Statement from BNP leadership challenger and supporters
Lancaster UAF | 14.05.2007 19:35 | Anti-racism | Culture | Social Struggles | Liverpool
Though doomed to failure due to Nick Griffin's habit of surrounding himself with yes-men and hangers-on (like the worryingly stupid Mark Collett), the much talked about leadership challenge from Chris Jackson does seem to be quietly gaining pace. Far from fading speedily into the background, which is what most commentators expected when the challenge became common knowledge, Jackson appears to have garnered the support of some big names, among them BNP founder members Richard Edmonds and Mike Easter.
Jackson's statement is unequivocal, as can be seen below:
'A proper Party structure and Constitution.'
This challenge to NG’s leadership is made as a start to the process in which the Party gets a recognisable normal Constitution for a corporate body under English law. As a talking point, the current leader has, and the founder leader had, enormous talent in some directions and, it seems, none in others. This has meant the Party has not been developed in a balanced manner.
Currently, the Party is effectively run as a dictatorship. There are no ‘checks and balances’. NG appoints all Party officials and consequently, many are ‘yes’ men. Opinions, other than those of NG, lead to dismissal from Party positions and even dismissal from the Party. Over the years NG has held widely varying political views. This means, in our opinion, that his political judgement is very poor. He has made some serious errors in his appointment of personnel, most particularly the appointment of the unstable character, Tony Lecomber, as his chief regulating officer. Further it should be noted that NG has had a poor history concerning money. No prudent organisation would allow someone with his history to be responsible for Party funds.
In our view, the Party must have a proper structure. It must have a number of the key officials directly elected by the members, in particular, the offices of Vice Chairman and Party Treasurer must be directly elected. The Party Chairman would be bound to discuss and agree with the majority of the other elected officials, matters of policy and discipline.
The Party must adopt a set of basic principles; for example, the Party is a party of the whole United Kingdom. It is not just a party of England, or any other part of the United Kingdom. Again, only the original peoples of the United Kingdom would be eligible for membership of the BNP and eventually citizenship of the UK. (An exception would be for people currently living in the UK of closely related European stock.) No Asians, Africans and so on, including half-castes could be members, or expect to live permanently in the UK. It would be understood that all foreigners would be sent back to their homelands, however gently.
The Party would make an effort to unite genuine nationalists into one party. NG is unable to do this. He is an ex-chairman of the National Front and is now persona non-grata in that direction. Similarly, he is unacceptable to the Freedom Party and the BPP. He is also the ex-leader of the International Third Position.
[snip...]
I pledge myself to see the reform of the Party on the above lines.
Chris Jackson: Challenger
Richard Edmonds: Proposer and BNP founder member
Mike Easter: Seconder and BNP founder member
Surprisingly, the statement is pretty explicit. The reference to the party being run as a dictatorship is frequently mentioned - but generally under the safety blanket of a pseudonym on the Stormfront nazi forum (one wonders why a bunch of nazis see anything wrong in a dictatorship, but there you go). What the party tends to keep to itself though, is Griffin's appalling judgement when it comes to selecting personnel (Tony Lecomber, Mark Collett, Lee Barnes, Warren Bennett, Martin Reynolds et al) and Griffin's doubtful (!) history when it comes to financial matters...
More here
http://lancasteruaf.blogspot.com/2007/05/statement-from-bnp-leadership.html
Jackson's statement is unequivocal, as can be seen below:
'A proper Party structure and Constitution.'
This challenge to NG’s leadership is made as a start to the process in which the Party gets a recognisable normal Constitution for a corporate body under English law. As a talking point, the current leader has, and the founder leader had, enormous talent in some directions and, it seems, none in others. This has meant the Party has not been developed in a balanced manner.
Currently, the Party is effectively run as a dictatorship. There are no ‘checks and balances’. NG appoints all Party officials and consequently, many are ‘yes’ men. Opinions, other than those of NG, lead to dismissal from Party positions and even dismissal from the Party. Over the years NG has held widely varying political views. This means, in our opinion, that his political judgement is very poor. He has made some serious errors in his appointment of personnel, most particularly the appointment of the unstable character, Tony Lecomber, as his chief regulating officer. Further it should be noted that NG has had a poor history concerning money. No prudent organisation would allow someone with his history to be responsible for Party funds.
