MP rejects BNP claim after rant is published

The British National Party is to make an official complaint against Gavin Barwell, after the MP publicised one of its candidate's rants about "violent immigrants" in New Addington.

The far-right party alleges Mr Barwell breached the Data Protection Act when he sent a questionnaire, filled in by Clifford Le May, to the Advertiser nearly a year and a half ago. In the pamphlet, Mr Le May urged the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, to "stop ruining our community by stuffing New Addington with violent immigrants who have no right to live among decent civilised white people". He also referred to Mr Barwell, who he ran against for the Croydon Central seat in the general election last May, as a "traitor to his race and nation".

Now Mr Barwell has received a letter from the BNP threatening to take the matter to the Information Commissioner. Mr Barwell told the Advertiser: "It's completely bizarre. I've never heard of anyone in a political party complain about their views being made public. Perhaps he is ashamed of what he said, as he should be."

In the letter, Tony Martin, the BNP's Croydon and Sutton branch organiser, wrote: "In mid 2009, Clifford Le May received a questionnaire sent out by your organisation. Cliff filled in and returned the completed questionnaire only for it to be printed in the Croydon Advertiser. Recently I have been looking into the legality of this leak and who is responsible.

"It looks illegal under the Data Protection Act 1998 and Gavin Barwell has confessed to this indiscretion on his blog. I contacted the Information Commissioner's Office and was told to contact you first before making any official complaint."

When the Advertiser contacted Mr Martin, who has replaced Charlotte Lewis as Croydon and Sutton branch organiser, he pointed out a promise made on www.croydonconservatives.com not to share information with third parties. The disclaimer, under the heading Information Collection and Use, reads: "We never sell or share information to anyone outside the Conservative Party."

Mr Martin added: "I want to get the message across that we are not prepared to be trodden on.

"The Conservatives promise never to share information but this is exactly what they did. We're not looking for compensation, but an apology."

Mr Barwell admitted the privacy disclaimer existed but added: "Were it the response of a private individual I wouldn't have released it. But this was someone running for public office, so people have a right to know his views."

After giving Mr Barwell a deadline of seven days to respond to his concerns, Mr Martin says he now intends to submit an official complaint to the Information Commissioner.

This is Croydon Today

Thanks to Supporter from Croydon for the heads-up

Michaela Mackenzie sticks the boot in once more.

I'm getting the feeling that Griffin & Dowson Enterprises might have made a monumental cock up when they unlawfully sacked Michaela Mackenzie.

A couple of weeks after she released her Employment Tribunal Statement which can be found here she went a step further yesterday in her utter condemnation of Dowson and his business practices within the BNP.

In a speech lasting over 20 minutes at an Eddy Butler leadership campaign meeting she outlined her sacking and the incompetence of Griffin and Dowson and the three videos are worth watching.

BNP go to police over 'racist' link

The British National Party has lodged a complaint with the police on race grounds after students were directed to a list of names and postcodes of members on the internet.

Staffordshire University's student union president Assed Baig posted an article on the union website, which contained a link to a site identifying 30 BNP members living within two miles of the university's Stoke campus in College Road.

It was removed from the website on Wednesday hours after The Sentinel contacted the union, which stressed the article expressed the views of an individual and not necessarily its other members. Some students posted comments on the union website in response to the article before it was removed, the majority of which were against the publication of the link.

BNP Councillor Michael Coleman yesterday made a formal complaint to Staffordshire Police. He told The Sentinel: "This is clearly a criminal act. Members are now afraid that people, predominantly students, are going to go round to their homes and smash their windows. There is an unwritten rule that in politics you do not involve people's homes or families. This kind of thing will set a precedent for the future that we do not want to see in Stoke-on-Trent.

"The complaint has been lodged on the grounds that the president of the student union has broken data protection laws, as well as the race relations act and the public order act, because he has incited people to cause violence. His actions have led us to believe that he is pursuing radicalism within the student union body.

"We are a political party and it looks like he is trying to use the student body to serve his own aims. If you want to oppose us then you should stand on the street and distribute leaflets. What Mr Assed has done is totally unacceptable. He needs to be told in no uncertain terms that this is not a road we want to go down. We are pursuing this matter with the police because members are quite rightly furious and very concerned about it."

Stoke-on-Trent City Council BNP group leader Councillor Alby Walker, pictured, said: "We believe Mr Assed has broken data protection act laws and that the posting of the link to BNP members details was racially motivated."

