Nick Griffin received more bad news yesterday when Oldham thug Jock Shearer resigned as head of the North West security team and added his name to the rebellion.
Shearer, in case new Searchlight supporters do not know, is a well known Oldham criminal with at least one conviction for drug dealing. He starred in many of the Searchlight's leaflets in 2002 and 2003 which helped undermined the BNP and prevent them from winning any council seats in the town.
So, if anyone thought that the rebels somehow reflected a new clean cut alternative to Griffin and 'Nazi Boy' Collett, they were badly mistaken.
Here is what Shearer had to say to Nick Griffin:
Jock Shearer,
BNP Security Dep,
Senior moderator BNP forum,
Oldham BNP.
Nick/Party Manager,
It`s with great regret that I submit my resignation on the grounds
of sever gross misconduct by senior party officials of the BNP.To enter a members house by frudulant deception is beyond belive,as you know Nick I would have done anything you asked and have after all we dont wear bullet prove vests for nothing.
but I would never enter another members house and steal from them that is not on.and you ordered that Nick to enter a party officials house and steal from them
Would you send Martin to my house Nick and steal from me if I did a blog on
Collete and hannam ?
I beg you Nick get rid of Collete and hannam they have done this party no favours.
You know it and so do many good members do you really believe Sadie is a state asset?
I dont and I know Matt or Kenny arnt.
I have served you for many years Nick long before we had a security Dep,
On the Streets of Oldham,Out side the Britannia pub in Hollinwood when a certain cockney
put his face in, it was me that put myself in there with you.You didnt really know me then Nick but that was the first time I put myself on the line for you and Im glad I did for you were worth every minute of it then.The times Ive stood by your side and felt nothing but pride with reds screaming and coppers snarling and government stitch ups
and all the rest of the crap that comes with this game.
Not now Nick you have lost my respect.
with deepest regrets
Jock Shearer
No 2 BNP North West Security Dep
Oldham BNP always
Stop the BNP
December 16, 2007
False Dawn
It would appear that Griffin has finally looked over the cliff and not liked what he sees. On Friday, in a desperate bid to save his leadership, he announced some half-hearted measures to rejig the party, though Collett and Hannam still retain positions and he himself has refused to apologise for his own behaviour. Now it appears that he is looking for a compromise that will allow Sadie Graham to rejoin the party whilst keeping on ‘Nazi boy’ Collett as his personal sidekick. However, as typical of Griffin, he says one thing and does another.
A meeting held in Leicester, the party’s largest branch, yesterday ended with a unanimous vote in support of Graham returning to the party. The motion followed a heated exchange between Griffin and Graham and was also attended by Collett, Matt Single and Nina Brown.
In return for being allowed back into the party Sadie Graham agreed to take down the ‘Enough is Enough’ blog within a week. According to one BNP member present at the meeting “Sadie and Mark shook hands and there was applause for all. The meeting was taped. A lot has been brought out into the open; do not think that we were just gullible listeners, many asked questions and had their say, and I would say that the general feeling was that there was wrong on both sides but that there was a malicious element at the back of all this.” It seems hard to think that peace can last long, if there was any peace in the first place. Indeed, even at the meeting it was clear that this was more a temporary truce rather than a making up. Griffin and Graham both claimed a desire to compromise but then both listed a number of issues on which neither would budge. Griffin has gone away to think about Graham’s demands and given his political and leadership history it is doubtful whether he will relent. Meanwhile, reports have reached us of a growing number of threats of violence being traded by the rival factions, further cementing the animosity.
Over the last few days the rebel faction has become increasingly vocal in their criticism of Griffin, with many calling for his resignation. This alleged deal also does not solve the core problem, which is the corrosive behaviour of Collett, John Walker and Dave Hannam, to say nothing of the growing influence of the South African Intelligence Department.
Meanwhile, as increasingly demoralised BNP members were celebrating the supposed truce on Stormfront, party members in Yorkshire were digesting Griffin’s last blog. In a posting that was clearly designed to infuriate his opponents, he wrote: “Tonight several good activists were turned away from the back street pub venue for a secretively organised rebel meeting in Bradford. The thirty people there included the wretched woman who threw away the biggest ever BNP poll lead in the country in Keighley, plus some individuals who aren’t even in the BNP. Still, all the paid up members were handed invitation letters to a proper Yorkshire regional meeting, being held in Leeds next Tuesday. I’ll certainly be there to explain what’s been going on, and to answer any question that anyone wants to raise. I hope very much that Chris Beverley and Ian Dawson will be there too, because many good people have questions for them as well.”
Griffin’s post has simply deepened the rift with organisers and activists in what is the party’s most important region. The few remaining undecided activists appear to have come off the fence and sided with the rebels, with a clear ‘Griffin Out’ cry now being heard. BNP members might like to think that a peace deal has been done but that would appear wishful thinking. Too much has been said and done over the past eight days for a real conciliation and with a police investigation now launched by the Met these issues are not going to go away quickly. In the meantime, Tuesday seems set to be an important day, in more ways than Griffin can imagine.
Stop The BNP
A meeting held in Leicester, the party’s largest branch, yesterday ended with a unanimous vote in support of Graham returning to the party. The motion followed a heated exchange between Griffin and Graham and was also attended by Collett, Matt Single and Nina Brown.
In return for being allowed back into the party Sadie Graham agreed to take down the ‘Enough is Enough’ blog within a week. According to one BNP member present at the meeting “Sadie and Mark shook hands and there was applause for all. The meeting was taped. A lot has been brought out into the open; do not think that we were just gullible listeners, many asked questions and had their say, and I would say that the general feeling was that there was wrong on both sides but that there was a malicious element at the back of all this.” It seems hard to think that peace can last long, if there was any peace in the first place. Indeed, even at the meeting it was clear that this was more a temporary truce rather than a making up. Griffin and Graham both claimed a desire to compromise but then both listed a number of issues on which neither would budge. Griffin has gone away to think about Graham’s demands and given his political and leadership history it is doubtful whether he will relent. Meanwhile, reports have reached us of a growing number of threats of violence being traded by the rival factions, further cementing the animosity.
Over the last few days the rebel faction has become increasingly vocal in their criticism of Griffin, with many calling for his resignation. This alleged deal also does not solve the core problem, which is the corrosive behaviour of Collett, John Walker and Dave Hannam, to say nothing of the growing influence of the South African Intelligence Department.
