BNP chief leads Mr Monkey protest at town hall

British National party leader Nick Griffin, left, leads a protest at South Shields Town Hall

The leader of the British National Party (BNP) was in South Tyneside yesterday to make a town hall protest over taxpayers’ cash being used to unmask a mystery blogger.

The Mr Monkey blog has made vile and malicious comments about councillors, South Tyneside Council officers, and other figures in the borough, which led to landmark proceedings forcing social network giant Twitter to hand over personal information – including that of Coun Ahmed Khan.

Council chiefs are insisting less than £75,000 was used to fund the fight, and plaintiffs have said that money would be paid back from any proceeds of libel action. But Nick Griffin and about 30 members of his party – one dressed in a monkey costume – were on the steps of South Shields Town Hall claiming that figure was likely to be £250,000.

Mr Griffin also made allegations about the Shields Gazette, claiming the paper had not covered the issue in depth – despite a number of front-page stories. Mr Griffin, who was in the region for a meeting, said: “I’m here today to let the South Tyneside public know exactly how their money is being spent. The council cannot sue for libel, and instead have put their legal action in the names of councillors and an employee. It’s a waste of the taxpayers’ cash, and everyone should be aware of this.

“The support we have received while standing here has been very positive.” Police were present at the demonstration, which lasted about 30 minutes, and one man was arrested for a public order offence after throwing an egg at a BNP member. The 42-year-old was later released with no further action.

However, not all passers-by realised the stunt was in connection with the online blog. A 28-year-old man said: “To be honest, I saw the BNP and then saw a man in a monkey suit. I just assumed they were being derogatory towards certain races. It wasn’t until I stood for a good few minutes and listened to what Griffin was saying that I realised it was connected to the blog, which I admit I don’t know that much about, but had heard of. I guess in a way I do see what they’re trying to achieve, because I do think it was a waste of cash, which could be spent on more worthy things. But then it’s also wrong that some people had to put up with awful things being published about themselves. It’s a tricky one.”

Gazette editor John Szymanski said: “The Gazette has continued to inform the South Tyneside public about the Monkey blog and efforts to unmask its author. We have carried in-depth and extensive coverage both in the newspaper and online about the fight to stop this blog in its tracks.

“This ludicrous publicity stunt by the BNP shows what a clearly ill-informed and misguided party it really is. Thankfully, the BNP holds little sway in South Tyneside and has very little influence with its nonsensical claims and extremist rantings.”

A police spokesman said: “Police in South Tyneside were informed about a protest and carried out the role of monitoring the situation to ensure all parties involved behaved in a lawful manner. As expected, the event was peaceful and passed smoothly.”

South Tyneside Council declined to comment.

The Shields Gazette

Theme park claim anger

A school governor has been criticised for comparing a concentration camp with a theme park.

Ken Booth, a parent governor of Hawthorn Primary School, Elswick Road, Newcastle, and Tyneside organiser of the British National Party, made the claim when asked about school trips to Auschwitz. Mr Booth, a school governor for four years, said he believed there was too much focus on Auschwitz and too little on other areas savaged by war.

He said schools should spend on books and equipment instead of educational trips to the death camp. Mr Booth, who says his own father suffered at Belsen concentration camp, said: “No-one is comparing Disneyland to Auschwitz but we are talking about how it has become more akin to a theme park.

“Everyone agrees atrocities took place. But to over promote one facet perpetually gives the impression that some one entity has the franchise on self-pity and suffering and all the other casualties of the war were less significant. Why can’t we all just remember all of the war dead on our normal Remembrance Sunday? Money could go to better things like books and equipment. It has started to be run as a theme park and promoted as such.”

But one St Mary’s Roman Catholic Comprehensive school pupil, Brendan Shepherd, 16, went to Auschwitz in October and said he thought it was an experience pupils should be able to have.

He said: “It was a good thing to do and helped me learn more about what went on. I didn’t have an image before but now it will stay with me.”

Andy Roberts, chair of Hawthorn school governors, said: “Mr Booth has made these comments as an individual and his views should be in no way be seen to reflect the views of the school governing body or the school and its staff. The head and I utterly distance ourselves from them.’’

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