Chief Inspector Peter Hall, of Stoke-on-Trent division, said: "We are making arrangements to discuss Mr Coleman's concerns and investigate any potential offences."

Mr Baig was unavailable for comment.

The Sentinel

Union forced to remove BNP link

Staffordshire University's students' union could face legal action after directing its website users to a list of the names and postcodes of British National Party members. The union was forced to remove a link to another site within 24 hours after an outcry from students and claims it could have breached the Data Protection Act.

On Tuesday, union president Assed Baig posted an article containing a link to the names and postcodes of 30 BNP members living within two miles of the university's Stoke campus in College Road. It was removed from the website yesterday hours after The Sentinel contacted the union, which has stressed the statement expressed the views of an individual and not necessarily its other members.

In a statement issued yesterday, Mr Baig said: "Following concerns raised with the union by some of its members about the ethics of promoting a site that identifies membership of the BNP, the union has removed the direct link from its site. However, the purpose of drawing to students' attention the level of support on the doorstep of their university for the BNP remains. In a university that has built itself an enviable reputation on its diversity and ability to widen participation, having a political party that works against this principle active in the area is an issue for our members."

Sports Journalism student Shaun Staff told The Sentinel that he didn't understand why a link to a list of BNP members' details needed to be published on the union website. The 21-year-old, who lives in Shelton, added: "The list contains names and postcodes – again, focusing on the locality of the members – and directions to their houses via Google Maps, which seems extremely suggestive.

"One of the president's slogans when he was running for the role was 'Beat the BNP', which is fair enough, but I believe he has gone the wrong way about it by publishing these details. What if there are students at the university who support the BNP? The union is supposed to be politically neutral."

Some students posted comments on the union site before the article was removed. Simon Longden said: "To single people out for their political views, no matter what they are, is just as morally indefensible as the racism the union tries so hard to oppose."

Stoke-on-Trent City Council BNP group leader Councillor Alby Walker told The Sentinel that it was his belief that the students' union is breaking the Data Protection Act by publishing details of BNP members. He said: "It's wrong and I will certainly be contacting the BNP's legal department about this. The person responsible for this has either been very naive or politically motivated. If I was the president of the students' union I would be seriously considering my position within the university."

The union will hold a meeting in the Ashley Building in the Leek Road campus at 5pm on Monday to discuss the issues raised. The university declined to comment.

The Sentinel

Ex-BNP man fined over names leak

A former member of the British National Party has been fined £200 after admitting publishing the details of some 10,000 party members online.

Matthew Single, 37, formerly of Church Lane, Brinsley, Notts, was fined by Nottingham magistrates after admitting disclosing data without consent. The names, addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses of some party supporters were leaked in November.

Judge John Stobart said the fine was "low" because Single was on benefits. District Judge John Stobart also ordered Single to pay £100 towards the cost of the prosecution.

The judge told Single: "Anything that is posted on the internet has the effect of opening a Pandora's box. What you put on the internet can never be taken from it and while there may be some members in this organisation who do not deserve to be protected by the law, they should be able to expect that officers within the organisation will not abuse the information provided to them. The law exists to save people from such revenge attacks."

Judge Stobart added: "It came as a surprise to me, as it will to many members of the party, that to do something as foolish and as criminally dangerous as you did will only incur a financial penalty. It comes as no surprise to me that somebody to do with an organisation that prides itself on Britishness is in fact living off the British people on Job Seeker's Allowance and that is why the fine is so low as to be ridiculous."

The charges were dropped against Single's wife, Sadie Graham-Single. The 30-year-old was not at the court.

BBC

Breaking news: Two charged with leaking BNP membership list

It's that BNP membership list again...

Two people have been charged under the Data Protection Act after a British National Party membership list was leaked on the internet, police said today.

Dyfed-Powys Police said the two people were arrested as part of a joint investigation with the Information Commissioner's Office. They are due to appear in Nottingham Magistrates Court on September 1.

The far-right BNP called for a police investigation last November after the names, addresses and contact details of some 10,000 of its members were published online.

Independent

Dyfed-Powys Police said the pair were arrested under the Data Protection Act as part of a joint investigation with the Information Commissioner's Office. They are due to appear in Nottingham Magistrates Court on September 1.

The far-right BNP called for a police investigation last November after the names, addresses and contact details of some 10,000 of its members were published online. Party leader Nick Griffin lodged a complaint with Dyfed-Powys, his local force, on the grounds that publishing the list breached human rights and data protection laws. He described the publication as "a disgraceful act of treachery" by former BNP staff members who were subsequently sacked.