Meanwhile, as increasingly demoralised BNP members were celebrating the supposed truce on Stormfront, party members in Yorkshire were digesting Griffin’s last blog. In a posting that was clearly designed to infuriate his opponents, he wrote: “Tonight several good activists were turned away from the back street pub venue for a secretively organised rebel meeting in Bradford. The thirty people there included the wretched woman who threw away the biggest ever BNP poll lead in the country in Keighley, plus some individuals who aren’t even in the BNP. Still, all the paid up members were handed invitation letters to a proper Yorkshire regional meeting, being held in Leeds next Tuesday. I’ll certainly be there to explain what’s been going on, and to answer any question that anyone wants to raise. I hope very much that Chris Beverley and Ian Dawson will be there too, because many good people have questions for them as well.”
Griffin’s post has simply deepened the rift with organisers and activists in what is the party’s most important region. The few remaining undecided activists appear to have come off the fence and sided with the rebels, with a clear ‘Griffin Out’ cry now being heard. BNP members might like to think that a peace deal has been done but that would appear wishful thinking. Too much has been said and done over the past eight days for a real conciliation and with a police investigation now launched by the Met these issues are not going to go away quickly. In the meantime, Tuesday seems set to be an important day, in more ways than Griffin can imagine.
Stop The BNP
Labels:
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Nick Griffin,
Sadie Graham,
Stop the BNP
December 15, 2007
Internal splits threaten BNP's chances in London Assembly poll
The British National Party is gripped by civil war amid bitter personality clashes and claims of dirty tricks by rival factions.
Nick Griffin, the leader of the far-right party, is facing vehement criticism of his stewardship. The party has hopes of winning seats in the London Assembly next year. Tensions within party ranks came to a head when two key organisers were accused of plotting a coup against Mr Griffin and sacked for "gross misconduct". But they have been backed by at least 50 activists and councillors, setting the scene for a struggle for control of the party. The rebels insist they are loyal to the BNP, but some observers suspect another extreme right-wing grouping could emerge to challenge the party.
Activists' anger focuses on two of Mr Griffin's allies – Mark Collett, the party's director of publicity, and Dave Hannam, its regional organiser – and the BNP leader's support for them. The criticism has been led by Sadie Graham, the head of group development, and Kenny Smith, head of administration. The pair were removed from their posts following an investigation by the BNP's "intelligence team" which was alleged to have tricked its way into Ms Graham's home and taken away computers.
She and Mr Smith were dismissed for setting up an "anti-BNP smear blog" and for plotting a "spectacularly ill-timed and amateurish alleged coup attempt". An email written by Ms Smith and a recording of a conversation between the pair have been posted on the BNP website to substantiate the claim.
Simon Darby, the BNP spokesman, said last night: "They have been caught out getting involved in some very unsavoury business. You have to have discipline in a political party or you have chaos."
The exiles have retaliated by calling for a grassroots revolution to take control of the party. They say that, despite record numbers of councillors, BNP morale has hit an all-time low. They are calling on sympathisers to stay in the BNP, but to resign from party positions and not to renew their membership for the moment. Councillors are urged to quit the party whip and describe themselves as "independent Nationalists".
The rebel faction says: "This fight is for our country and our people as much as it is for the party we love."
The BNP was itself born out of a feud when the right-wing National Front imploded in the 1980s. After struggling to make an impact for a decade, it secured its first council seat in 1993 in Tower Hamlets, London. But it languished until 1999 when Mr Griffin became leader and set about modernising the party. It achieved a breakthrough in Burnley in 2003, when it won three council seats.
Its progress has been steady, but not spectacular, over the past four years. Its strategists believe it is now well placed to win seats in the London Assembly and the European Parliament. After last year's local elections the party had 55 councillors, the most in its history but below its expectations before the contest.
Mr Darby insisted that 90 per cent of BNP members were not interested in the in-fighting and that the storm would "blow over".
Nick Lowles, spokesman for the anti-fascist group Searchlight, said: "This is a very serious split and one I cannot see being reconciled. One side or another is going to leave the party."
Independent
Nick Griffin, the leader of the far-right party, is facing vehement criticism of his stewardship. The party has hopes of winning seats in the London Assembly next year. Tensions within party ranks came to a head when two key organisers were accused of plotting a coup against Mr Griffin and sacked for "gross misconduct". But they have been backed by at least 50 activists and councillors, setting the scene for a struggle for control of the party. The rebels insist they are loyal to the BNP, but some observers suspect another extreme right-wing grouping could emerge to challenge the party.
Activists' anger focuses on two of Mr Griffin's allies – Mark Collett, the party's director of publicity, and Dave Hannam, its regional organiser – and the BNP leader's support for them. The criticism has been led by Sadie Graham, the head of group development, and Kenny Smith, head of administration. The pair were removed from their posts following an investigation by the BNP's "intelligence team" which was alleged to have tricked its way into Ms Graham's home and taken away computers.
She and Mr Smith were dismissed for setting up an "anti-BNP smear blog" and for plotting a "spectacularly ill-timed and amateurish alleged coup attempt". An email written by Ms Smith and a recording of a conversation between the pair have been posted on the BNP website to substantiate the claim.
Simon Darby, the BNP spokesman, said last night: "They have been caught out getting involved in some very unsavoury business. You have to have discipline in a political party or you have chaos."
The exiles have retaliated by calling for a grassroots revolution to take control of the party. They say that, despite record numbers of councillors, BNP morale has hit an all-time low. They are calling on sympathisers to stay in the BNP, but to resign from party positions and not to renew their membership for the moment. Councillors are urged to quit the party whip and describe themselves as "independent Nationalists".
The rebel faction says: "This fight is for our country and our people as much as it is for the party we love."
The BNP was itself born out of a feud when the right-wing National Front imploded in the 1980s. After struggling to make an impact for a decade, it secured its first council seat in 1993 in Tower Hamlets, London. But it languished until 1999 when Mr Griffin became leader and set about modernising the party. It achieved a breakthrough in Burnley in 2003, when it won three council seats.
Its progress has been steady, but not spectacular, over the past four years. Its strategists believe it is now well placed to win seats in the London Assembly and the European Parliament. After last year's local elections the party had 55 councillors, the most in its history but below its expectations before the contest.
