EDL splinter groups may target public sector strikers, unions warn

An EDL rally in London in August. Photograph: Mike Kemp/In Pictures/Corbis

EDL groups are broadening out their attacks to focus on leftwing organisations

Britain's biggest unions are warning of a threat of violence by far-right groups during national strike action this month, amid concern that fascist elements are increasingly intent on targeting striking public sector workers.

Unite, Unison and the TUC said they were taking the prospect of disruption by far-right supporters seriously, and had begun to liaise with police to assess any risk to pickets or those on protest marches. The development follows signs that splinter groups from the English Defence League are broadening their campaign from targeting Muslims to trade unionists and socialist organisations. Members of the EDL have recently been involved in attacks on anti-racist and anti-cuts protesters, as well as attempting to target the Occupy movement which has camped outside St Paul's Cathedral.

More than two million workers are expected to walk out on 30 November during a day of protest against public sector pension changes.

Dave Prentis, general secretary of Unison, the country's main public sector trade union, said: "We take any threat to our members' health and safety very seriously. As a matter of course, ahead of a major day of action, we work with the police to assess risks, and our many stewards work hard to keep people safe. The far right's latest attempt to stir up hate and fear is a disgrace."

Rob Johnston, the Midlands regional secretary for the TUC, said: "There is a concern, a general wariness, that the EDL are very active. There have been attacks on trade unionists. We need to put our heads together and think about how we deal with it."

Nine days ago an EDL faction attempted to attack the north-west headquarters of Unite, the UK's biggest trade union. Online messages from the EDL in Merseyside stated they were "patrolling for leftys [sic]". Those they finally identified turned out to be former council workers protesting after they lost their jobs when a contractor went bust. A march of female asylum seekers has also been recently targeted by EDL supporters in the city.

One EDL splinter group, the Infidels, has stated that it considers any leftwing or anti-cuts activists fair game. A north-east wing of the Infidels was recently blamed for attacking an Occupy Newcastle camp in which one protester was taken to hospital and others injured. A statement from the leader of the Infidels faction, John "Snowy" Shaw, states: "We have decided to put all our efforts into opposing everything you do regardless of the issue at hand, it's your organisations we oppose." He adds: "Every event you hold will be a potential target along with your meetings, fund raisers and social events."

On the same day as the Liverpool attack, police arrested 179 EDL members after intelligence they were planning to attack Occupy protesters camped outside St Paul's Cathedral. A Facebook page carried comments discussing attacking "lefties" at St Paul's and included death threats from one supporter.

Dr Matthew Goodwin, extremism expert and political lecturer at the University of Nottingham, said the far right in the UK was becoming increasingly confrontational. "Historically, trade unionists and the far right have been fiercely opposed to one another," he said. "Trade unionists view the modern far right as a continuation of interwar fascism, and so support anti-fascist campaigns and groups. Meanwhile, far-right extremists tend to view trade unionists as promoting multiculturalism and political correctness. While these disputes are ideological, they have often become incredibly personal.

"Over the past three years, the far right in Britain has become increasingly confrontational and provocative."

Bill Adams, TUC regional secretary of Yorkshire, said he was aware of a new far-right presence in his region – 300 members of the North East Infidels recently protested in Leeds city centre – and had been advised by police to avoid antagonising the far right. "They have said to watch what I say about the EDL, they have some info that they have my details." Last year prominent TUC member Alec McFadden was placed under police protection after threats from the Merseyside branch of the EDL who doctored a placard he was carrying criticising coalition cuts to make it read as if it were protesting against homecoming British troops.

Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said the union movement would not be cowed by a group whose only concern was "spreading fear" instead of advancing the rights of working people. "Trade unionists stand against everything the EDL stands for," he said. "Trade unionists have fought long and hard for a fairer society, one with respect at its core. Ultra-rightwing groups care about nothing other than stoking hatred, which is why they have no place in our communities."

Other incidents this year that suggest that the EDL and its spin-offs are adopting an increasingly anti-leftwing agenda include attacks at anti-racist meetings in Brighton and Leeds and during a Labour party event held in Barking, east London, in May.

Observer

Cable Street memories: The day that every horse went down

Sir Oswald Mosley reviews his ‘troops’ before the
Cable Street stand-off, at which the fascists were defeated

For Cable Street veteran, Michael Sherbourne, the famous battle against the fascists in Whitechapel, 75 years ago next Tuesday, was a foregone conclusion.

"It was a deliberate provocation. We knew we were going to stop them."

The 94-year-old, who fought in Israel in 1948 and campaigned for Soviet Jews, doesn't consider his story of that October day to be unusual. "Every young Jew in London was there. I was 19 - to say that I was there is nothing special."

