BNP told: hands off St George's Day

The Mayor of Swindon has hit out at attempts by the BNP to take credit for a St George's Day charity concert.

Mike Bawden said that the event on April 23, to be held in the council's chamber, was about celebrating the national day and raising money for the Prospect@Home appeal and should not be politicised in any way. Swindon British National Party falsely told supporters on its website the concert on April 23 was "BNP approved".

Mr Bawden said: "This event has had nothing at all to do with the BNP. They have had no involvement in organising it and there is no way the borough council would enter into any arrangement with them as an organisation. The borough's position is very clear in that we don't agree with their objectives. We would in no way want any political party to feel it had a monopoly on the evening. I believe the general public will look on this event as an opportunity to have an evening of good music and also an evening to raise money for the local Prospect Hospice."

Swindon Advertiser editor Mark Waldron said: "St George's Day is a celebration of England and everything associated with it. That includes tolerance and multiculturalism, which are definitely not words you associate with an organisation such as the BNP."

The Adver-backed concert will be held at the Civic Offices in Euclid Street. It is thought to be the first time that music has been performed inside the chamber, where council decisions are normally made.

The BNP claimed it was the "vanguard of the campaign" to organise the event and used the occasion as an opportunity to spout far-right rhetoric. The extremist party said: "It is a reflection of the growing resentment over how our culture and national identity has been eroded over the years. People are rightly proud to be English and are getting increasingly assertive in reminding proponents of multiculturalism that this is England, we are the English and this is our country."

After reports that the Kentwood Show Choir will end the concert with performances of Jerusalem, I Vow to Thee My Country and Rule Britannia, the BNP gave its blessing to the running order. It said: "An excellent choice in our opinion - guaranteed to really upset the Labour party and liberal left."

BNP Wiltshire organiser Mike Howson said that he thought the party was justified in trying to give the public event a political motive. "We will support anything that supports our culture and priorities and if that makes it political, so be it," he said. "We will do everything we can to celebrate British culture, that's why we are backing it. Lately we have had more and more support in Swindon, and I think it is the fact that the BNP is around that is why the council has taken notice of English and British culture."

The Swindon Advertiser launched the Prospect appeal to raise money to help fund a scheme which will see nurses giving palliative care to people in their own homes 24 hours a day.

Swindon Advertiser