Mr Darby insisted that 90 per cent of BNP members were not interested in the in-fighting and that the storm would "blow over".
Nick Lowles, spokesman for the anti-fascist group Searchlight, said: "This is a very serious split and one I cannot see being reconciled. One side or another is going to leave the party."
Independent
Labels:
BNP,
civil war,
Dave Hannam,
Kenny Smith,
Mark Collett,
Sadie Graham,
Searchlight
Too little, too late. Griffin’s position weakens further
Nick Griffin’s belated attempts to save his own skin appears to be too little too late. The BNP website today announced a reorganisation in staff and jobs. In an attempt to appease his critics Griffin has sacked and demoted Hannam and Collett respectively, but also abolished the Group Development job, held until last weekend by Sadie Graham.
Dave Hannam has lost his job by virtue of it being phased out, which Griffin claims is in accordance with a previously announced policy. Collett's job is also abolished, he is demoted to graphic design artist and people wanting leaflets will not have to deal with him directly but through Jeremy Wutherspoon.Interestingly there is no mention of Arthur Kemp or the other South Africans, whose presence is causing major disquiet within the party, though Simon Darby, Griffin’s chief sidekick, appears to have taken on a greater internal role.
This reorganisation is clearly a major climb down by Griffin though if he hoped that it would appease his detractors then he seems to have failed. Nothing less than Mark Collett’s immediate sacking will pacify his critics and even that may not now be enough. Griffin’s appalling handling of the crisis has turned the spotlight onto his own leadership. Bugging members phones or laptops, ordering the removal of private property from his staff’s houses and his blind support to Collett is leading an growing number of party activists to call for his own removal. If anything, Griffin’s desperate attempts to pacify his critics whilst not apologising or accepting he has made any mistakes will actually make the situation worse.
Time is running out for Griffin. Unless he removes Collett from the party within the next few days and opens a dialogue with his critics to democratise the party then his own future has to be in doubt. However, Collett clearly has a hold over the BNP leader and so to sack him could have quite different and possibly legal consequences.
Stop The BNP
Dave Hannam has lost his job by virtue of it being phased out, which Griffin claims is in accordance with a previously announced policy. Collett's job is also abolished, he is demoted to graphic design artist and people wanting leaflets will not have to deal with him directly but through Jeremy Wutherspoon.Interestingly there is no mention of Arthur Kemp or the other South Africans, whose presence is causing major disquiet within the party, though Simon Darby, Griffin’s chief sidekick, appears to have taken on a greater internal role.
This reorganisation is clearly a major climb down by Griffin though if he hoped that it would appease his detractors then he seems to have failed. Nothing less than Mark Collett’s immediate sacking will pacify his critics and even that may not now be enough. Griffin’s appalling handling of the crisis has turned the spotlight onto his own leadership. Bugging members phones or laptops, ordering the removal of private property from his staff’s houses and his blind support to Collett is leading an growing number of party activists to call for his own removal. If anything, Griffin’s desperate attempts to pacify his critics whilst not apologising or accepting he has made any mistakes will actually make the situation worse.
Time is running out for Griffin. Unless he removes Collett from the party within the next few days and opens a dialogue with his critics to democratise the party then his own future has to be in doubt. However, Collett clearly has a hold over the BNP leader and so to sack him could have quite different and possibly legal consequences.
Stop The BNP
Labels:
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BNP split,
fascism,
Nick Griffin,
racism,
Sadie Graham,
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Can Griffin survive?
One thing I have learnt since being editor of Searchlight is that it is foolhardy to make rash predictions. Political fortunes can change by the minute and there is no accounting for the whims of human nature.
However, looking back on the past week it is increasingly clear that Nick Griffin is in serious trouble. Quite how much trouble is difficult to ascertain.
Over 50 BNP organisers, councillors and party officials have now resigned their positions and many more appear close to doing so. Virtually every organiser in Yorkshire and Scotland and a large chunk of the East Midlands have signed up to the rebellion. Searchlight is hearing that all is not well in the West Midlands and rumours are circulating that the BNP group on Barking & Dagenham council are split, with the majority opposing Richard Barnbrook’s support for Griffin.
If that wasn’t enough then there is the announcement by the Electoral Commission that they intend to investigate the BNP for the non-declaration of donations. Yesterday, Jon Cruddas MP wrote to the Commander of the Metropolitan Police demanding an investigation into alleged bugging of phones or laptops and the theft of private property.
Nick Griffin is in serious trouble. Despite the public statements from the leaders of the rebellion that they are not after Griffin’s removal there is clearly little room for reconciliation. Matt Single’s statement issued yesterday and Ian Dawson’s reply to Nick Griffin’s own article on the BNP website makes it clear that they now blame him for the events of recent days. The bitterness they show in their statements can never be healed. Then there are Griffin supporters, like Simon Darby, who have been actively smearing his opponents by phone, email and text and likewise will never be forgiven.
Whatever the outcome of this feud it is clear that leading members of one group or the other will not be in the BNP, or at least in the positions they held seven days ago.
The situation is only going to get worse for Griffin. A momentum is building up within the party against the leadership and we expect several organisers who so far have remained silent to side with the rebels. Next week Searchlight will produce a dossier on the financial irregularities and mismanagement within the BNP and this is likely to trigger a new investigation from the authorities.
Griffin is stuck in an impossible place. His sectarian and conspiratorial nature automatically leads him to manoeuvre against internal critics, as we have seen so often over the years, which of course creates resentment and a desire for revenge. He could move against Collett to save his own position but Searchlight is aware that the Head of Publicity has evidence that can sink Griffin instantly and he has indicated that he is prepared to use it if he himself falls. His leadership and authority would also be in tatters. Alternatively he could carry on and fight it out but the pendulum is swinging against him and fewer and fewer local organisers are now prepared to speak out in support of him.
However, Griffin will not go without a fight. If there is one lesson that we can learn from his 33 years of far right involvement is that when he cannot win, he destroys.
Griffin’s position is looking increasingly untenable and the chickens are coming home to roost. A police investigation could sink him and his cohorts and in the process destroy the credibility of the BNP. Griffin’s dictatorial style and authoritarian desire to crush his opponents has set off a train of events over which he has no control.
We wonder how many party members would be willing to pay into Griffin’s next defence fund.
Stop The BNP
However, looking back on the past week it is increasingly clear that Nick Griffin is in serious trouble. Quite how much trouble is difficult to ascertain.