Few veterans of the Battle of Cable Street are still alive to recall the day when Jews, trade unionists, and Communists barricaded Whitechapel against the police-protected march of Sir Oswald Mosley's "blackshirts", forcing them out of the East End. This Sunday, members of Jewish, Socialist and Bengali groups will march from Aldgate to a rally in Cable Street to mark the anniversary. Speakers include members of the TUC, anti-racism group Searchlight, Labour councillors and original Cable Street participants.

Writer David Rosenberg, of the Jewish Socialists' Group, is one of the organisers and author of a book on Jewish responses to fascism in the 1930s. "I've been involved in anti-fascist activities for 25 years and demonstrated against the National Front as a teenager," he said. "I keep hearing new things all the time about what happened. But there are very few still able to remember it personally, which is why it is still important. The issues haven't gone away; there's still the BNP and the EDL."

One of the speakers at the rally will be Max Levitas, 96, a Jewish East Ender and former Communist councillor in Tower Hamlets. He was arrested in 1934 for daubing anti-fascist slogans on Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square, against a Mosley-organised rally in Hyde Park.

He said: "What was happening in Germany made us determined that fascism should not take control in this country. On the day in 1936 when we heard they intended to come up Cable Street, we started to build barricades with rubbish and furniture. I was a runner, passing messages to the leadership. It went on for hours, until we heard the march was banned by the Home Secretary. You should have been there to hear the cry, and see people jumping and shouting in joy. People who had never drunk beer in their lives, drank a glass of beer. We had won."

But he added: "We had asked the Board of Deputies to represent us to the government, asking them to ban the march. And they wouldn't. They said all the Jewish people should stay at home. We disagreed entirely. The more you stay at home, the stronger they get."

Mr Sherbourne and his brother were caught up in different parts of the protest. "We were given brown paper bags, with about 100 glass marbles in each. We waited, and saw the police get on horseback, preparing to charge. As they did, we threw the marbles along the ground. And every horse went down."

His brother Cyril, now 88, watched the struggle unfold. "We heard choruses of 'they shall not pass' all day. If they had got through, it would have been a massacre. It was a great turning point."

Mr Levitas felt that today's East End has learnt from the Battle of Cable Street about standing up to racism, most recently opposing the English Defence League march through Tower Hamlets.

"The majority of people in this country are against racism. But you have to educate them to speak out, and in a united fashion."

Jewish Chronicle

Cable Street 75

On 4 October 1936 London’s East End took to the streets to stop Oswald Mosley’s fascist Blackshirts from marching through its then largely Jewish districts. Communists, socialists and trade unionists led one of the largest – and most successful – mobilisations of Britain’s working class ever to have taken place. The fascists came to the area to divide Jews and non-Jews but were faced with a community that united against the threat.

Come and join the march and rally to remember that historic victory and to send a powerful message of unity against the forces of fascism, racism and antisemitism today!

Assemble:
11.30am Aldgate East (junction of Braham Street and Leman Street)

Rally:
1.00pm St Georges in the East Park (Cable Street)



Speakers
We are pleased to announce our first list of speakers for the event:
Max Levitas Battle of Cable Street Veteran
Frances O'Grady Deputy General Secretary TUC
Matthew Collins Searchlight
Robert Griffiths General Secretary Communist Party
Bob Crow General Secretary RMT
Kosru Uddin Labour Councillor
Julie Begum Swadhinata Trust
David Rosenberg Jewish Socialists' Group
Gail Cartmail Assistant General Secretary UNITE
Diana Holland Assistant General Secretary UNITE
Akik Rahman Altab Ali Memorial Foundation

For a full list of speakers and supporting organisations visit www.cablestreet75.org.uk

Five arrests during Cambridge EDL and anti-fascist marches

Five people were arrested after scuffles broke out as the English Defence League (EDL) and anti-fascists marched in Cambridge.

The number of people marching with United Against Fascism (UAF) and the TUC swelled from about 300 to 1,000 during the day, police said. About 350 people were on the EDL march, according to police.

More than 650 officers from six forces took part in the policing operation. Police said it was largely peaceful.

Those arrested were: a 36-year-old man from Norwich, on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly; a 48-year-old man from Colchester, Essex, on suspicion of a public order offence; a man aged 27 from Ely, Cambridgeshire, on suspicion of a public order offence; an 18-year-old man from Peterborough on suspicion of affray; and a man aged 28 from Cambridge, arrested on suspicion of a racially-aggravated public order offence.