At the time the BNP said the leak was based on its 2007 membership list. It featured details of some members' jobs and was reported to include serving and former police officers, as well as members of the armed forces.

In a statement, Dyfed-Powys Police said: "We can confirm that the two people arrested in relation to alleged criminal offences under the Data Protection Act have been charged with Section 55 Data Protection Act offences. The arrests followed an investigation into a complaint received about the unauthorised release of the BNP party membership list."

Sky News

BNP cover-up

AN OFFICIAL handbook for BNP activists reveals how they plan to cover up the LIES and DECEIT behind their election campaigns.

It shows how the far-right party has drawn up schemes to smear Labour and the Tories in June Euro elections. And it has advised members how to make sure plots to stir up violence stay secret in an attempt to con voters into thinking they are respectable.

The Activists' & Organisers' Handbook tells them to:

• USE internet blogs to put out damaging stories about rivals.
• NEVER advocate violence in emails-in case they are leaked.
• ENSURE supporters wear hats over their skinhead haircuts when out campaigning.

The guide's advice on using the internet suggests setting up blogs that do not appear to be BNP sites to help them collect information for smear campaigns.

Party thugs are told not to even mention violence in emails in case they get out. The guide says: "Don't use it to express extreme views or advocate violence. Your emails are probably less secure than you think."

Activists are also told to refer to the party as the British National Party not the BNP because it sounds "much more reasonable and comfortable".

And members of the party, led by Nick Griffin, must not dress like thugs when campaigning. The guide states: "No naked torsos in summer, unshaven scruffs or skinhead haircuts (put them in caps or hats)."

A spokesman for anti-racist group Searchlight, which uncovered the book, said: "This booklet exposes the reality behind the BNP mask of respectability. What other political party feels the need to ask its senior organisers to be careful not to get caught discussing their plans for violent behaviour on the internet? This shows they are the same old extremists, with the same agenda of hate and division."

The BNP has revealed it is collecting masses of data on its opponents' sexual orientation ready for character assassination campaigns if they criticise the party. Its official declaration on the Data Protection Register shows information about "relatives, guardians and associates" of any critics is also being gathered.

News Of The World

Merseyside "BNP" policeman to face misconduct charge

A serving police officer named in a leaked list of British National Party members will face a misconduct panel, his force said today.

Pc Steve Bettley, of Merseyside Police, was included in the list of the far right party’s entire membership register which was leaked on an internet blog. The officer, who was briefly the driver for chief constable Bernard Hogan Howe, has been suspended from duty since the list became public last month.

A Merseyside Police spokeswoman said today: “Merseyside Police has completed its investigation of an officer alleged to be a member of the BNP. It has been recommended that the Police Constable face a misconduct panel. The matter is now in the hands of Merseyside Police’s solicitors for further consideration. The Constable remains suspended.”

The leak provoked outrage after members of the BNP were revealed to be current and former servicemen, teachers and doctors.

The list included the names, professions, addresses and telephone numbers of thousands of BNP supporters. When the list was published, BNP leader Nick Griffin pledged to take court action against those behind the leak.

Dyfed-Powys Police is leading a joint investigation with the Information Commissioner’s office into the alleged breach of the Data Protection Act.

Liverpool Echo

BNP arrest: Neighbours tell of fear

People living near a Notts councillor and former BNP member who was arrested on Thursday have told of their fear when police descended.

The Post understands independent Broxtowe Borough councillor Sadie Graham – who was kicked out of the BNP last year – is one of two people arrested in connection with the unauthorised publication of the BNP membership list on the internet last month.

Neighbours said police vans, squad cars and officers were outside Coun Graham's home in Church Lane, Brinsley, all day before she was arrested. One resident, who did not want to be named, said they were scared when a bomb disposal unit turned up. "That scared us", he said, "as we have four children and we did not know what was going on."

Another resident added: "When you see something with 'police' and 'bomb' on you do get a bit worried. No one was giving any explanation."

Residents said Coun Graham was well known. One said: "She is a very nice person and seems to care quite a lot about the local community. Her connections to the BNP, although I don't necessarily agree with the politics, don't affect me."

An elderly resident said: "As a woman living on her own you just think what's going off with them [police] being there all the while. You get a bit frightened. You don't say anything because you don't want your windows smashed in."

Dyfed Powys Police said two people had been arrested in connection with alleged criminal offences under the Data Protection Act.