Over 50 BNP organisers, councillors and party officials have now resigned their positions and many more appear close to doing so. Virtually every organiser in Yorkshire and Scotland and a large chunk of the East Midlands have signed up to the rebellion. Searchlight is hearing that all is not well in the West Midlands and rumours are circulating that the BNP group on Barking & Dagenham council are split, with the majority opposing Richard Barnbrook’s support for Griffin.
If that wasn’t enough then there is the announcement by the Electoral Commission that they intend to investigate the BNP for the non-declaration of donations. Yesterday, Jon Cruddas MP wrote to the Commander of the Metropolitan Police demanding an investigation into alleged bugging of phones or laptops and the theft of private property.
Nick Griffin is in serious trouble. Despite the public statements from the leaders of the rebellion that they are not after Griffin’s removal there is clearly little room for reconciliation. Matt Single’s statement issued yesterday and Ian Dawson’s reply to Nick Griffin’s own article on the BNP website makes it clear that they now blame him for the events of recent days. The bitterness they show in their statements can never be healed. Then there are Griffin supporters, like Simon Darby, who have been actively smearing his opponents by phone, email and text and likewise will never be forgiven.
Whatever the outcome of this feud it is clear that leading members of one group or the other will not be in the BNP, or at least in the positions they held seven days ago.
The situation is only going to get worse for Griffin. A momentum is building up within the party against the leadership and we expect several organisers who so far have remained silent to side with the rebels. Next week Searchlight will produce a dossier on the financial irregularities and mismanagement within the BNP and this is likely to trigger a new investigation from the authorities.
Griffin is stuck in an impossible place. His sectarian and conspiratorial nature automatically leads him to manoeuvre against internal critics, as we have seen so often over the years, which of course creates resentment and a desire for revenge. He could move against Collett to save his own position but Searchlight is aware that the Head of Publicity has evidence that can sink Griffin instantly and he has indicated that he is prepared to use it if he himself falls. His leadership and authority would also be in tatters. Alternatively he could carry on and fight it out but the pendulum is swinging against him and fewer and fewer local organisers are now prepared to speak out in support of him.
However, Griffin will not go without a fight. If there is one lesson that we can learn from his 33 years of far right involvement is that when he cannot win, he destroys.
Griffin’s position is looking increasingly untenable and the chickens are coming home to roost. A police investigation could sink him and his cohorts and in the process destroy the credibility of the BNP. Griffin’s dictatorial style and authoritarian desire to crush his opponents has set off a train of events over which he has no control.
We wonder how many party members would be willing to pay into Griffin’s next defence fund.
Stop The BNP
Labels:
BNP,
BNP split,
fascism,
Nick Griffin,
racism,
Sadie Graham,
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BNP man told to behave or face £5k bill
A BNP community councillor was advised by a judge yesterday to undertake to behave himself in future – and avoid being slapped with an injunction.
Llysfaen community councillor Patrick Pattison was warned that if an injunction against him sought by Conwy council was granted it could land him with a £5,000 legal bill. Conwy County Borough Council is applying to serve the order on Mr Pattison following allegations of “unacceptable” behaviour by the 55-year-old former independent councillor, who defected to the BNP earlier this year. Council staff have complained about his conduct towards them, though Mr Pattison claims he has always acted in the interests of his local community.
At a preliminary hearing in Rhyl County Court yesterday District Judge John Thomas estimated that the full hearing would take two days. But first, the judge must consider an application by Mr Pattison that there has been an abuse of process. The judge said that while he did not wish to pre-judge the hearing, Mr Pattison should consider the option of giving an undertaking not to act in the alleged manner in future.
“That would not be an admission that you have done anything untoward but merely a promise about your behaviour in future,” he said. “That would save a lot of time and money and would be a compromise”.
He also warned Mr Pattison that in the event of the council’s application being granted, costs could be awarded against him. Solicitor Peter Brown, for the authority, said the estimated bill was £5,000.
“I am not saying it would be awarded, but it could be,” said the judge.
The matter was adjourned for a full hearing early in the New Year. At a hearing in November, Deputy District Judge Peter Anderson said the case would be heard in Rhyl, but Judge Thomas said yesterday that it could be anywhere in North Wales.
North Wales News
Llysfaen community councillor Patrick Pattison was warned that if an injunction against him sought by Conwy council was granted it could land him with a £5,000 legal bill. Conwy County Borough Council is applying to serve the order on Mr Pattison following allegations of “unacceptable” behaviour by the 55-year-old former independent councillor, who defected to the BNP earlier this year. Council staff have complained about his conduct towards them, though Mr Pattison claims he has always acted in the interests of his local community.
At a preliminary hearing in Rhyl County Court yesterday District Judge John Thomas estimated that the full hearing would take two days. But first, the judge must consider an application by Mr Pattison that there has been an abuse of process. The judge said that while he did not wish to pre-judge the hearing, Mr Pattison should consider the option of giving an undertaking not to act in the alleged manner in future.
“That would not be an admission that you have done anything untoward but merely a promise about your behaviour in future,” he said. “That would save a lot of time and money and would be a compromise”.
He also warned Mr Pattison that in the event of the council’s application being granted, costs could be awarded against him. Solicitor Peter Brown, for the authority, said the estimated bill was £5,000.
“I am not saying it would be awarded, but it could be,” said the judge.
The matter was adjourned for a full hearing early in the New Year. At a hearing in November, Deputy District Judge Peter Anderson said the case would be heard in Rhyl, but Judge Thomas said yesterday that it could be anywhere in North Wales.
North Wales News
'Delight' at BNP last place
Political leaders expressed their delight that the British National Party have come last in an election. Howard Studley, BNP candidate, claimed 56 votes in the Canons ward by-election.
Tony McNulty, Labour MP for Harrow East, said: "It seems to me they have got 56 votes too many. I'm very pleased they have come stone last, and will they now go away and leave Harrow politics alone."
Bob Blackman, London Assembly Member for Harrow, joined the people lining up to condemn the BNP. He said : "I'm very pleased to hear they came last, this is a good piece of news."
Richard Harrod (Lab), who came second in today's by-election, said: "I'm delighted the people of Canons have rejected the extremist, right wing, fascists of the BNP. Their small number of votes reflects the fact the majority of people in Canons and the whole of Harrow do not like extremist racist thugs."
