Excalibur - what's new in the world of crap?

Excalibur - rubbish for all occasions

If there is one thing that the BNP can be relied upon for, it is that it embraces the grotesque in the guise of patriotism, and nowhere is this more apparent than in the catalogue of disasters that is the Excalibur stock list.

For some strange reason (possibly to do with the recent full moon), I found myself perusing the delightful 'What's New' section at the Excalibur site. It was rather like stepping into Harrods - everything was gaudy, overpriced and on many levels deeply offensive. Yet there is a compulsion to go on looking and a feeling akin to that you had when you were a kid and you picked at a scab on your knee. You know it's going to hurt, it's certainly not going to get any better and yet the lure of mingled pain and revulsion is irresistable.

Bizarrely, I expected Excalibur to have made some small concessions to the possibility that non-whites may have suffered a complete mental collapse and joined up after the recent rule change that finally allows them to become members of the party that has been slagging them off and lying about them for years. I was disappointed (though not entirely unexpectedly). The white mug is still there, as is the 'Golly Collection'. And the interminable (and terminally boring) tomes by Arthur Kemp, proving over and over again that the white man is superior in every way to anyone anywhere of any other colour ever, so there.

The white man - in the form of the third-rate market-stall trader Arthur Kemp - is certainly superior in stocking cheap crap for his gullible bargain-hunting customers to waste their hard-earned readies on. Here's an example, and I make no apologies to the companies who produce this rubbish (which, I'm told, are Chinese).

Tudor Educational Colouring Postcards A set of 4 colouring postcards with Tudor images on the front and a postcard design on the reverse with educational information. Each pack is supplied with 6 [very short] pencils.

There's far worse. Last year's Red, White and Blue, the BNP's annual piss-up and golly-burning weekend, was a disaster for the party. Even though it was the tenth RWB and was much publicised in party bulletins, it was poorly attended and, we're told, lost a great deal of money. It was also met by a massive demonstration by anti-fascists. Thus, the party is still trying to flog off all the T-shirts and badges it couldn't find buyers for at the RWB, nearly a year later. Free badge or not - it's still shite.

Special Offer: RWB 2009 T-Shirt and Badge
£10 Size Small Buy both official RWB 2009 T-Shirt and Badge together for just £10 postage and packaging included.

Naturally, the What's New section of Excalibur has books about Spitfires, Vikings, the evils of multi-culturalism - and an idea they nicked from us and our Yearbook - Headline: The Best of BNP News. Cheeky buggers. But tat and tackiness win the day, and this little delight should win a prize for the ghastliest piece of merchandise seen this year.

Union Jack Tie A smart tie containing a pattern made up of Union flags. Eyecatching.

Eye-watering, certainly. The worst is, however, reserved for last. In the interests of, no doubt, welcoming non-whites into the party, the BNP greets them with what can only be construed as a not so subtle warning should Nick Griffin ever become Queen.

Queen Elizabeth I's Blackamoore Expulsion Order It is not widely known that between 1596 and 1601, Queen Elizabeth I ordered the expulsion of all non-indigenous Third World people, whom she called "blackamoores" from Britain. Now, for the first time ever, Excalibur is proud to exclusively offer reproductions of the original expulsion orders...Both original handwritten orders have been reproduced in full on fine quality thick paper, suitable for framing or display.

Why? Why would anyone be 'proud' to offer a reproduction of an expulsion order for blacks, even if it is four hundred years old? Only a complete moron would want to have such a thing framed and hanging in his home and only a party that is unrepentantly and blatantly racist to the core would ever dream of selling such garbage.

What's new in Excalibur's world of crap? Not a lot really - but it certainly is all crap.

National Front lose their flag and are chased out of Ripley

Derby Midlands National Front called a 'day of action' in towns across Derbyshire today. Only five 'warriors' of the 'master race' bothered to turn up in Ripley, only to have their union jack and literature taken off them by antifascists. They were then chased out of town.

Hoping to create a bit of a stir, these fascist scum said they would be selling papers in Heanor, Ripley and Ilkeston. They didn't even bother showing up in Heanor and were then spotted in Ripley town centre. Antifascists marched up to the hapless fuckwits and, without any struggle, they gave up their flag and large stacks of racist literature. The tiny crew then had to leg it out of town followed by taunts and abuse. They made a brief trip to Ilkeston later on but had turned tail and run home before we caught up with them.