Insp Robin Sissons said: "In the end it was a largely peaceful protest with only minor disorder and some minor disruption to residents, visitors and businesses in the city."

BBC

Borough Council wants EDL march in Luton banned

Luton Borough Council has written to the home secretary asking her to ban a proposed march by the English Defence League (EDL) in the town next month. The EDL, which says it opposes Islamic extremism, wants to march through Luton on 5 February.

The council also wants Theresa May to extend the banning order to any proposed counter protests by groups such as Unite Against Fascism. In a statement the council said there was a real risk of disorder.

"We recognise that a banning order on the EDL and counter demonstrators would not prohibit them from holding a static demonstration," the statement said. "However a march is, in our opinion, provocative and not conducive to the public good at this time and would risk serious disorder."

The council said that any march proposed by the EDL would need to travel through residential areas from the railway station and other access points into the town.

"The presence of high numbers of demonstrators supporting rival and diametrically opposing views is not conducive to the wellbeing of our community and has the potential to spark tensions and community impacts which as a council we have worked so hard to avoid in recent years," the statement went on to say.

The EDL, Unite Against Fascism and the TUC demonstrated in Peterborough on 11 December. A 28-year-old was arrested and bailed in relation to those protest marches.

BBC

Newcastle protests defy the racist EDL

At least 1000 trade unionists, LGBT activists, Muslims, anti-war campaigners, students and others turned out on the streets of Newcastle [Saturday] to succesfully counter the racist English Defence League (EDL) march

The 600-strong EDL march was kept to its Bigg Market march route through pressure from a 600-strong Unite Against Fascism (UAF) counter-march and a 100-plus mobilisation by North East Against Racism (NEAR). It was denied control of Grey's Monument (commonly regarded as the centre of Newcastle) by an anti-racist rally jointly organized by the TUC and Hope not Hate, which attracted at least a further 400 people.

The TUC, UAF and NEAR events were constituted mostly by local anti-racists. In contrast the EDL, a far right marching organization consisting of football hooligans and racists, had bussed in most of its marchers from around the country to allegedly campaign against “the spread of Islam and Islamic extremism”. I overheard a member of its 'Gateshead Division' stating to his friend “Its like a match day”.

The UAF march began at St James Park, home of Newcastle United, and proceeded to move through Newcastle city centre to passionate chants of “EDL, Off our Streets” and “When the EDL spread racist lies, We fight back and organize”.

Its climax was a rally at Newgate street, right next to the EDL march route, where UAF demonstrators cheered speeches from UAF, NUT, RMT and trades council speakers.

As Weyman Bennett, joint secretary of UAF, said, “we have trade unionists on our side who have a history of protecting workers rights. Who do the EDL have? Football hooligans, good at nothing but spreading hatred and violence”.

Josh and Rose, from near Berwick-upon-Tweed, caught the bus to attend the UAF demonstration and commented that it was “great to see this many people demonstrating against the EDL today” and said that they wanted to “see more people challenging racist views in their everyday lives”.

A group of local LGBT activists said the various counter marches, when added up, had resulted in a “good turnout ” of anti-racists, though one said it was "a shame about the separations between them.”

The marches all passed off peacefully, thanks in part to high quality stewarding by UAF and NEAR members. Police kept the anti-racists and EDL members separated at all times, without resorting to using the controversial 'kettling' tactics that provoked widespread condemnation on a number of previous occasions.

Counterfire

Celebrate and defend multicultural Leeds this Saturday: protest against the racist EDL

Assemble 12 noon, Saturday 31 October
Leeds Art Gallery, The Headrow, Leeds LS1 3AA

Anti-racists, politicians, faith leaders, trade unions and community leaders and have signed the statement opposing the EDL marching in Leeds and calling for unity to celebrate and defend multicultural Leeds. The statement reads:

"We the undersigned strongly oppose plans by the 'English Defence League' - a group linked to the fascist BNP - to demonstrate in Leeds city centre.

"The EDL is a racist group dedicated to attacking Asian people and Muslims. Islamophobia - bigotry against Muslims - is as unacceptable as any other form of racism. Its aim is to divide us by making scapegoats of one community, just as the Nazis did with the Jews in the 1930s.

"Today they threaten the mosque, tomorrow it could be a synagogue, temple or church. Today they threaten Muslims, tomorrow it could be Jewish people, Hindus, Sikhs, black people, lesbians & gay men, travellers or Eastern Europeans.

"There is no place for Nazis, racists or the BNP in Leeds multi-racial, multi-cultural and multi-religious community. We call on the Home Secretary and the police to ban the EDL action. We also urge people to attend the peaceful 'Celebrate and defend multicultural Leeds' rally to be held outside the Art Gallery on Saturday 31st October at midday."