Mr Studley did not attend today's count, but a representative of the BNP, Dennis Pearce, was happy with the result. He said: "This is the first time we have had a candidate in this ward, and we are pleased to have given our members and supporters a chance to vote for us."
Husain Akhtar won the by-election with 56.6 per cent of the vote, and a majority of 819.
Turnout was 24.03 per cent.
Harrow Times
Tony McNulty, Labour MP for Harrow East, said: "It seems to me they have got 56 votes too many. I'm very pleased they have come stone last, and will they now go away and leave Harrow politics alone."
Bob Blackman, London Assembly Member for Harrow, joined the people lining up to condemn the BNP. He said : "I'm very pleased to hear they came last, this is a good piece of news."
Richard Harrod (Lab), who came second in today's by-election, said: "I'm delighted the people of Canons have rejected the extremist, right wing, fascists of the BNP. Their small number of votes reflects the fact the majority of people in Canons and the whole of Harrow do not like extremist racist thugs."
Mr Studley did not attend today's count, but a representative of the BNP, Dennis Pearce, was happy with the result. He said: "This is the first time we have had a candidate in this ward, and we are pleased to have given our members and supporters a chance to vote for us."
Husain Akhtar won the by-election with 56.6 per cent of the vote, and a majority of 819.
Turnout was 24.03 per cent.
Harrow Times
Labels:
56,
BNP,
Canons,
Howard Studley,
Husain Akhtar
December 14, 2007
Reader article: Nick Griffin's dilemma
This article was submitted by one of our readers, MOT. We welcome any contributions (as long as those contributions conform to the law and are in reasonably good taste) from our supporters. Please send your articles to us at lancaster.uaf@zen.co.uk
After what has been a pretty dreadful year for the BNP and the other lunatic fringe groups on the far-right comes along a story that is going to have long and deep repercussions on the BNP and in particular Nick Griffin. He really is in a bind and there is no real way out for him. This doesn't seem like a situation where a compromise is either wanted or achievable by both sides and no matter what happens Griffin is badly damaged.
If he holds on to Collett and Hannam he loses a big chunk of his party machinery at a time where members are renewing their membership for next year and with that a large chunk of money when they are 5 months overdue with publishing their accounts. If he gives in and gets rid of Collett and Hannam he shows himself to be weak and his ego won't take that and then he has the problem of whatever this supposed big thing is that Collett has over him. Whether it's real or not I don't know but I am looking forward to finding out.
A post on Stormfront yesterday evening from Purging the Droid (widely regarded to be Griffin) said:
'I see our friends are now using the services on none other than Jon Cruddas in their crusade against our party. Despite our continued efforts to find a solution and patch things up, we get this. It is going to be very difficult now to ever work again with people who make common cause with the enemies of nationalism, there is just no excuse for this at all.'
Now I've only a passing knowledge about Sadie Graham and the others involved in setting up the Enough is Enough blog but even I know one of the last people they would have approached for help is Jon Cruddas and if Griffin is trying to use that as a validation that he has made the right choice with his actions then he must be really rattled and getting desperate.
The reason Jon Cruddas has been brought in to the fray is because Stop the BNP reported that he had been in touch with the police about the alleged criminal actions of last weekend and has raised the issue in the House of Commons. Somehow I don't think he has done this for their benefit.
Now I would have thought a story that involves gaining access by deception and taking person belongings, deliberate breaking of the Data Protection Act, former South African spooks, £17,000 apparently going missing or unaccounted for, alleged illegal bugging (I think it was a setting on Skype myself), the cover-up of alleged paedophiliac behavior by senior BNP management, 60 members of the party structure resigning their posts including several of their councillors and questions asked in Parliament would gain some media interest but up to now there has been very little and nothing with the full details that we seen in the last few days.
Why is that? is it because the BNP were all over the media a couple of weeks ago being forever linked with a holocaust denier in the full glare of the media? Is it because the story doesn't contain any reference to Simone Clarke? Or is it because Griffin is a 'state asset'? Hey he throws the allegation around enough and he has done more than his fair share of damage to far-right groups over the years.
However this thing plays out over the next few days, weeks and months a couple of things are for sure. There is a massive split in the BNP that is going to take a long time to heal and if this is how people who support him are treated (and they still want Griffin to be leader if and when Collett and Hannam go) then what have we got too look forward to if they ever get in to power?
The BNP are in decline and we have to carry on fighting them at every given chance.
MOT
After what has been a pretty dreadful year for the BNP and the other lunatic fringe groups on the far-right comes along a story that is going to have long and deep repercussions on the BNP and in particular Nick Griffin. He really is in a bind and there is no real way out for him. This doesn't seem like a situation where a compromise is either wanted or achievable by both sides and no matter what happens Griffin is badly damaged.
If he holds on to Collett and Hannam he loses a big chunk of his party machinery at a time where members are renewing their membership for next year and with that a large chunk of money when they are 5 months overdue with publishing their accounts. If he gives in and gets rid of Collett and Hannam he shows himself to be weak and his ego won't take that and then he has the problem of whatever this supposed big thing is that Collett has over him. Whether it's real or not I don't know but I am looking forward to finding out.
A post on Stormfront yesterday evening from Purging the Droid (widely regarded to be Griffin) said:
'I see our friends are now using the services on none other than Jon Cruddas in their crusade against our party. Despite our continued efforts to find a solution and patch things up, we get this. It is going to be very difficult now to ever work again with people who make common cause with the enemies of nationalism, there is just no excuse for this at all.'
Now I've only a passing knowledge about Sadie Graham and the others involved in setting up the Enough is Enough blog but even I know one of the last people they would have approached for help is Jon Cruddas and if Griffin is trying to use that as a validation that he has made the right choice with his actions then he must be really rattled and getting desperate.
The reason Jon Cruddas has been brought in to the fray is because Stop the BNP reported that he had been in touch with the police about the alleged criminal actions of last weekend and has raised the issue in the House of Commons. Somehow I don't think he has done this for their benefit.
Now I would have thought a story that involves gaining access by deception and taking person belongings, deliberate breaking of the Data Protection Act, former South African spooks, £17,000 apparently going missing or unaccounted for, alleged illegal bugging (I think it was a setting on Skype myself), the cover-up of alleged paedophiliac behavior by senior BNP management, 60 members of the party structure resigning their posts including several of their councillors and questions asked in Parliament would gain some media interest but up to now there has been very little and nothing with the full details that we seen in the last few days.
