The British National Party (BNP) is being taken to court by its creditors including a North- East printing firm which is owed thousands. The far-right party’s central office owes the Newton Press, in County Durham, about £16,500 for printing its newspaper, Freedom. It is understood the firm is one of several UK firms taking the BNP to court in an action headed by an as yet unnamed solicitor. The £16,500 has been described as loose change compared to the overall figure being sought from the party, which is allegedly £500,000 in debt.
Party leader Nick Griffin is expected to meet North-East organisers in County Durham today, where he will face tough questions over the party’s finances.
As a political party the BNP is an unincorporated association which cannot technically be declared bankrupt. However, creditors could hold Mr Griffin personally liable along with party members who entered into contracts.
Freedom’s former editor, Martin Wingfield, said he enjoyed an excellent working relationship with the Newton Press for about two years until he stepped down, in July last year. But, when asked about the recent debt, he said: “I understand the case is going to court, so at present, I cannot comment further.”
The BNP’s money woes were highlighted recently when a letter purporting to be from the party’s head office offered creditors 20p for every pound of debt. It was dismissed by some members as a fake, but the BNP’s former North-East organiser, Ken Booth, said it was genuine. He said party members in the North-East were disgusted to learn of the 20p in a pound offer and he had fought for the Newton Press to be paid. In contrast to the national position, Mr Booth said the North- East office has always operated on a pay-as-you-go basis and as such had no debts.
Mr Booth, who was removed from his post by Mr Griffin when he threatened to raise the debts issue, said: “It goes against the BNP’s core principle of local jobs for local people. As far as I can see this is a decent North-East firm that has done a good job and deserves to be paid and I don’t know why it hasn’t been. Central party is £500,000 in debt but it’s on a record turnover of £2.3m. No one is accusing anyone of stealing money, it’s just mismanagement. The general consensus of the members in the North-East is that Nick Griffin should shoulder the responsibility and step down.”
The Newton Press, which publishes the community newsletter, Newton News, declined to comment.
BNP central office spokesman John Walker said: “We could not comment on matters which are internal to the party and the businesses we deal with.”
Northern Echo
It just gets better every day, doesn't it..... :)
ReplyDeleteDont worry clive jefferson is now in control of party finances DOH
ReplyDelete'Dont worry clive jefferson is now in control of party finances DOH'
ReplyDeleteBrilliant timing, Clive. :-D
The BNP have gone from being a cheap soap opera to a black comedy lol
ReplyDeleteThey can't take the party to court for debt, only an officer or the officers. As Porky has been a bankrupt already and managed to learn a few nasty tricks, he's made sure that the house is in Jackie's name. Old Sticky-Fingers owns nothing of any consequence, leaving the financial axe to fall on the other officers. He really is a piece of shit; a small-time crook who should be running a dodgy timeshare company.
ReplyDeleteI bet Griffin won't be the one to go down with his ship.
ReplyDelete"It just gets better every day, doesn't it..... :)"
ReplyDeleteIt does, it does. LOL
"He really is a piece of shit; a small-time crook who should be running a dodgy timeshare company."
ReplyDeleteHe probably is – in Spain, Croatia, Dubai?
He really is a piece of shit; a small-time crook who should be running a dodgy timeshare company.
ReplyDelete90% of supporters and what's left of the membership of the BNP couldn't give a toss about what happens to him. They seem to be moving, or have already moved to another party attached to Europe.
So this is the mysterious "British" firm that took over the printing from the Slovaks and the Arab/Islamic printing house in London. They must be rueing the day that they took the BNP's penny. Let it be a lesson to them, and if their legal proceedings harm the BNP, they will have undone some of the damage that "Voice of Freedom" has done.
ReplyDeleteVoF does not just preach to the converted; there is a considerable residue of unsold issues which is sometimes dumped through doors during an election campaign. (If anyone still has an unsoiled and unflushed copy it might be worth checking whether the publisher information in VoF complied with election law.)
The "Newton News" site is a community news site/blog chronicling the day-to-day life of a predominantly white, working class community that has seen better days economically but still remains close-knit and vibrant. Exactly the sort of community, in fact, that the BNP tells its supporters has been all but wiped out due to "multiculturalism" and "political correctness". Exactly the sort of community whose values, when they are at full strength, stop the far right getting a look-in. Despite this, the printers still printed the BNP's lies and fantasy nonetheless. Once again let it be a lesson to them.
The BNP is an unicorporated association and therefore cannot be made bankrupt as the Echo mentioned. Officials can be taken to court only.
ReplyDeleteBecause the party cannot be made bankrupt i think that Griffin will not be too concerned. I think we are all living in la la land if we think the BNP is suddenly going to go bust and disappear, it may damage their reputation with companies they seek to engage with but like i said i dont think Griffin really is that bothered
" I think we are all living in la la land if we think the BNP is suddenly going to go bust and disappear, it may damage their reputation with companies they seek to engage with but like i said i dont think Griffin really is that bothered "
ReplyDeleteI am living in LU land not lala land and i think its safe to say we have always known that Griffin couldnt give a toss about anyone else other than himself. His complete lack of respect for the bnp membership and uk law suggests this has always been the case.
Has paul golding actually been kicked out of the BNP?
ReplyDeleteOn the sevenoaks council site and hope not hate he is still listed as a bnp councillor.