Organisations backing the statement include Yorkshire & Humberside TUC, Yorkshire & Humberside UCU, Leeds TUC and Yorkshire & Humberside UAF.

UAF

Stop this racist charade

Some idiots in the Home Office might be fooled by the English Defence League but the racist agenda of the hooligan gang is becoming more obvious by the day.

At the end of last week the EDL got hold of an email that had been widely circulated by the North West TUC advertising a meeting of trade unions to discuss the planned EDL protest for Manchester City Centre next Saturday. The EDL response was illuminating. The EDL administrator – who publicly claims not to be racist – riled against “building mosques”, “uncontrolled immigration” and the “multicultural hell hole of a country” Britain had become.

The racist sentiments were also evident in the latest EDL posting to their members, where the woman who has been liaising with police, said that many of their followers were planning to wear masks during the protest in opposition to the burka.

Despite the glaring racist agenda of the EDL the Home Office continue to bury its head in the sand. It refuses to even classify the group as right wing and says that they are not linked to hooligans. If trouble erupts on Saturday the EDL, media and the police may be quick to blame anti-fascists and others. However, the Home Office’s refusal to accept that the EDL is nothing more than a crude racist attempt to whip up hatred and violence should make them at least culpable.

Hope not hate

We should be exposing and ridiculing the BNP, not banning it

Much fuss has been made about whether we should ban the British National Party from appearing on Question Time and the Trades Union Congress now wants to bar anyone who is a member of the party from working in the public sector.

The party is undoubtedly racist, homophobic and sexist but the TUC's proposal is deeply disturbing. Firstly it suggests that anyone holding undesirable or unpleasant views should be denied access to the right to work. Most of us don't particularly want to work next to someone who thinks some people should be "sent home" but almost as damaging to democracy is the idea of censuring unpopular or unpleasant political views.

Secondly, instead of challenging these views head-on, it means we push them (and their advocates) out of sight. It smacks of "If we close our eyes, it'll go away." It also suggests we don't have enough conviction in our own views, as if these are not strong enough to stand up against hate.

Let's look at some of the weirder views held by the party: legal director Lee Barnes has a particular hatred of flat-chested women and describes those with dwarfism as "pitiful products of the flaws in nature".

Or what about the disgusting views of Nick Eriksen, the BNP candidate who said women would be more upset if their handbag was stolen then if they were raped. This charming specimen added that some women were "like gongs. They need to be struck regularly". Another example is the party's bizarre grasp of British history, something any A-level history student should be able to dismantle quite easily.

All these examples show that letting them have their say is the way forward. Let the BNP speak, sprout nonsense, tie itself up in semantic knots. To shy away from rubbishing such confused, unpleasant and sometimes downright mad sentiments is ridiculous and even cowardly. You can't stop people from voting in a certain way, but you can at least give extremist parties such as this ample rope to hang themselves and expose their views for what they really are.

People often say that it is useless to attempt to engage the party in rational debate but this is a strange way of thinking. Of course general opinion on issues such as immigration varies, but most of us do not want "voluntary repatriation" of people with dark skin or any other of the party's hateful policies and have quite enough arguments to throw back. In fact, many of these policies are so irrational, a brief gust of logical debate should blow them away.

Mainstream politicians need to stop creating a legend of fear around the BNP. It's unnecessary. This is not a powerful party by any means. It is facing a costly court battle over its membership policies, a fight which has the potential to close it down. In addition, it is unlikely to be hiring the best political minds in the business, due to the stigma of association and the issue of money.

Get rid of 'no platform' and forget trying to sack BNP members. Hell, let them sit next to David Dimbleby if needs be. Instead of pretending they're not there and allowing them a kind of perverse matyrdom, seek them out, challenge them and drown out their voices in a sea of reasoned, logical debate.

Pink News

BNP refutes allegations of homophobia and sexism as unions vote to ban its members

The British National Party has denied being homophobic and sexist, following a Trades Union Congress decision to recognise it as such

Delegates at the TUC's annual conference also decided to campaign for a ban on BNP members working in the public sector in professions such as teaching and the civil service.

The party bars black and Asian people from becoming members, although it is currently debating whether to lift this ban in the face of costly legal action. Along with its views on race, the party also believes homosexuality should be kept behind closed doors and should not be "promoted".

Last weekend, the TUC annual conference approved a motion which called for the encouragement of affiliate groups to point out that the BNP is "homophobic and sexist" in any literature about the party. It also pledged to work with Unite Against Fascism, Searchlight and other organisations to "expose BNP homophobia and sexism".