Why is that? is it because the BNP were all over the media a couple of weeks ago being forever linked with a holocaust denier in the full glare of the media? Is it because the story doesn't contain any reference to Simone Clarke? Or is it because Griffin is a 'state asset'? Hey he throws the allegation around enough and he has done more than his fair share of damage to far-right groups over the years.
However this thing plays out over the next few days, weeks and months a couple of things are for sure. There is a massive split in the BNP that is going to take a long time to heal and if this is how people who support him are treated (and they still want Griffin to be leader if and when Collett and Hannam go) then what have we got too look forward to if they ever get in to power?
The BNP are in decline and we have to carry on fighting them at every given chance.
MOT
Labels:
Dave Hannam,
Enough is Enough,
Jon Cruddas,
Mark Collett,
MOT,
split
The BNP's five days of complete chaos
Harold Wilson famously said 'a week is a long time in politics'. He wasn't wrong but for Nick Griffin, the leader of the BNP, just the past five days must feel like a lifetime. The worst however, may be yet to come.Yes, it's a mere five days since Sadie Graham and Kenny Smith were turfed out of the party for setting up a web site attacking Griffin's trio of court jesters, Mark Collett, Dave Hannam and John Walker. And if you thought it was longer than that, imagine how long it must seem to Griffin, who must be feeling like the roof just fell in when he least expected it.
In those five days, something around sixty prominent party members have either stood down from their organiser or fundholder (treasurer) positions or resigned the whip as councillors (meaning that they are still councillors but are non-aligned Independents rather that representing the BNP). Just this alone is a huge blow to the BNP, bringing its numer of councillors down to forty-five, a loss of five since the last local government elections in May. Shocking, particularly for a party that claims to be on the route to power.
Those sixty represent far more than their numbers imply. Among them are such luminaries as Graham and Smith themselves, essential cogs in the machinery of the BNP, and well-known names like Chris Beverley, Danny Lake, Ian Dawson, Lee Haggan, Matt Single, Nicholla Smith, Peter Hollings, former Deputy Chair of the party Scott McLean, former Press Officer Stuart Russell and former web site editor Steve Blake. Besides this lot, there are, if our correspondents are correct (and they usually are) dozens more who are saying they are going to resign and numerous members who are simply going to let their membership of the party lapse.
But why all the fuss just because a couple of high-ranking party officers decided to have a go at one of Griffin's blue-eyed boys and got the sack for what was surely a legitimately sackable offence? Mark Collett, the Hitler-worshipping buffoon at the centre of all the original fuss, can only be surprised that there hasn't been an internal revolution against him before now. He is, after all, notable for his startling arrogance and an unerring ability to put his foot firmly in his mouth whenever he is in front of a TV camera but despite taking idiocy to new heights, Collett has hung on in the party for years.
The truth is that there has been an underlying disatisfaction with the way the party operates for some time. This has been mentioned by our correspondents on numerous occasions and every single one of them has pointed to either financial mismanagement (and frequently misappropriation of funds) or sexual shenanigans as the reason for their disquiet. One of them emailed us back in October, stating that, 'once the criminal investigations start (if they ever do), the floodgates will open and everyone will run for cover as it all falls apart'.
This is, I hope, what we're seeing the beginning of now. Since Sunday, when all this began, we've seen a resurgence of the story of the two young girls lured into the Blackpool conference last year by, it is alleged, Collett and Hannam. Matt Single, Sadie Graham's partner and former BNP security team member, posted this on the Enough is Enough blog yesterday;
'At last years conference in Blackpool, I witnessed Collett and Hannam attempt to have sexual relations with two girls that were obviously under the age of sexual consent...'
Strange that a party that is so keen to attack paedophiles and takes up much of its campaigning time talking of the 'grooming' of underage girls should have largely ignored this event, and even stranger that Single should take the moral high ground about this issue now when he has had nothing to say about it for more than a year. Still, news has also emerged that this has been formally reported to the police by someone other than us and the local paper (who were both sent copies of a snippet of film of the event), so let's hope that something is finally to be done about it.
But this isn't all, by any means. The floodgates appear to be opening quite widely at the moment.
The incident where the BNP's security team illegally gained access to Graham and Single's home and stole her personal computer may take on rather more importance over the next few days. Graham states on her blog;
'They took every peice of office equipment in our house, just two items which belonged to the BNP, which I accept. However the computer and the majority of what they took is mine. They knew this but took it anyway.'
Clearly, the security team unlawfully gained entry to Graham's home and the BNP has just as unlawfully prowled through her emails and telephone recordings. But Graham isn't one to take this kind of stuff lying down, as witnessed by her further statement;
'yes the police are investigating and they are well aware of all the issues. They have said that it was definitley theft and entry by deception. I have also yesterday sought legal advice with a solicitor who states that I have various claims against the party if I would want to take it further.'
So the police are being nudged into investigating the allegations against Collett and Hannam and now also the allegations of theft against the party itself. But this woeful story doesn't end there.
As reported yesterday, the BNP is about to be investigated by the Electoral Commission for not reporting a donation of more than £5000 that it was legally required to report. There is plenty of evidence of the donation - the party made a big deal of it on its tedious BNPtv - so any denials will ring just a little hollow. This curious omission from the accounts and the subsequent investigation is also likely to once again bring up the interesting question of why the main BNP accounts are themselves four months late.
As if all this trouble isn't enough to be going on with, Stop the BNP reports that Labour MP Jon Cruddas has written to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner to demand that they investigate what he believes 'are criminal activities involving senior members of the British National Party'. He also raised the matter in the House of Commons and demanded a full debate.
'Jon Cruddas has asked the police to investigate allegations that the BNP leadership have bugged telephones, houses or computers belonging to their senior members. He also wants them to look into the legality of the removal of property belonging to Councillor Sadie Graham.
It is believed that personal correspondence with her electorate is on the computer that was taken by deception from her house and emails were later inspected by senior members of the BNP. “An example can be found at the website http://www.simondarby.blogspot.com/,” write Cruddas. “Simon Darby is the BNP's Head of Publicity, and Griffin's most senior advisor. Nick Griffin has referred to this email on the BNP's main website.”
