January 23, 2008

BNP chief on police march

A senior member of the BNP marched at the head of a huge police demonstration over pay in London today.

Richard Barnbrook, the far-Right party's leader in London, walked alongside top members of the Police Federation and at one point was yards from Liberal Democrat Mayoral candidate Brian Paddick.

Mr Barnbrook, a BNP councillor in Barking & Dagenham and a candidate in the election to pick London's next Mayor, told the Standard he took part to support the police and denied his presence was an embarrassment. An estimated 22,500 off-duty police officers, many wearing white baseball caps with the logo "Fair play for police", walked from Park Lane to Millbank, passing close to the Houses of Parliament.

Police Federation officials claimed they were powerless to prevent Mr Barnbrook from marching. Spokesman Metin Enver said he was not invited specifically but police officers recognised him when he turned up. He said: "Some of my colleagues saw we had the BNP Mayoral candidate with us. The one thing we want to make clear is we didn't invite him. It wasn't a closed march. He chose to attend by his own accord which is his right in a democracy. It is disappointing if anyone chose to join the march for their own agenda. We didn't ask him to leave because whether we like it or not we live in a democracy."

Mr Barnbrook said: "I was there to support the police. I spoke to one of the organisers of the march and I explained who I was and he was quite happy about it. We did some interviews for BNP TV. I spoke to a few Pcs and they were happy to talk."

Mr Paddick said: "I felt very uncomfortable that there was someone from the BNP. I was aware of him being there and I pointed it out to federation officials but there was nothing more that I could do. I was very uncomfortable that he was anywhere near me."

Gerry Gable, publisher of the anti-fascist Searchlight magazine, said: "The police federation leaders should have told him to get lost."

The demonstration by officers from all over the country was unprecedented in its scale and there will be anger that it was effectively "hijacked" for political purposes. It was organised by the Police Federation and was the culmination of weeks of wrangling over a government-imposed pay settlement.

Alan Gordon, vice-chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: "We are staggered by the turn-out. We want a dignified march that causes the minimum disruption for Londoners. People are very angry but, being cops, we are not having demonstrations or showing our anger, we will be dignified."

One protester, Pc Michael Ramsden of Thames Valley police, said: "I feel we have been lied to."

Officers claim that because their 2.5 per cent increase was backdated to 1 December instead of 1 September, it is effectively only a 1.9 per cent rise. In Scotland, the Scottish government agreed to backdate the increase fully to 1 September, as recommended by the Police Arbitration Tribunal.

Pc Neil Hunwick, 41, from Hackney, said: "We go out and put our lives on the line and we deserve to be treated fairly. People are angry that one minute we're being praised for doing a good job and the next this happens."

Evening Standard

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow, he really looks lik he's taking the march seriously, doesn't he.

Anonymous said...

I'm completly open mouthed about this, while I like many others who read this blog have no time for the police personally I don't believe we should turn this into a forum about the rights and wrongs of their pay claim but about their stupidity for allowing this scumbag to be seen with them. This is typical tactics, appear to be all above board and respectable, having photo ops with the the forces of law and order while the continue with their vile racist filth. Why did they not remove the scumbag to where he could not be photographed? Or perhaps he was passing on information about Mark 'nonce! Collett.
Peace and respect Bristol Jon

Anonymous said...

Opportunistic scum. They should've beaten the crap out of him.

Anonymous said...

Wow - i think we have found the new Posh spice...

Anonymous said...

'Photo op' is precisely the right term. Thats the only reason this drunken scumbag joined the demo.

Anonymous said...

Wow - i think we have found the new Posh spice...

I don't think I get that.

Anonymous said...

I notice he's not wearing one of the "Fair play for police" caps. Presumably so he doesn't mess up his golden locks.

If I'd've been one of those plods and seen him performing for the BNP cameras, I would have given him a swift elbow to the throat.

Anonymous said...

'Gerry Gable, publisher of the anti-fascist Searchlight magazine, said: "The police federation leaders should have told him to get lost."'

Spot on.

Anonymous said...

I just bet the Diva loved being surrounded by those big burly men. i cant see in the picture was he wearing his knee length boots.

Perhaps his time would have been better spent working in the borough for the people that voted for him, pretty sure there have been several meetings over the last few days that he should have been at.

Anonymous said...

Once again the press give favourable coverage to the BNP, and actually manage to put the fair pay deal out of the picture in favour of, Dickie 2 suits.

Anonymous said...

What the hells that cretin laughing at?

Anonymous said...

What a fucking poser.

Anonymous said...

He's laughing at you nerds with your stupid comments. The Police are useless and so is he so quite rightly they march together.

Perfectly legal and pointless.

Anonymous said...

I really hope the reason they let him take part (at the front as well) is because no one knew who the hell he was.

Anonymous said...

According to some posters on Stormfront, the police should be the natural allies of the BNP. Oh really? The natural allies of thieves, nonces and nazis? I think not.

Anonymous said...

It's a little worrying if the police themselves can't stop a far-right politician from leading their demo.

But because "whether we like it or not we live in a democracy" apparently anyone can lead anyone's march.

Interesting news.

Anonymous said...

Once again the BNP shows that it will exploit ANY circumstance to get publicity. Scum, the lot of them.

Anonymous said...

I'm surprised his fake fiance wasn't there with him.

Anonymous said...

He looks like a teenager who saw the opportunity to have a laugh marching with the policemen.

Definately one for the caption competition.

Anonymous said...

Without the media apparently swooping on this, how many would even have known who he was? It's really no big deal. The police are in no way condoning the BNP any more than they are condoning or endorsing any other individual who chose to march with them.

Anonymous said...

"The police are in no way condoning the BNP any more than they are condoning or endorsing any other individual who chose to march with them."

Nobody said they were. It's just hypocritical for the criminal BNP to have anything to do with the police and Barnbrook's joining in on the demo is just a cynical attempt to garner more votes - hence the stupid smile to the off-camera BNPTV crew.

Anonymous said...

"Perhaps his time would have been better spent working in the borough for the people that voted for him"

Not much chance of that with Drunken Dicky. Mind you, maybe his booze problem will create a bond between him and Mayor Ken.

Anonymous said...

"Police Federation officials claimed they were powerless to prevent Mr Barnbrook from marching. Spokesman Metin Enver said he was not invited specifically but police officers recognised him when he turned up. He said: "Some of my colleagues saw we had the BNP Mayoral candidate with us. The one thing we want to make clear is we didn't invite him. It wasn't a closed march. He chose to attend by his own accord which is his right in a democracy. It is disappointing if anyone chose to join the march for their own agenda. We didn't ask him to leave because whether we like it or not we live in a democracy.""


Bollocks ! ask any old collier, the "enemy within" could not breath without permission of Plod in the years gone by.

I can remember, cos I was there.

Anonymous said...

scum marching with scum

Anonymous said...

He looks all giddy with lots of beefy coppers round him. Presumably he's looking round for the red indian, leather guy, cowboy & construction worker

Anonymous said...

Raymond said...
I really hope the reason they let him take part (at the front as well) is because no one knew who the hell he was.

He was at the front coz, in all honesty, would you want him behind you?