Lancashire TUC calls on public not to use Blackpool hotel

The Lancashire Association of Trades Union Councils (LATUC) is the representative body of the national TUC in Lancashire and brings together thousands of trade union members across the county. There are local TUCs in Blackburn, Blackpool, Fylde & Wyre, Burnley, Chorley, Hyndburn & Rossendale, Lancaster & Morecambe, Pendle, Preston & South Ribble, Skelmersdale (SW Lancashire).

The LATUC is calling for trade unionists and all decent people not to use a hotel in Blackpool which is the venue for the BNP conference. The hotel concerned is the New Kimberley Hotel, 585-589 New South Promenade, Blackpool FY4 1NQ.

LATUC Secretary, Peter Billington, said "we want trade union members and all decent people not to use this hotel. There are 2.7 million workers in the North West and 34% (918,000) of them are trade union members. We are writing to the national TUC and asking it to circulate the hotel's details to all UK unions so that members can avoid this place. The hotel is knowingly providing support for a group of violent, racist, criminal thugs. It shouldn't be forgotten that a Lancashire BNP member, who was also a BNP local council candidate, is currently in prison after having been convicted on bomb-making charges. Robert Cottage, three times BNP candidate was jailed in August this year for having stockpiled chemicals, bomb making equipment and a rocket launcher. Cottage is the latest BNP member to have been found guilty of criminal charges.

In the last year, another five BNP members and councillors have been found guilty of offences ranging from racially aggravated assault to attempted firebombing. The BNP is not a normal political party. BNP officials and members have convictions for rape, armed robbery, aggravated assault, unlawful wounding, firebombing, theft, issuing racially obscene publications, electoral fraud, football hooliganism, and other criminal acts.