This is Nottingham

The plot thickens: BNP's Darby openly breaches data protection laws

The Smith/Graham expulsion story continues apace with drama after drama unfolding and revelations popping up all over the place.

The situation is suddenly becoming more dangerous for the BNP, which currently seems hell-bent on political suicide, as Simon Darby, the party's Press Officer - presumably with the connivance of Nick Griffin - releases private emails from the laptop stolen from Sadie Graham's home.

As this particular email is in the public domain, we don't believe we'll have a problem with the Data Protection Act but according to a friend who tends to know these things, the BNP are opening themselves up to all kinds of charges - including theft - by openly admitting that officers are trawling through private emails. How long, we wonder, before they're peeking at her credit card details or passwords to sites? It's time, we believe, that the police were brought in.

The situation is made a lot more complex by the fact that the laptop is actually owned by the BNP but we're assured that, while the hardware and software (assuming it's legal) belongs to the party, the data does not unless it directly and exclusively relates to the party's business. Yet another complication is caused by the manner in which the computer was taken. Was this theft or what?

However the email was obtained and whether or not that action was legal is probably beside the point at the moment. Graham and the others who have been expelled from the party have the right to appeal against that decision - a right that, as far as I recall, John Tyndall, the party's founder, exercised successfully and at great expense to the BNP. The right still exists in law and once they have announced (which they have) that they intend to exercise that right, the whole matter becomes sub judice and any release of new information - such as the contents of private emails - would be likely to lead to a successful judicial review as the case has clearly been contaminated.

Presumably Darby, advised as he is by the BNP's bonkers legal-beagle Lee Barnes, knows all this and simply doesn't care because what is of prime importance to the party right now is to regain some credibility in the eyes of the membership before any more of them walk out in disgust. One of these attempts to mollify the membership seems to be to ask the bomber and Griffin's right-hand man (yes, still) Tony Lecomber to post a conciliatory note on the Green Arrow blog. As Lecomber was almost as universally-despised as Mark Collett, the cause of all this fuss, it seems bizarre that he should have been used in this way.

Even odder, is that Nick Griffin hasn't appealed for calm - or indeed, for anything else. Perhaps he realises that if he was to stick his oar in, he would only make a bad situation even worse.

Without prejudice then, here is the content of Graham's email and the response she has posted on the Enough is Enough site.

Graham's email (Dec 4th) to Steve Blake as printed on Simon Darby's blog.

I think you are doing ok and the right thing. Don’t worry this stays private. We are forced to do stuff at moment. Ive been handing out wrong amended bank statements for my region to make sure that hannam gets the flak. On another note please let me have the letter asap.

Sadie Graham's response.

An email that I sent from my personal email account to Steve Blake on the 4th December can be explained perfectly legitimately and can be substantiated by any of the East Midlands officials who attended the East Midlands Regional Council Meeting on the Thursday 29th November.

I requested from Dave Hannam, as I always do before a regional meeting, a full update of statements for every unit in the region. He sent them through to me about two hours before the meeting so I printed them out and took them along to the regional meeting. There they were handed out to each of the officials. As usual at the regional meeting there was an outburst of complaints from officials who upon reading their statements realise the glaring errors within them. These errors are often ones that were highlighted previously and they have already brought to the attention of Dave Hannam via email. An example was a £200 donation banked by Broxtowe on the 20th April that was to be transferred into the Ashfield account immediatley. Yet again on the November statement it had not been done despite numerous emails from myself to Dave about this. Along with this was complaints from East Lindsey who had not had the £160 banked on the 5th September credited to their account. There were many other complaints which I later relayed to Dave Hannam in an email sometime after the meeting. Some days later I received an email back from Dave along with a few supposedly amended statements. I took a look at them and could see straight away that the errors had not been done. Rather than yet again telling Dave that the errors were still there I just sent them out to the fundholders in the hope that they themselves would take it upon themselves to complain directly to Dave. At this time I already felt that Dave was making it extremely difficult for me to work with him and was refusing to answer many of my emails. I thought that the local officials would have better luck if they contacted him directly.

This is the truth behind this email and anyone was had ever been a fundholder or local organiser will know first hand the difficulty in getting accurate accounts. All East Midlands officials will be able to back this up as they have been receiving bank statements at every regional council meeting and it is clear to see that none of them have been tampered with by me or anyone else. This is just another pathetic cover-up for blatant incompetence. I told Steve Blake this in an email because I was sick of always covering up treasury errors and I was now just letting people see them for themselves.