Speaking to PinkNews.co.uk, BNP spokesman Simon Darby denied the party was anti-gay. He said: "That's not true, we're not homophobic. We couldn't care less about people's sexuality, it's a private matter. If people are over 18 years old it's a private matter what they get up to in their bedrooms. But young children should not be exposed to [teaching about] homosexuality. We don't think it's something that five-year-olds should learn about it, which they currently are."

On the accusations of sexism, Darby said: "We do believe in the concept of being a good mother and although young women are encouraged to go and have careers, they are not encouraged to be good mothers. I suppose the one thing where people could accuse us of sexism is that we don't really agree with sending women into the frontlines of battle. It's not a sign of a civilised society when you have women fighting your wars."

Darby also set out the party's views on gay adoption and the legal recognition of gay relationships. On gay adoption, he said: "We believe we have natural views, rather than conservative ones, on parenting. We believe a healthy childhood should have a mother and a father. He added: "There is scope for longstanding [gay] partners to be recognised, so long as it doesn't undermine the sanctity of marriage."

Darby also claimed that activists such as Peter Tatchell were doing gays "a great disservice" and said the gay community was more concerned about the "spread of Islam" than BNP policies.

In May, PinkNews.co.uk exclusively reported that the BNP had drawn up a list of politicians from all three main parties describing a number of gay MPs as "buggers" and "criminals", grouping them with convicted paedophiles.

Pink News

BNP beg: Show us how to kill

The BNP has tried to hire a martial arts expert to train its members in deadly close combat fighting

The far-right party approached former US Navy Seal Tim Larkin to teach “ultimate violence” – including how to kill with a single punch. Larkin – who uses the slogan “Fight to kill, fight to survive” – spurned the offer after learning of the BNP’s racist politics.

Anti-fascist campaigners Searchlight have blasted the party’s approach. A spokesman said: “The BNP claim to be a legitimate political party but what legitimate political organisation requires the services of a man who can kill with one punch? This shows the BNP’s policies of division and hate are as strong as ever.”

Larkin, who has been touring Britain this month, said: “While multiculturalism and uncontrolled immigration has indeed changed the nature of street crime in the UK to now involve more sharp-edged weapons, my training is for everyone. All Britons need it.”

His spokesman added: “Tim didn’t think private training with the BNP was appropriate considering their politics. He doesn’t want to be seen in that light. BNP members are welcome individually but not as an organisation.”

In another blow for the BNP, the Trade Union Congress in Liverpool yesterday called for a ban on its members working in schools, hospitals and other public services. BNP members are already banned from the police and Prison Service.

Julian Chapman, president of teachers’ union NASUWT said: “The policies of the BNP run completely counter to the values and ethos of public services which are about tolerance, inclusion, social justice and community cohesion.”

Nick Kusak, of the Professional Footballers’ Association, added: “We cannot allow the extremists and the right to seize the initiative and take us back to the Dark Ages.”

Star

Not in our name

The fight against racism and fascism was firmly on the agenda as the TUC kicked off its annual conference in Liverpool yesterday. A debate on the BNP was followed by a Not in our name vigil involving all delegates.

The conference was also addressed by Gee Walker, mother of murdered Liverpool teenager Anthony Walker. In a deeply moving speech, she told the conference:

"My son and what happened to him is the result of extreme racism. I know that if he was white he would still be alive today. When hate destroyed my son's dream, our community in Liverpool, in the UK and indeed the world was outraged and shocked. We were left devastated and we still are. The positives are that, at that time, we all embraced cohesion and diversity in all its forms. It was a time when race, religion and class and even our own football teams, Everton and Liverpool, sat side by side comforting each other at Anthony's funeral. Unfortunately, that was short-lived and already a lot seems to have forgotten my Anthony already and they have resorted back to their own comfort zones."

Gee's speech should be a timely reminder of the pressing need to combat racism and fascism wherever it raises its head. And with the election of two BNP MEPs the trade union movement gave its committment to do everything in its power to challenge hatred and racism in the workplace and wider community.

HOPE not hate

Ban BNP members from working in public sector, say unions

TUC calls for urgent talks with the government about extending the current ban on BNP members working in the police and prison services

Unions today called for a ban on members of far right parties such as the BNP working in the public sector. The call to bar British National party members from working in public services came as unions vowed to mobilise against the threat of fascism.

Delegates at the TUC conference in Liverpool unanimously backed the call for urgent talks with the government about extending the current ban on BNP members working in the police and prison services.

