Breaking - BNP meltdown continues - annihilation in Barking and Dagenham

Completely obliterated in the general election, the BNP's rout continued today as the party lost councillors wholesale in the simultaneous local elections.

On the BNP's showcase BARKING AND DAGENHAM council, where the BNP, with 12 councillors, formed the official opposition and expected to increase its presence, voters removed every councillor belonging to the racist party, making Barking and Dagenham BNP-free for the first time in years.

In Stoke on Trent, where the BNP had nine councillors and also formed the official opposition, two sitting councillors were ousted (two others defected from the racist party earlier this year), reducing their presence to five.

The party's two remaining councillors in SANDWELL were removed, as were its sole representatives in SOLIHULL and LEEDS. Other losses have been recorded in BURNLEY and still others are being reported even as we post.

Nick Griffin's failed strategy has left him exposed as an incompetent leader even to the most gullible among the slavishly pro-Griffin membership and efforts to topple him are gathering pace. Richard Barnbrook and ousted elections organiser Eddy Butler left the Barking and Dagenham count today openly discussing ways and means of deposing Griffin, who has completely lost control of events.

Whipped and humiliated from one end of the country to the other, disbelieving BNP members are wildly casting about for scapegoats on which to fix the blame for their political demise. The favourite seems to be the old "ballot rigging by the State" saw. Some, like the idiotic Paul Morris/Green Arrow, won't have Griffin blamed at all for the expensive catastrophe into which he led his easily deceived admirers, with the active conivance of political illiterates like Morris, who we presume is hitting the Tesco lager with a vengeance.

There are interesting times to come for Nick Griffin and an increasingly disaffected BNP membership - and we'll bring you every moment of them, with the greatest pleasure!

‘Neo-Nazi gran’ hired as aide to BNP member on London Assembly

A grandmother working for the BNP at City Hall is feared to be behind plans to unite far-Right activists in advance of the general election. Tess Culnane, dubbed a “neo-Nazi granny” by her rivals after being a member of the BNP and National Front, has been recruited as an aide by London Assembly member Richard Barnbrook.

Opponents of the BNP believe this suggests that factional infighting has ended, allowing the party to focus on the general election and borough elections. BNP leader Nick Griffin is challenging Labour minister Margaret Hodge for the Barking seat, while the party aims to build on its councillors in boroughs such as Barking and Dagenham and Redbridge.

Mrs Culnane, a grandmother of 12 from Mottingham, who is believed to be in her seventies, is working part-time at City Hall as an agency worker.

She was a strong supporter of former BNP leader John Tyndall and has stood in London Assembly, European and council elections. She was the National Front candidate in the Haltemprice and Howden, Yorkshire, by-election in 2008 that was called after then shadow home secretary David Davis quit and then retained his seat.

In a pre-Euro election speech last year, she said she and her family had suffered vandalism and crime at the hands of black neighbours since 1969 and railed against “the tragedy that has hit my family through multiculturalism”. She added: “Many British families are suffering the scourge of multiculturalism. The British bulldog has had its nose rubbed in the dirt long enough.”

Speaking of Mrs Culnane's role, Labour assembly member Murad Qureshi said: “In this instance the BNP has revealed its fascist underbelly, and voters should not be fooled by the party's attempts to present a more moderate image.”

Former mayor Ken Livingstone, who headed an anti-BNP conference at the weekend, said: “It is a travesty that the BNP has a seat on the London Assembly to give platform to its toxic propaganda.”

Mrs Culnane declined to answer questions but said: “I'm certainly not a Nazi* — I'm a true blue patriot. If anybody called me a traitor I would be upset.”

This is London

*Our photograph shows Culnane addressing the openly Nazi British People's Party.

Church of England tells clergy not to invite BNP candidates to hustings

British National Party candidates should not be invited to election hustings in church halls, the Church of England has told clergy.

Vicars have also been warned to avoid talking to members of the far-right party or being caught photographed with them, in case the images are used in their campaign leaflets. The Church fears the BNP, which won two seats in the European Parliament last year, is trying to shrug off its extremist image by portraying itself as a “guardian of British Christian heritage”.