The National Front were hoping that this would be a great boost for them but instead it has been a dismal (and very funny) failure. These fascists will be resisted wherever they raise their ugly Aryan heads.

Antifascists at Indymedia

Violence at Nottingham anti-Islam demo

Eleven men have been arrested during violent skirmishes at a demonstration by the English Defence League

A 29-year-old WPC was taken to hospital after she suffered an arm injury while policing a cordon at the protest in Nottingham city centre. All of those arrested during the march by 500 members of the EDL were held for public order offences and no-one was seriously injured, said Nottinghamshire Police. One of those detained needed hospital treatment after he kicked a police dog, which retaliated and bit him.

Police leave was cancelled and Nottinghamshire Police drafted more than 700 officers, many from outside forces, in a £1 million security operation to prevent violence during the rally outside Nottingham Castle.

Many members of the far-right group, which says it stands against Islamic extremism, had their faces covered with scarves and hooded tops as they chanted: "We want our country back." The crowd also sang the National Anthem and football-style chants before gathering next to the city's famous statue of Robin Hood, which had been covered with chip-board to prevent it getting damaged. Other protesters had Union Jacks and St George's flags which they either waved or wrapped around their shoulders, while some held placards which read: "Protect Women, No To Sharia" and "No Surrender".

Extra mounted officers and dog sections were called in to contain members of the EDL, some of whom had been drinking from early in the morning. A police officer barked instructions at the crowd from a helicopter circling overhead, while constables filmed suspected agitators with video cameras.

Councillor Jon Collins, leader of Nottingham City Council, praised the force for its operation, which saw it dealing with a nearby counter-demonstration by Unite Against Fascism. He said: "Anybody watching the EDL could see right from the start that any idea that they were here for a peaceful demonstration was complete nonsense. They were here for a fight and to provoke a fight."

He added: "I am sure their political views are as they state but I am equally sure that they are a pretext for a fight more than anything else."

IoS

Image thanks to fil kaler.

Violence erupts at anti-Islam demo

Violent clashes have erupted between police and members of the English Defence League (EDL) during a city centre protest. Some 500 demonstrators from the EDL, many of whom had been drinking all morning, marched through Nottingham shouting: "We want our country back."

The hundreds of officers, many of whom had been drafted in by Nottinghamshire Police, surrounded the rally. Officers mounted on horses were forced to keep back some of the demonstrators with batons while some constables had dogs to try and contain the violence. Many of the demonstrators had their faces covered with hooded tops and scarves and shouted: "Allah, Allah, who the f*** is Allah?"

Other protesters had Union Jacks and St George's flags which they either waved or wrapped around their shoulders as a police officer barked instructions at the crowd from a helicopter circling overhead. Some of the group waved placards which read: "Protect Women, No To Sharia" and "No Surrender".

The English Defence League claims it is not a racist organisation, has no links to the BNP and is simply standing against the threat of Islamic extremism. A spokesman said they had planned the demo for Saturday as the Second Battalion the Mercian Regiment was holding a homecoming parade in Nottingham following a recent tour of Afghanistan. Adding to the police workload, Unite Against Fascism decided to hold a counter protest.

Press Association

Of thieves, pseudo-patriots and idiots...

The BNP is always happy to steal a good idea when it sees one. The immensely successful and largely-online Obama election campaign in the US was certainly a good idea and, from the constant stream of online communications (or, in the BNP's case, cheap and nasty begging letters) to the appearance of the Obama campaign website itself, the BNP has nabbed the lot, not even bothering to alter it much beyond adding a Churchill here and a porky nazi pretending to be a statesman over there.

The Barack Obama campaign site

Not the Barack Obama campaign site

The BNP is, as it tells us ad nauseum, the most patriotic party in the known universe. Why then, is it unable to tell when our country's flag is upside-down? The picture below is taken from the BNP's cringeworthy tat-selling arm, Excalibur, now run by and for the appalling Arthur Kemp, white supremacist and former South African spook. The BNP's faux-patriotism is, of course, well-known, and is useful only while some voters are still being taken in by it - but the flag has been on the Excalibur site for months and we're starting to wonder if anybody at the BNP even looks at the Excalibur site, let alone buys the crap that's sold on it.

