February 08, 2007

ENB fails to take action against BNP ballerina

Protest outside ENB’s fundraiser event
Saturday 17 February, 7pm onwards
Dorchester Hotel, Park Lane, London


The English National Ballet (ENB) confirmed they would not be taking action against Simone Clarke, the principal dancer who was exposed by the Guardian newspaper as a member of the fascist British National Party (BNP).

The ENB is arguing that the Race Relations Amendment Act 2000 does not apply to them.

UAF argues that given that Clarke has used her position in the publicly funded English National Ballet to justify her beliefs and promote her membership of the BNP in the Mail on Sunday, that the ENB has duty to investigate this.

UAF believes that the Race Relations Amendment Act applies to the English National Ballet (ENB) as a publicly funded organisation. We think that Simone Clarke’s membership of the BNP and her comments to the Mail on Sunday contravene this.

Earlier in January around 60 people protested outside the Coliseum where Clarke was performing Giselle. The protest included trade unionists, students, anti-fascists and anti-racists and people who came out during there lunch hour to support the demonstration.

One patron 62 year old Judy Chan gave in her ticket and joined the protest saying “I couldn't go in there and clap and enjoy the performance, knowing that she is a member of a fascist organisation”.

UAF will continue to campaign for the ENB to take action on this.

UAF

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Have you seen Chris Hills little rant about this item on hisblog today. If he goes on like he is, he'll bring on a heart attack!

Anonymous said...

Good. I could care less. The man's a member of a fascist party.

Anonymous said...

The uaf are taking a very proper stand against this woman and the ENB - every union should be supporting the fight to get her booted out.

She is using her position to bolster the BNP - according to one forum, she attended a branch meeting in London with Richard Barnbrook and she was one of the speakers. If she is speaking out for intolerance and division she has to go.