In response, the Archbishops’ Council has issued detailed guidance on how clergy should deal with “far right political parties, extremist groups and racist politics”. It comes after the Church’s governing body, the General Synod, voted a year ago to ban clergy and lay workers from joining organisations that “contradict the duty to promote race equality”.

The Rev Dr Malcolm Brown, Director of Mission and Public Affairs, said: “The note is advisory and seeks to enable church leaders to discern an appropriate course of action within areas where community relations are often fragile or fragmented. Our faith calls us to develop and sustain the hope and vision that things can be different.”

The guidance, first published in 2007 but now expanded ahead of the general election and council polls in May, tells clergy that they do not have to invite BNP candidates for election hustings held in church halls as long as the other parties’ representatives declare the fact.

It states: “Churches are under no legal obligation to include the BNP in election hustings meetings, or give space to such parties for public meetings, if they consider this ‘association’ could have detrimental affect on their reputation and activities (as charities).

“If candidates participate in an event that does not include all candidates in a constituency they need to declare this on their election returns."

The document says that if BNP candidates are elected to a local authority, priests in the area should not contact them personally and refuse any requests to hire church halls.

It says: “Church leaders need to take care when attending functions at which councillors from far-right parties may be present (not least such events as Remembrance Day services). For example: photographs of conversations can be used to imply church support for such councillors and their policies.

“It is not advisable to meet groups promoting racist policies as this gives them credibility and publicity. It is advisable not to give them a platform in churches or church buildings, as this can be used to suggest support for their policies (even by implication).”

However it adds that public sector staff have no choice who they work with and “need your prayers”.

The guidance advises clergy on how to deal with a new wave of protests by the English Defence League, which organises marches against radical Islam but which is accused of hostility to all Muslims. Its events, often attended by football hooligans, have descended into race riots.

It says: “Direct confrontation is inadvisable. Church leaders need to coordinate with police and other community leaders (particularly those being targeted) when a local demonstration is advertised. A prayer vigil followed by the advice to avoid the location of the demonstration has enabled the damage of potentially incendiary situations to be limited.”

Telegraph

Soldier of hate

A soldier in Prince Charles' regiment is today exposed as a Nazi fan and BNP supporter.

Anthony Phipps proudly shows off a Nazi tattoo and pictures of SWASTIKAS on his Facebook page. In one snap, he and some pals appear to be making hateful Sieg Heil gestures used to salute Adolf Hitler.

Another shows a tattoo featuring a Nazi Party-style eagle standing on top of a St George Cross. Phipps makes clear his racist beliefs by stating his political views are "BNP".

Although being a BNP member is not banned in the armed forces, it is frowned upon by top brass.

Last night, it was revealed that Phipps has gone AWOL. He is being hunted by Military Police - who on Friday raided an address in the West Midlands - as well as facing a carpeting over his sinister political beliefs.

No one visiting Birmingham-based Phipps' Facebook page is left in any doubt about his vile opinions.

The frontline infantry soldier serves in 3 Mercian Regiment (Staffs), whose Colonel in Chief is Prince Charles. Yet he lists his political beliefs as: "BNP. i.e. Pride, Power and Patriotism. No surrender, EVER." He even set up his own Facebook group in early 2009 asking pals if they would vote for him if he ran for the racist party.

Pictures Phipps has posted on his personal Facebook page are even more sinister. They include photos where he proudly shows off tattoos - one of which incorporates the St George cross with the eagle from the German Nazi Party. Another snap added to the page is a red-on-black Nazi Party crest complete with a swastika at the bottom.

As a soldier in 3 Mercian - formerly known as 1 Staffords - Phipps will have been in Iraq in early 2007.

An MoD spokesman said last night: "We can confirm an investigation concerning a serving soldier is currently under way. The Army does not tolerate racist behaviour and those who are found to fall short of the Army's high standards will be dealt with appropriately."

A senior military source said: "Being a multi-cultural unit, we are horrified and appalled. There is a lot of anger about the shame he has brought upon us all. He's not fit to wear the uniform."

He added: "Phipps was a bit of a loner. He could not be trusted and would always take the easy option."

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