Oops - the BNP does it again...

Or perhaps the flag is upside-down for a reason. An upside-down Union Jack on the high seas indicates a vessel in distress - perhaps one sold via the market stall of a third-rate political party indicates distress that the accounts are long-overdue again and will yet again incur a whacking great fine from the Electoral Commission.

Kaminski admits wearing 'fascist' symbol

Michal KaminskI, the Polish MEP at the centre of the controversy over David Cameron’s European alliances has admitted he wore the symbol of a totalitarion group, claims he had previously denied.

In an interview with the JC, Mr Kaminski was asked if he had ever said he was proud to wear the Chrobry Sword [pictured, left], the symbol of the National Radical Camp (ONR). Formed in 1934, the extreme rightwing, nationalist ONR- Falanga was largely a student movement, but practised violent anti-Semitism including attacks on Jewish students, buildings and businesses, organised boycotts of Jewish businesses and attacks on left wing groups. The group used the medieval symbol of the Mieczyk Chrobrego – the Chrobry sword. Mr KaminskI categorically denied knowledge of wearing the Chrobry sword symbol.

He told the JC: “No, I never wear it. I don’t even know which symbol you are referring to.”

But Mr KaminskI later issued a clarification, where he admitted he had worn the badge. He said: "I did wear the sword, which was used around a millennia ago to crown Polish Kings, on my lapel on occasions. After 1989 it was used as one of the symbols of the Christian National Union and many Conservative politicians would wear it, including politicians now in the Civic Platform.

“In recent years it has been taken as a symbol by the Far Right. Although it is not the same, there are similarities with how the BNP in Britain has taken the Union Jack as their symbol. When I felt the symbol started having this meaning I stopped wearing it and I asked the rest of my party to stop too.”

He added: “I acknowledge that it is possible that my pronunciation was unclear, so I am happy to clarify his position on this controversial symbol."

JC

BNP man fined over racist abuse

A BNP candidate was fined after he admitted racially abusing his German-born next door neighbour in a row over a Union Jack flag. Roy Kevin West, 44, directed a torrent of foul-mouthed abuse at Bernd Kugow during the dispute at his home in Glenmore Grove, Dukinfield.

The court heard West, who had three St George's flags and a Cornish flag in his back garden, attempted to put up a Union Jack by attaching it to Mr Kugow's shed. And when Mr Kugow objected, West flew into a rage, calling his neighbour a 'Kraut *******' and telling him to '**** off back to Krautland' before adding 'kill some more Jews'. West also told his neighbour to 'remember Dunkirk' during the 10-minute tirade.

Unemployed West originally pleaded not guilty to racial abuse but shortly before he was due to take the witness stand for his trial at Tameside Magistrates' Court, he dramatically changed his mind and admitted the charge. His solicitor said West felt under pressure to deny the charge because of his position in the party.

West stood as a BNP candidate in last May's local elections in Dukinfield, polling 734 votes and finishing in second place.

After his arrest last October, the BNP leadership complained that he was the victim of a 'malicious prosecution' and tried to organise a demonstration to protest against the arrest. But the protest was called off when West said he wanted the case to remain a private matter.

The court heard that the dispute with Mr Kugow broke out in August as West was putting flags up in his garden. Mr Kugow, 47, who lives with his British-born partner Susan Holt, said he warned his neighbour that he would remove any flags West put on his shed.

Mr Kugow, a personal assistant, said: "He said if I tried to come in his garden he will kill me. He then tried to attach it to the side of his house and it wouldn't stay up and he lost his cool - then an incredible torrent of the most vile abuse I've ever heard came my way. It made me feel terrible. Nobody should be allowed to get away with something like that in a civilised society."

Susan Holt was sitting on the patio out of sight of West when the incident happened. She said: "I was gobsmacked. I was shocked because you don't expect your neighbour to come out with those sorts of comments. Normal people don't do that and I've never experienced it before and never want to again."

The couple said West's flags were never an issue and the problem only arose when he wanted to attach the new one to their shed. Mr Kugow said his neighbour later apologised over the incident and came to his house with a box of chocolates and a handwritten letter.

