlikely there would have been so many deaths and so many people injured.

Britain’s gun laws are among the toughest in the world and further restrictions may not be the answer. There are legitimate reasons why some people should be allowed to own certain types of firearms. And whatever the criteria for granting an individual a gun licence, the police will never be able to detect every single applicant who might many years later “go postal”.

What is certain, however, is that were Griffin to have his way and every household required to keep “a standard-issue military assault rifle and ammunition” – BNP policy – there would be far more incidents such as the Cumbria tragedy, because far more people who suffer a momentary loss of control would have the opportunity to take it out on those whom they perceive as the causes of their problems.

That makes Griffin’s sympathies for Bird’s victims somewhat hypocritical.

Hope not hate