Janice Godrich, deputy general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union, said the "BNP's message of hate and fear" stood in stark contrast to the values of equality and access for all on which public services were based.

"It is not acceptable that you can be a fascist at weekends, yet work between Monday and Friday accessing confidential information of members of the public," she said.

Tim Wilson, of the National Association of Probation Officers, said it was "wrong" that BNP members could work in the profession.

Colin Moses, president of the Prison Officers Association, rounded on the BBC for considering inviting the BNP leader, Nick Griffin, on to its Question Time programme, a view echoed by the National Union of Journalists.

NUJ delegate Tim Lezard challenged the claim that the broadcaster was duty bound to include the BNP in political programmes. "The BBC says they have to invite the BNP onto Question Time. No they don't," he said.

Godrich blamed mainstream parties for letting down voters and allowing the BNP to prosper at the European parliament, where they won two seats for the first time.

"Mainstream parties need to urgently address the serious gaps in the policies that allow the BNP and far right to exploit division to suit their own ends," she said.

Guardian

March against Red, White and Blue festival could involve more than 1,000

Anti-BNP groups expect more than 1,000 people from across the country to take part in a rally and march against the party's Red, White and Blue festival.

The event is due to be held on fields off Codnor-Denby Lane, Denby, for the third consecutive year, on the weekend of August 14, 15 and 16. Word of the protest plans came as the home of Alan Warner – owner of the fields where the festival is held – was daubed with graffiti.

Last year, more than 400 anti-BNP protesters took part in a peaceful rally and protest march, organised in Codnor. But, away from the march, 36 anti-BNP campaigners were arrested outside the festival site after clashes with police.

The Trade Union Congress, Unite Against Fascism, Stop the BNP and Amber Valley Campaign Against Racism and Fascism have now said they will be marching again this year, on Saturday, August 15. Last year, the march went from Codnor Market Place and down Heanor Road to its junction with Codnor-Denby Lane where it was stopped by a police cordon. About 30 protesters were then allowed to go and demonstrate in a designated area near the site's entrance.

This year's route has yet to be confirmed, as negotiations with police are not yet complete. But the groups said they wanted to get as close to the festival site as possible.

Alan Weaver, the TUC's policy and campaigns officer in the East Midlands, said: "We'd like the people in the festival to know they are not welcome in Derbyshire and we reject their politics. It's always difficult to predict how many will come. But I would think between 1,000 and 2,000. Up to 50 coaches would come from as far south as Brighton and as far north as Scotland."

One of the shopkeepers on the route said he would prefer it if the march did not happen. Bill Holmes, owner of Codnor Pet and Aquatics, Market Place, said that during last year's protests, people tore down flags, including the Union Jack, which were on display outside his shop. He said: "I'll stay open. I won't shut for anyone – particularly them. They are a nuisance."

Mr Warner said protesters had already made their mark on his home by painting the words "Dead Nazi" on one of his walls and locking his farm gates shut. The incident happened during the night. Mr Warner was awoken by the driver of a delivery lorry which could not get on to his land. Police said they were investigating the vandalism and that they were also speaking to the protesters about the march route.

Activists are due to meet for a protest and mass picket in Codnor Market Place from 9am on August 15. A rally will be held from 11am followed by the march at noon.

This is Derbyshire

Stop the BNP’s Red White and Blue Festival

Far right tries to hijack dispute

Striking energy workers were last night warned to be vigilant against far right groups looking to hijack their protest.

The TUC issued the advice after evidence came to light that groups such as the British National Party had approached unemployed construction workers protesting against a contract awarded to an Italian firm. But Scottish union representatives insisted the campaign was a fight for jobs rather than an attack on the foreign workers.

Contract workers across the UK are demonstrating against the practice by foreign companies of undercutting British firms by bidding for contracts below agreed prices. The protest originated at the Lindsey Oil Refinery, in North Lincolnshire, on Wednesday after a major contract was awarded to Italian firm IREM, which plans to staff the job with Italian and Portuguese workers.

Some unemployed workers took the opportunity to challenge Prime Minister Gordon Brown's 2007 promise of "British jobs for British workers".

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber spoke out against attempts to hijack the action, after evidence emerged that activists from the BNP and other far-right factions attempted to influence strikers around the country. He said: "Unions are clear that the anger should be directed at employers, not the Italian workers. No doubt some of the more distasteful elements in our towns and cities will try to use the fears of workers to stir up hatred and xenophobia.

"But I am confident that union members will direct their anger at the employers who have caused this dispute with their apparent attempt to undercut the wages, conditions and union representation of existing staff."