He said West sat crying in his kitchen as he admitted his guilt. Kevin Nicholas, defending West, said his client deeply regretted his behaviour and found it hard to face up to his actions which happened at a time when he was under stress and not sleeping very well. Mr Nicholas said: "He felt under pressure because of his position in the BNP party and he has let the party down. He has also let himself down."

Judge Berg told West: "Your behaviour for whatever reason was wholly unacceptable, vile, offensive and distasteful. Behaviour which civilised society cannot be expected to tolerate."

West was fined £125 and ordered to pay £200 costs and a £15 victim's surcharge. He was also ordered to pay Mr Kugow £50 compensation. Speaking after the case, Mr Kugow said he was 'glad it was all over' but declined to comment further.

Manchester Evening News

Can Nick Griffin get anything right?

Oops...

Catching up with the latest BNP news snippets

South Wales Evening Post accepts paid ad from BNP

Journalists at the South Wales Evening Post were incensed today when they found out that the paper had accepted a paid for election advert from the BNP. Protests were lodged with senior management and questions were asked about why it had been accepted. The journalists were told that as it was legal and paid for as part of the election it could not be stopped and that anyone who wanted to complain should take it up with the editor - who returns from a foreign trip today.

Everyone is incensed that we only found out about it only a few hours before publication - close to the end of a shift for many people and after much of the paper had been laid out - and had no effective means of challenging it at that stage. However, journalists are looking at ways of taking this issue up with management, including the idea of taking out an advert from journalists and staff on the paper on election day itself.

In the meantime, we would ask people in Swansea to assist us in showing Post management that accepting adverts from the BNP will not be welcomed by staff at the Post. In particular many journalists rightly feel that it undermines their journalistic credibility and reporting of these issues. It will certainly lower the standing of the paper in the eyes of many people in Swansea.

As well as the acceptance of the advert can give credibility to the BNP's claim that they are somehow legitimate by standing in elections like any other political party.

Could as many people as possible do the following to assist the journalists in the Post who are campaigning against this advert being placed.

Write a letter to the paper taking up the BNP and arguing against them. Although the paper is no longer taking letters about election issues, enough letters going in could force the paper to print them after the election. email: HaveYourSay@swwmedia.co.uk or to Have Your Say, Evening Post, Adelaide Street, Swansea SA1 1QT

Send letters of protest to the editor Spencer Feeney on spencer.feeney@swwmedia.co.uk or to the Post's address which is Evening Post, Adelaide Street, Swansea SA1 1QT - This can also be done directly by the website. Other senior editorial staff such as the news editor can be emailed via this site as well.

Send copies of any letters of protest to Mike Witchell at witchglen@btinternet.com

The switchboard number is (01792) 510000 and the Swansea newsdesk is (01792) 514606. Their website is www.thisissouthwales.co.uk

UAF

BNP hoists distress signal

BNP members are becoming increasingly dejected at the success of the Hope not Hate campaign. An article on the BNP website by Martin Wingfield, editor of the BNP's newspaper The Voice of Freedom, reveals that in Maryport where he and his wife Tina are standing for election, "Labour have successully [sic] worked all the nursing homes and sheltered housing in the wards for their postal votes and this has probably given them an unassailable lead".

He goes on to warn: "To all those working so hard in preparation for Thursday's big poll, please don't be unrealistically over-optimistic about your results".

Hard work is what it is all about. Where we have distributed our Hope not Hate leaflet, we have had a good reception from voters. Local Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties, and others, who work their wards properly, as Labour has done in Maryport, can defeat the BNP. Thursday – polling day – is nearly here but every hour of campaigning still counts.

The Wingfields demonstrated their pessimism to voters. Their literature stall placed in front of scaffolding in Maryport was adorned with a large Union Flag. It was upside-down. Flying the flag upside down is "lese-majesty", which means insulting the Crown, and is theoretically still a crime in the UK. It can however be flown upside-down as a distress signal.

Hope not hate

BNP man on false firearm charge

A British National Party candidate standing for election to Walsall Council has been charged with possessing an imitation firearm.

Dominic Bugler, 38, of Avon Crescent, Pelsall, appeared at the town's magistrates court on Monday. Mr Bugler is the BNP's candidate in the Pelsall ward for the local elections taking place on Thursday.

He has been remanded in custody to appear at Wolverhampton Crown Court on 8 May. More as (or when) we get it.

BBC