Cruddas ended his letter by stating: “As I believe that much of this behaviour is illegal, I write to formally request a police investigation in to the matter.”'
It looks like the floodgates are opening from where I'm sitting...
Labels:
BNP,
chaos,
Jon Cruddas,
Mark Collett,
Matt Single,
Nick Griffin,
Sadie Graham
Leaflets criticising schools full of errors
The British National Party has been accused of hypocrisy for attacking the standards of British education in a leaflet littered with spelling mistakes.
Scores of leaflets, aiming to pick up support for the far-right party in south Essex, were handed out to households in Hockley and Hullbridge. The party writes in the leaflet it wants "a return to traditional methods of education, with stronger discipline in the classroom and an end to trendy teaching methods which have failed our children so badly".
However, the point of the letter came a little unstuck, as it was littered with misspellings - including references to the "Conservetive party", "social servicies" and the "envoironment".
When the letter fell on the door of one retired teacher, he was so incensed he wrote to the party about its hypocrisy. The teacher, who asked not to be named, wrote: "I have corrected the numerous spelling and grammar mistakes I found in the leaflet you posted through my letter box. I am surprised you criticised the trendy teaching methods' of today when the traditional' methods obviously failed you so miserably. Yours faithfully, an elderly member of the teaching profession."
Mark Francois, MP for Rochford and Rayleigh, said the issue highlighted the "ugly" approach of the party. He added: "By the sound of it, the BNP's literary skills are about as rough as its politics. A number of my constituents are rightly concerned about immigration and David Cameron recently made a major speech, arguing controls should be tightened. This is the democratic way to approach this important issue, rather than the ugly message which is peddled by the BNP."
The BNP was contacted for comment, but did not respond.
Echo News
Scores of leaflets, aiming to pick up support for the far-right party in south Essex, were handed out to households in Hockley and Hullbridge. The party writes in the leaflet it wants "a return to traditional methods of education, with stronger discipline in the classroom and an end to trendy teaching methods which have failed our children so badly".
However, the point of the letter came a little unstuck, as it was littered with misspellings - including references to the "Conservetive party", "social servicies" and the "envoironment".
When the letter fell on the door of one retired teacher, he was so incensed he wrote to the party about its hypocrisy. The teacher, who asked not to be named, wrote: "I have corrected the numerous spelling and grammar mistakes I found in the leaflet you posted through my letter box. I am surprised you criticised the trendy teaching methods' of today when the traditional' methods obviously failed you so miserably. Yours faithfully, an elderly member of the teaching profession."
Mark Francois, MP for Rochford and Rayleigh, said the issue highlighted the "ugly" approach of the party. He added: "By the sound of it, the BNP's literary skills are about as rough as its politics. A number of my constituents are rightly concerned about immigration and David Cameron recently made a major speech, arguing controls should be tightened. This is the democratic way to approach this important issue, rather than the ugly message which is peddled by the BNP."
The BNP was contacted for comment, but did not respond.
Echo News
Labels:
BNP,
education,
South Essex,
spelling
December 13, 2007
Current list of party officials/councillors who have resigned/resigned the BNP whip
Andrew Gatward (West Lindsey Organiser)
Bev Jones (North West Regional Fund-Raiser, Tameside Secretary, Manchester North Fundraiser and Ex-North West Regional Organiser)
Brian Riley (Glasgow Organiser)
Charlie Baillie (Glasgow Fundholder)
Cllr Chris Beverley (Yorkshire Elections Officer, Leeds Organiser - Mark Collett's local Branch - and Advisory Council Member)
Cllr Dave Brown (Broxtowe)
Cllr Graham Partner (North West Leicestershire Fundholder)
Cllr John Ryde (East Midlands Press Officer and Education & Training Officer)
Cllr Lewis Allsebrook (Amber Valley Organiser)
Cllr Nina Brown (East Mids Regional Secretary and Broxtowe Organiser)
Cllr Roger Robertson (South East Regional Organiser and Advisory Council Member)
Cllr Sadie Graham (Head of Group Development, East Mids Regional Organiser and Advisory Council Member)
Danny Lake (YBNP Leader)
Dave Jones (National Data Protection Officer, North West Regional Secretary, Regional Press Officer and Tameside Fundholder)
Dave Taylor (Bradford Contact)
Gary Pudsey (Bridlington Organiser)
Ian Dawson (Yorkshire Regional Secretary, Former Head of Group Support and Advisory Council Member)
Ivan Winters (Bradford Fundholder)
Kenny Smith (Head of Administration, Scottish Regional Organiser, Scottish Elections Officer and Advisory Council Member)
Kieran Dinsmore (Ulster Regional Organiser)
Lee Haggan (Doncaster Organiser and Great White Records Recording Artist)
Lesley Dathan (Sunderland Fundholder)
Louise Scott (Scarborough Secretary and Northern Regional Voices Correspondent)
Malcolm Porter (West Lindsay Fundholder)
Mark Payne (Former Assistant National Treasurer)
Mark Wain (Melton & Rutland Press Officer)
Mark Westbury (Nottingham Secretary)
Matt Single (Department of Security Secretary and Training Officer)
Michael Clarke (Ashfield Organiser)
Mike Cooper (Hull Fund-Holder - Dave Hannam's local Group)
Neil Craig (Bradford Organiser)
Nicholla Smith (Managing Director of Excalibur, Falkirk Organiser and Advisory Council Member)
Nick Walsh (Hull BNP Organiser - Dave Hannam's local Group)
Paul Harris (Barnsley Organiser)
Peter (Boston, Holbeach & Spalding Fundholder)
Peter Hollings (Yorkshire Regional Fund-Raiser and Leeds Secretary - Mark Collett's local Branch)
Richard Chadfield (North West Regional Fundholder and Former Stockport Organiser)
Rick Foster (Lincoln Organiser)
Rob Walker (Wellingborough Contact)
Robert Walker (Huddersfield Organiser)
Sammy Shaw (Falkirk Fundholder and Forum Moderator)
Scott McLean (Former Deputy Chairman, Scottish Regional Organiser and Advisory Council Member)
Steve Blake (Web Editor, Head of Education & Training and Advisory Council Member)
Steve Thomson (Aberdeen Organiser)
Stuart Russell (Former National Press Officer and Advisory Council Member))