Bobby Buirds is regional officer for Unite trade union in Grangemouth, where some workers have staged wildcat strikes in sympathy with the Lindsey workers. He said: "The argument is not against foreign workers, it's against foreign companies discriminating against British labour. This is a fight for work. It is not a racist argument at all."

Writing on the BNP website, Nick Griffin said that Unite's claims that this was not a racist issue were "ridiculous".

The Scotsman

Sticky: Hope not Hate organising meeting

HOPE not Hate
London organising meeting
6pm Monday February 25th
TUC Congress House, Russell Street, London

Just a quick reminder that the next London Hope not Hate organising meeting is being held at 6pm on 25 February at the TUC headquarters at Congress House, Russell Street. A map is available by clicking here.

With the election only 11 weeks away it is vital we begin to organise. Over the next few months Searchlight and its partners are organising a rolling programme of activity.

We are also pleased to announce the support of the Daily Mirror newspaper. The Mirror is producing 750,000 copies of a special London edition and these will be distributed both within the main newspaper but also at dozens of activities over our Weekend of Hope (14-16 March). The final week of the campaign will see the Hope not Hate bus in the capital.

We hope you can make the meeting. The nearest tube stations are Tottenham Court Road and Holborn.

BNP ballerina provokes new storm

English National Ballet's principal dancer angers theatre union with political role

When Simone Clarke, principal dancer of the English National Ballet, admitted she was a member of the British National Party, one of the voices opposing calls for her to be sacked was that of the trade union Equity. Now, however, Clarke has taken a leading role in an organisation with BNP links which has been set up to rival the established trade union movement, including Equity.

The acclaimed ballerina, currently appearing in an ENB production of The Snow Queen, has been elected to the executive of Solidarity, the British Workers' Union. Solidarity's website declares that it was formed as a reaction against 'betrayal' by unions affiliated to the TUC, which it accuses of selling out members by encouraging mass immigration.

Clarke's BNP membership was revealed by the Guardian last December, when she was performing as the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker at the London Coliseum. She was quoted as saying that 'immigration has really got out of hand', even though her partner was a Cuban of Chinese extraction.

Clarke, 37, brings to Solidarity several years of industrial relations experience at the ENB, where she is on a committee that represents dancers' interests. Her new colleagues at Solidarity include Mark Walker, a former BNP election candidate and teacher who has received Solidarity's support after being suspended from his teaching post. Its general secretary is Pat Harrington, a former National Front organiser who was expelled from the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers after applying for membership under a false name. Clarke says in a statement posted on Solidarity's website: 'Last year a newspaper "exposed" my BNP membership. Some politically motivated malcontents tried to have me sacked, hence my interest in a British Workers' Union.'

An Equity spokesman said: 'Equity's position has always been that membership is not based on an individual's political persuasion. But I would express my disappointment that a member of a union would take a part in an organisation that was being critical of a TUC-affiliated union, and by extension Equity.'

Gerry Morrissey, general secretary of the entertainment union Bectu, described Solidarity as 'a front' for the BNP, a charge the organisation denies. Sarah Veale, head of equality and employment rights at the TUC, said it was impossible for someone who was a BNP member to reconcile their beliefs with membership of a TUC-affiliated union. She welcomed legislation introduced last week allowing unions to expel individuals who are also members of far-right organisations.BNP leader Nick Griffin wrote recently in his blog that Clarke spoke at a party meeting in Birmingham. Her BNP link has been a headache for the ENB, but its managing director, Craig Hassall, has rebuffed calls to sack her. The Snow Queen will be performed at the London Coliseum from Tuesday to Sunday.

Harrington yesterday denied that Solidarity was a BNP front, adding that he would expect the union to represent everyone 'regardless of racial background, political background or sexuality'.

Observer

Tribute to victims of Holocaust

Bradford's Lord Mayor joined church and community leaders at a moving and dignified open air ceremony to commemorate the Holocaust.

Tribute was yesterday paid to victims of the atrocity at a ceremony organised by the Bradford Trades Union Council and supported by Hope Not Hate Yorkshire. The event began when up to 50 official guests gathered at the Mechanics Institute in Eccleshill. They made their way to the local Cenotaph for a memorial tribute at noon. Lord Mayor Robin Owens attended, along with Council, community and church representatives.

The commemoration included readings of poetry and memoirs of the Holocaust. The Lord Mayor delivered a reading and the ceremony concluded with a Jewish prayer to victims of the Holocaust.

The event is traditionally held in April but it was postponed this year.

October 7, 1944 was the date prisoners at the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp in Poland rebelled on their way to the gas chambers. The uprising led to the Gestapo murdering almost all of the several hundred prisoners involved.

