Action needed to stop Nick Griffin speaking at BNP rally at Cleveleys

It has been reported that the British National Party's leader Nick Griffin is to attend and speak at a BNP by-election rally to be held at the Frank Townend Centre, Kensington Road, Thornton Cleveleys at 7pm on Tuesday October 13th.

Although the local authority is under no obligation to allow this meeting to go ahead, Wyre Council's chief executive Jim Corry has allowed it, despite the fact that the Centre will be the polling station for the forthcoming Jubilee ward by-election and a rally of this kind at this late stage is inappropriate.

Clearly this meeting needs to be stopped if possible and demonstrated against if not, but first we need to attempt to get it cancelled by appealing to reason. Thus we're asking you all to call the Frank Townsend Centre to complain strongly (but politely), to let them know in no uncertain terms that we find this so-called rally both offensive and divisive for the community.

There doesn't appear to be an email address for the Centre but the phone number is 01253 863369. Jim Corry's number is 01253 891000 and his email address is jcorry@wyrebc.gov.uk.

Assuming the BNP rally is not cancelled, we will have a demonstration outside the building from 6pm on Tuesday October 13th. Bring warm clothes, banners, placards, whistles and as many of your friends as you can. IF the rally is cancelled, we'll let you know immediately.

Details of the location are below.

Frank Townend Community Centre
Kensington Road
Thornton Cleveleys
Lancashire
FY5 1ER

Tel: 01253 863369

There's a decent map here.

Anti-BNP rally ends in tense stand-off

An anti-BNP rally in Lincoln ended in a tense stand-off between protesters and supporters of the far right organisation. Marchers and party supporters faced each other across the Cornhill, just off High Street, during the 30-minute confrontation. Police officers formed a barrier between the two groups, both of which held up flags.

Shocked and bemused onlookers watched the face-off between the two groups at lunchtime on Saturday – the city's busiest day.

BNP supporters held up a St George's Cross flag with the letters BNP daubed across it. In response the marchers chanted anti-BNP slogans including the words "Griffin out" and "when the BNP spreads racist lies we fight back and organise". The 30-minute incident ended peacefully when the group of eight BNP supporters left the scene.

Earlier in the day around 50 rally participants had marched from the University of Lincoln campus, along Guildhall Street and down the city's High Street, stopping at Cornhill to hear speeches.

Afterwards BNP spokesman Simon Darby, who was not in Lincoln on Saturday, said: "The BNP supporters were not sanctioned by us at all. It was just a spontaneous demonstration of support. We have got some people in Lincolnshire and got good votes in the county on June 4. These protestors are marching against the democratic process."

March organiser Nick Parker said: "We want to encourage people to stand up against the BNP and marching is our democratic right to protest. We did expect some sort of BNP presence. They often take photos and that sort of thing. When they unfurled the flag the tension was raised."

Lincolnshire Echo

Everton-Stoke match switched back to original date after BNP scraps rally

• Premier League fixture reverts to 14 March
• Saturday timing 'appropriate' say club

Everton have confirmed their Premier League match against Stoke City has move back to its original date of 14 March after the British National Party scrapped a rally it was planning to hold in Liverpool on the same day.

The Saturday 3pm kick-off had originally been put back 24 hours after club officials were told by Merseyside police to move it because of the BNP demonstration scheduled to take place in the city centre. The police had claimed "operational reasons" meant the two events could not take place at the same time and Everton made efforts to move the game with Stoke.

However, the BNP have decided not to stage the demonstration, leaving the way clear for Everton to play Stoke on the original date of the fixture. Merseyside police have now granted permission for the Everton to host the game on the Saturday.

Everton manager David Moyes has also stated his preference to play the game on the original date because of an FA Cup quarter-final and a visit to Portsmouth being due either side of the Stoke match.

Everton's head of public relations, Ian Ross, said: "Since the game was moved from Saturday to Sunday we have received numerous calls and emails from our supporters disappointed with the decision. We do understand their frustrations and when the police indicated they would permit the game to be played on the Saturday, we felt it was wholly appropriate to return the fixture to its original date.

"This is, of course, not without its problems and there will be some supporters who will be inconvenienced by the changes. We will work with those fans to find suitable solutions and this will include potential reimbursement for travel and accommodation."

Guardian