Steve Batkin (pictured above on the far-right, so to speak)Maurice Cousins is the Deputy Editor of ‘Nothing British’, where the image is currently appearing: “We thought this was disgraceful considering the British National Party dresses itself up in the flag and in the honour of those who have given their lives in this country. This man was elected in 2003, what is this man still doing there?”
Cllr Batkin defended his actions – saying it was down to the other men’s “drunken youth”. “You’ve got a few seconds to think and when someone just puts their hands up in a few seconds and a fascist salute, basically you’re trapped. We’ve all said things in the past, including Nick Griffin himself, where we regret some of the things we’ve said and some of the situations we’ve been in. Nevertheless I do not condone right wing people doing right wing salutes and dressing in a cult. It’s counter-productive and it doesn’t help the BNP one bit. That’s how drunken youth react at times when they’re rebellious, they might do silly things.”
Stoke BNP leader Michael Coleman does not condone Batkin’s actions and doubts that the matter will be taken further within the party. “I’d like to denounce it, it’s not part of the BNPs philosophy. I don’t want to represent those ideas, but it was 8 years ago and it was a different world back then.”
Ex-BNP councillor Alby Walker, who left the BNP to stand as Independent, said that Cllr Batkin is not an exception and this is why he left the BNP: “I shall make it my job now to expose to the public what the true face of the BNP is, what’s behind the scenes rather than the public persona they’re putting on at the moment. The true face of the BNP behind closed doors is quite different to what you will see publicly and that’s coming from the horses mouth. These are some of the reasons I had to move away from the BNP. I did try to change the image but obviously it’s still lurking in the background.”
Staffs Live
Who is the loony in the camo trousers? I'm always seeing pictures of him.
ReplyDeleteDrunken youth? They look about 50 ffs!
ReplyDeleteHe is up for re-election next year 5th May, I hope the local paper reprints this photo during the run up to that date.
ReplyDeleteAttending a funeral? Who were they burying? Eichmann? And that excuse about someone doing a Nazi salute on the spur of the moment. I mean it happens all the time doesn't it? I can't remember the number of funerals I've been to when for a laugh someone's flung an arm out in honour of the Third Reich and embarrassed me when the photos surfaced later. I suspect this photo might get used in some election leaflets by parties other than the BNP in years to come.
ReplyDeleteP.G. Tipps said...
ReplyDeleteWho is the loony in the camo trousers? I'm always seeing pictures of him.
Its Alexei Sayle innit!!!!
I fear it's just an instinctive thing. You are at a funeral, the mourners have just concluded a stirring rendition of Abide With Me, the curtains draw in to finally remove the coffin from view and, without a second thought, you do a Hitler salute. Let's be honest now, we've all done it.
ReplyDeleteI am surprised that the BBC helped expose the BNP. They usually don't!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe he's JUSTIFYING the giving of the Nazi salute! What with the brand new squeaky clean BNP and all that...
ReplyDeleteAs for Simon Bennett, oh I love it so much when the far right fall out. Just like the infamous Le Pen/Megret split, in fact ever since then whenever there is a split and a rebellious faction forms both sides call each other Nazis, fascists, racists etc. (its still going on with Sharon Ebanks)
Makes ya so glad to be an anti fascist!!!
"Drunken youth? They look about 50 ffs!"
ReplyDeleteThat's the Nazis youth wing mate.
Compare the man on Batshit's far right to the man on Griffin's far right in this photo:
ReplyDeletehttp://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/File:Bouncers.jpg
Poor resolution, but there is a resemblance. Need more photos of Griffin's victory celebrations outside Leeds CC in 2006.
More on the man on Batshit's far right:
ReplyDeletehttp://cache2.asset-cache.net/xc/56600660.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=77BFBA49EF878921F7C3FC3F69D929FDBD93976EF18F3D9611E38677B92F433D1608C99F252990B6B01E70F2B3269972
http://cache3.asset-cache.net/xc/56730702.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=77BFBA49EF878921F7C3FC3F69D929FD6908CE6ED43D992A5227FCDB01D52C4197F19015C695CF9BB01E70F2B3269972
http://www.life.com/image/72491204
???
The guy on the far-right of this picture (with sofa soaker Sid
ReplyDeleteWilliamson) is standing next to Batkin.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kAsREsiLSmY/SJBmGVJxaSI/AAAAAAAACTE/8TBqq3EdChg/s400/fat%2Bsidpete%2Bwilliamson.jpg
If it's a picture you're after, how about Oldham, election night 2001, Griffin as BNP candidate turns up to the count in a 'Gagged For Telling The Truth' T-shirt and proceeds to raise his arm into the air when 'Nicholas John Griffin' and his result was called out.
ReplyDeleteThis image I will never forget, exactly the sort of nazi twat organisation that we successfully expose.
"I am surprised that the BBC helped expose the BNP. They usually don't!"
ReplyDeleteThey've noted the shit election results and tailored their output accordingly. The BBC are fucking dangerous. If the BNP (or similar party) really grow in future and challenge for power then the BBC will fall all over themselves. They are 'straws in the wind' politically. They suck up to whatever political party is in the acsendancy in order to protect the licence fee and their status as national broadcaster.
"I love it so much when the far right fall out"
ReplyDeleteThe far-right and no different for the far-left in this respect. Remember that sketch from "The Life of Brian"? The Judean Popular Front slagging off the Popular Front for Judea with crys of, "Splitter"! There's something about the massive egos and need for ideolgical purity on the fringes that makes splits and backstabbing inevitable.
Fully exposed as a Nazi in a Nazi party:
ReplyDeletehttp://kirkunity.blogspot.com/2010/05/stoke-bnp-councillor-claims-only-300000.html
Well spotted for finding all these photos. Any chance of preparing a photo gallery based on this research - eg - making a short video for You Tube?
ReplyDeleteSince Batkin admitted the saluters are Blood and Honour, the Leeds photos therefore link Griffin himself to Blood and Honour. This all deserves much wider publicity