The Holocaust commemoration has been held in the city since 1995 when an event took place to mark the 50th anniversary of VE Day. It aims to remember all those discriminated against by Fascism. Paul Meszaros, spokesman for the TUC and Hope Not Hate Yorkshire, said it had not yet been decided which month to hold next year's commemoration.

"It is an extremely important event for the Trades Union movement in Bradford and in Yorkshire. We find ourselves on the front line in the struggle against Fascism today and it is very important that we learn the lessons about where intolerance and racism can lead to," he said.

Chairman of Bradford Unison, Brian Forster, said: "Unison is delighted to support this event. We need to remember the lessons of the past and make sure that this can never happen again."

Bradford Telegraph and Argus

No solidarity with the BNP

People may have read recent events surrounding action being taken by Sunnydale Community College in Shildon, County Durham. The action relates to a teacher who is suspended for "misuse of technical equipment" while at school.

The individual concerned is a member of the far right, racist British National Party and the BNP organised an intimidating demonstration outside the school on Monday, effectively preventing the investigatory hearing from taking place. The TUC condemn this as wholly disgraceful, however, it is a clear indication of how the BNP view rational, legal processes where there is a grievance to be resolved. This is the kind of behaviour we could expect from any violent, anti-democratic organisation.

Any independent trade union would not seek to defend someone guilty of racism, but they would respect a process that ensures a fair hearing. The BNP-Solidarity organisation is not an independent trade union, despite describing itself as one, and its actions clearly show no respect for such processes. BNP-Solidarity should not be permitted to represent any individual in any workplace, though it claims it will consider establishing a picket, which it would expect other trade unions not to cross. As BNP-Solidarity is not an independent trade union, merely a front for a racist political party, I would expect all trade unions to in fact be opposed to any actions they take, especially if they include defending racism.

The statements around this issue indicate that the case seems to revolve around the right to be racist - a right that everyone has. However, it is illegal to incite or promote racial hatred. I very much doubt that any decent parent would want individuals expressing racist views anywhere near their children.

A fair hearing will be held, despite the usual BNP intimidation, but whatever the outcome we certainly don't want racists teaching in our schools.

TUC

BNP councillor is facing a backlash

Hundreds of protesters are tonight expected to ratchet up pressure on the West's first and only BNP local councillor. Taxi driver Michael Simpkins won his seat on Corsham town council in Wiltshire last month when no one stood against him. But after the unopposed election the picturesque town has become a cauldron of rows, threats and demonstrations.

The 21-year-old local man leading today's demonstration said he has become the victim of threats - while BNP supporters in the town have complained that Mr Simpkins was elected democratically and the demonstration is being orchestrated by anti-BNP campaigners and union leaders from Bristol and London.

Hundreds of protesters could arrive outside Corsham Town Hall this evening, two hours before the second full council meeting since Cllr Simpkins won his seat. A smaller demo before the first meeting passed off peacefully.

Kyle Thornhill, 21, said: "I'm from Corsham and I'm proud of the fact this is a multi-cultural country. My grandfather was from Barbados but I'm a local. I couldn't believe it when I heard this man won his seat because he was unopposed. We want him either to stand down or have a proper election to see if people support his views or not. It makes me a bit ashamed to be from Corsham if we're the first place in the West to have a BNP councillor. His views are racist and his party is racist - they won't allow people from ethnic minorities join their party, which is blatant racist discrimination," he added.

Mr Thornhill said he has received threats and intimidation for his part in organising the demo, which is also being promoted by anti-BNP groups such as Searchlight and the TUC. Other local councillors who are opposed to the BNP said they too had received threats, but added that hundreds of people in the town supported Mr Thornhill's stance.

Labour district councillor Christine Reid pointed out that three other BNP councillors had to fight elections in the town - and all lost.

But the BNP's presence in Corsham has been growing steadily in recent years. Last year, Cllr Simpkins made headlines after he took his teenage son out of the town's secondary school in protest at his opposition to the school teaching about Islam in the RE curriculum. There was more controversy when the town's cadet troop leader was revealed as a BNP member, and then the party began night-time patrols of the town - claiming it had been asked to by residents and shopkeepers worried at the rise in anti-social behaviour and under-age drinking from some of the town's youth. The patrols, and similar ones in nearby Calne, were slammed by the police as "unacceptable vigilanteism".

Cllr Simpkins yesterday dismissed Mr Thornhill as a "silly young man", and said the protests were being orchestrated by anti-BNP figures from cities like Bristol - many of the protesters would not be locals, he said. "With or without the protest I am going to treat the meeting as normal."

Western Daily Press