Tom Linden (Harrogate & District Organiser) Unconfirmed
Trisha Scott (Scarborough Organiser)
Wendy Russell (East Midlands Regional Fundraiser, Regional Information Officer and Peacock Club Chairman)
Bev Jones (North West Regional Fund-Raiser, Tameside Secretary, Manchester North Fundraiser and Ex-North West Regional Organiser)
Brian Riley (Glasgow Organiser)
Charlie Baillie (Glasgow Fundholder)
Cllr Chris Beverley (Yorkshire Elections Officer, Leeds Organiser - Mark Collett's local Branch - and Advisory Council Member)
Cllr Dave Brown (Broxtowe)
Cllr Graham Partner (North West Leicestershire Fundholder)
Cllr John Ryde (East Midlands Press Officer and Education & Training Officer)
Cllr Lewis Allsebrook (Amber Valley Organiser)
Cllr Nina Brown (East Mids Regional Secretary and Broxtowe Organiser)
Cllr Roger Robertson (South East Regional Organiser and Advisory Council Member)
Cllr Sadie Graham (Head of Group Development, East Mids Regional Organiser and Advisory Council Member)
Danny Lake (YBNP Leader)
Dave Jones (National Data Protection Officer, North West Regional Secretary, Regional Press Officer and Tameside Fundholder)
Dave Taylor (Bradford Contact)
Gary Pudsey (Bridlington Organiser)
Ian Dawson (Yorkshire Regional Secretary, Former Head of Group Support and Advisory Council Member)
Ivan Winters (Bradford Fundholder)
Kenny Smith (Head of Administration, Scottish Regional Organiser, Scottish Elections Officer and Advisory Council Member)
Kieran Dinsmore (Ulster Regional Organiser)
Lee Haggan (Doncaster Organiser and Great White Records Recording Artist)
Lesley Dathan (Sunderland Fundholder)
Louise Scott (Scarborough Secretary and Northern Regional Voices Correspondent)
Malcolm Porter (West Lindsay Fundholder)
Mark Payne (Former Assistant National Treasurer)
Mark Wain (Melton & Rutland Press Officer)
Mark Westbury (Nottingham Secretary)
Matt Single (Department of Security Secretary and Training Officer)
Michael Clarke (Ashfield Organiser)
Mike Cooper (Hull Fund-Holder - Dave Hannam's local Group)
Neil Craig (Bradford Organiser)
Nicholla Smith (Managing Director of Excalibur, Falkirk Organiser and Advisory Council Member)
Nick Walsh (Hull BNP Organiser - Dave Hannam's local Group)
Paul Harris (Barnsley Organiser)
Peter (Boston, Holbeach & Spalding Fundholder)
Peter Hollings (Yorkshire Regional Fund-Raiser and Leeds Secretary - Mark Collett's local Branch)
Richard Chadfield (North West Regional Fundholder and Former Stockport Organiser)
Rick Foster (Lincoln Organiser)
Rob Walker (Wellingborough Contact)
Robert Walker (Huddersfield Organiser)
Sammy Shaw (Falkirk Fundholder and Forum Moderator)
Scott McLean (Former Deputy Chairman, Scottish Regional Organiser and Advisory Council Member)
Steve Blake (Web Editor, Head of Education & Training and Advisory Council Member)
Steve Thomson (Aberdeen Organiser)
Stuart Russell (Former National Press Officer and Advisory Council Member))
Tom Linden (Harrogate & District Organiser) Unconfirmed
Trisha Scott (Scarborough Organiser)
Wendy Russell (East Midlands Regional Fundraiser, Regional Information Officer and Peacock Club Chairman)
Labels:
BNP,
BNP in crisis,
Mark Collett,
resignations
BNP fails to declare donations
The British National Party has failed to include at least one donation in its quarterly donation report to the Electoral Commission, an offence for which the party’s treasurer could be imprisoned for up to 12 months.
In September the BNP launched its campaign for next year’s London elections with three meetings on successive nights featuring Nick Griffin, the party leader, Richard Barnbrook, the BNP’s candidate for Mayor of London, and Nick Erikson, the London regional organiser.
Writing in his chairman’s blog, Griffin boasted that the meetings raised £12,000 including “a magnificent donation of more than £5,000 by BNP old hand and recent council candidate Steve Johnson”. Video footage on BNP television shows Johnson handing over a cheque for £5,315.
Under the Political Parties Elections and Referendums Act 2000 all parties have to deliver quarterly reports of donations over £5,000 made to the party’s central organisation and over £1,000 given to other party accounting units. Johnson’s donation and any others over £1,000 – local BNP units fall under the party’s regional accounting unit – should have appeared on the latest report covering July to September 2007.
Yet the only donation shown is £5,000 on 10 September from Charles Wentworth, the BNP’s only reported donor of the past two years, who has now given £33,263 to the fascist party’s head office.
The omission has been brought to the attention of the Electoral Commission, which will no doubt demand an explanation of John Walker, the BNP treasurer. It comes at a time when the BNP’s accounts are more than four months overdue and the party is suffering renewed problems over branches not submitting their petty cash books to head office.
BNP in crisis
In September the BNP launched its campaign for next year’s London elections with three meetings on successive nights featuring Nick Griffin, the party leader, Richard Barnbrook, the BNP’s candidate for Mayor of London, and Nick Erikson, the London regional organiser.
Writing in his chairman’s blog, Griffin boasted that the meetings raised £12,000 including “a magnificent donation of more than £5,000 by BNP old hand and recent council candidate Steve Johnson”. Video footage on BNP television shows Johnson handing over a cheque for £5,315.
Under the Political Parties Elections and Referendums Act 2000 all parties have to deliver quarterly reports of donations over £5,000 made to the party’s central organisation and over £1,000 given to other party accounting units. Johnson’s donation and any others over £1,000 – local BNP units fall under the party’s regional accounting unit – should have appeared on the latest report covering July to September 2007.
Yet the only donation shown is £5,000 on 10 September from Charles Wentworth, the BNP’s only reported donor of the past two years, who has now given £33,263 to the fascist party’s head office.
The omission has been brought to the attention of the Electoral Commission, which will no doubt demand an explanation of John Walker, the BNP treasurer. It comes at a time when the BNP’s accounts are more than four months overdue and the party is suffering renewed problems over branches not submitting their petty cash books to head office.
BNP in crisis
Labels:
BNP,
donations,
Electoral Commission,
John Walker,
Richard Barnbrook
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