In our view, the Party must have a proper structure. It must have a number of the key officials directly elected by the members, in particular, the offices of Vice Chairman and Party Treasurer must be directly elected. The Party Chairman would be bound to discuss and agree with the majority of the other elected officials, matters of policy and discipline.
The Party must adopt a set of basic principles; for example, the Party is a party of the whole United Kingdom. It is not just a party of England, or any other part of the United Kingdom. Again, only the original peoples of the United Kingdom would be eligible for membership of the BNP and eventually citizenship of the UK. (An exception would be for people currently living in the UK of closely related European stock.) No Asians, Africans and so on, including half-castes could be members, or expect to live permanently in the UK. It would be understood that all foreigners would be sent back to their homelands, however gently.
The Party would make an effort to unite genuine nationalists into one party. NG is unable to do this. He is an ex-chairman of the National Front and is now persona non-grata in that direction. Similarly, he is unacceptable to the Freedom Party and the BPP. He is also the ex-leader of the International Third Position.
[snip...]
I pledge myself to see the reform of the Party on the above lines.
Chris Jackson: Challenger
Richard Edmonds: Proposer and BNP founder member
Mike Easter: Seconder and BNP founder member
Surprisingly, the statement is pretty explicit. The reference to the party being run as a dictatorship is frequently mentioned - but generally under the safety blanket of a pseudonym on the Stormfront nazi forum (one wonders why a bunch of nazis see anything wrong in a dictatorship, but there you go). What the party tends to keep to itself though, is Griffin's appalling judgement when it comes to selecting personnel (Tony Lecomber, Mark Collett, Lee Barnes, Warren Bennett, Martin Reynolds et al) and Griffin's doubtful (!) history when it comes to financial matters...
More here
http://lancasteruaf.blogspot.com/2007/05/statement-from-bnp-leadership.html
Lancaster UAF
e-mail:
lancaster.uaf@zen.co.uk
Homepage:
http://lancasteruaf.blogspot.com/
Comments
Hide the following 13 comments
MESSAGE
15.05.2007 09:40
It might end up splitting the party as Chris Jackson, Richard Edmonds and Mike Easter will be hitting the high road after this and probably end up in the BPP or EFP. That will be very much the norm as Nick Griffin ends up splitting every party he ever joins.
JIMBO
Fascinating...
15.05.2007 11:41
qwey
Pull your head out
15.05.2007 14:24
James
Feed
15.05.2007 18:38
Is it genuine or not ...................who gives a fuck!
Albi
Beer and Peanut party
15.05.2007 21:01
vintage
Edmonds and the BPP
15.05.2007 23:43
Iskra
FUTURE
16.05.2007 10:03
JIMBO
FUTURE
16.05.2007 10:03
JIMBO
Hello....
16.05.2007 23:16
fash
Join Our Demo
17.05.2007 16:51
Demonstrate on 15th of June and end the slience (sic)! Come out and speak out, condemn the oppression we face. Respond to the call of Allah and the Messenger.”
The organisers are providing transport from Birmingham, Derby and Luton and expect “several thousand” to attend.
I am asking all the people on here to demonstrate with us, against the racism us Muslims face. Only when Britain becomes a Muslim state will we all live in peace.
Shahid Malik
shahid my arse
21.05.2007 20:21
nationalist
What I've heard
26.05.2007 23:55
A reasonable scouser
Jackson campaign
02.07.2007 13:34
Parties in the UK are organised generally as unincorporated associations. Such associations have a recognised place in UK law. They are governed by a written constitution to which the Courts can refer in cases of dispute as well as principles of Natural Justice, Statute and Civil precedent.
Jackson does not explain why he feels this is a problem for the BNP or why he thinks a corporate structure would be of more benefit.
As to direct elections of officials there may be some merit in this. In the case of a Treasurer, however, qualifications and experience might be a pre-requisite for standing. I suspect that Nick Griffin will look at any good suggestions and incorporate them after he has defeated Jackson. This seems to be his modus operandi!
As far as financial dealings are concerned political parties have to submit quite detailed accounts to the Electoral Commission. Additionally the accounts of the BNP are audited by a professional firm. As the leader of the BNP Griffin does not need to rip-off anyone - he could quite legitimately and properly ensure he is paid a decent wage. He does not appear to have a particularly lavish lifestyle.
When one looks at how MPs and MEPs live I think many would find the attacks on Griffin curious. I've never bumped into him at the Ivy!
George Willis