ITALY BNP politician who lives in a Welsh village greeted by fascist salutes
antifa | 08.04.2009 07:50 | World
POLITICIANS from all sides condemned the British National Party last night after its deputy leader appeared on stage in Milan at a neo-fascist rally.
Simon Darby, who lives at Trewern, near Welshpool, stood alongside Roberto Fiore, who has a conviction for involvement with a group whose members took part in Europe’s biggest post-war terrorist outrage, and Bruno Gollnisch, who was convicted two years ago of Holocaust denial.
As the men entered the hall where the rally took place on Sunday, they were greeted by young men giving fascist salutes.
The meeting was organised by Fiore’s party Forza Nuova.
He was convicted in Italy in 1985 of “subversive association” for his involvement in the Armed Revolutionary Nuclei.
Two members of the group were convicted for the Bologna railway station bombing in August 1980 which killed 85 people, including two British tourists, Catherine Mitchell and John Kolpinski, and left over 200 wounded.
Fiore became an MEP after Alessandra Mussolini, granddaughter of the Italian fascist dictator, resigned her seat to take up a post in the Italian government.
He has been a friend, financial supporter and political mentor to BNP leader Nick Griffin since 1980, when Fiore arrived in Britain on the run from justice in Italy.
Also on the platform with Mr Darby was Bruno Gollnisch. An MEP for the French National Front, Gollnisch was given a three-month suspended prison sentence in January 2007 for denying the Holocaust. He was also fined 5,000.
The court, in Lyon, found he had “disputed a crime against humanity” in remarks he made during a news conference in the city in October 2004. Gollnisch had questioned the number of Jews who died in the Holocaust and said the “existence of the gas chambers is for historians to discuss”.
Lisa Stevens, a leading Labour candidate for the European elections in June, said: “The Labour Party is campaigning for ‘fairness not fear’. It is vital that people vote on June 4 for two reasons. First, to send a clear message that there is no place in the politics of a modern Wales for racists and those who associate with convicted criminals.
“Second, because of the particular rules that apply in this election, it is essential that there is a high turnout. If people stay at home then smaller extremist parties get a much larger voice. When good people do nothing, those who spout lies and hatred have a chance to thrive.”
Plaid Cymru AM Leanne Wood said: “Although the BNP have taken great strides in recent years to appear professional and credible, this shows they have the same values and politics as the European fascists in the 1930s. Today their focus is on Muslims, but the message is no different – it’s a message of hate and people should be under no illusion as to what they stand for.”
North Wales Conservative AM Mark Isherwood said: “People must beware the wolf behind the smiling mask. Our grandparents’ generation fought hatred with hope, and now we must do the same again as people try to use the same tactics as the Nazi Party in the 1920s.”
Former Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Mike German said: “This clearly demonstrates the kind of people the BNP chooses to associate with. Most people in Wales have people among their family or friends who fought in World War II against fascism, and we cannot allow the same parties to re-emerge in Britain that want people to be judged on the basis of their race, creed or religion rather than as human beings.”
Mr Darby, who heads the BNP’s list of European candidates in the West Midlands, said: “Both Roberto Fiore and Bruno Gollnisch are MEPs. Nationalists across Europe will be meeting more and more.
“At the Milan meeting, we were discussing the economic crisis that has been created by the other parties. I can’t help it that a small number of young men chose to raise their arms in a salute as we entered the building where the meeting took place.”
A leading member of the BNP in London posted an offensive comment about the death of David Cameron’s son Ivan on a website chatroom, it has emerged.
Jeffrey Marshall, who stood for the party in last year’s Greater London Authority elections, made the comment about Ivan, six, who had cerebral palsy, on a Yahoo site called the Conservative Democratic Alliance.
Tory AM Mark Isherwood said: “This is abhorrent and contemptible.”
BNP deputy leader Simon Darby said: “I think it’s appalling that our political opponents are trying to make capital out of this. The message wasn’t posted on a BNP website.”
As the men entered the hall where the rally took place on Sunday, they were greeted by young men giving fascist salutes.
The meeting was organised by Fiore’s party Forza Nuova.
He was convicted in Italy in 1985 of “subversive association” for his involvement in the Armed Revolutionary Nuclei.
Two members of the group were convicted for the Bologna railway station bombing in August 1980 which killed 85 people, including two British tourists, Catherine Mitchell and John Kolpinski, and left over 200 wounded.
Fiore became an MEP after Alessandra Mussolini, granddaughter of the Italian fascist dictator, resigned her seat to take up a post in the Italian government.
He has been a friend, financial supporter and political mentor to BNP leader Nick Griffin since 1980, when Fiore arrived in Britain on the run from justice in Italy.
Also on the platform with Mr Darby was Bruno Gollnisch. An MEP for the French National Front, Gollnisch was given a three-month suspended prison sentence in January 2007 for denying the Holocaust. He was also fined 5,000.
The court, in Lyon, found he had “disputed a crime against humanity” in remarks he made during a news conference in the city in October 2004. Gollnisch had questioned the number of Jews who died in the Holocaust and said the “existence of the gas chambers is for historians to discuss”.
Lisa Stevens, a leading Labour candidate for the European elections in June, said: “The Labour Party is campaigning for ‘fairness not fear’. It is vital that people vote on June 4 for two reasons. First, to send a clear message that there is no place in the politics of a modern Wales for racists and those who associate with convicted criminals.
“Second, because of the particular rules that apply in this election, it is essential that there is a high turnout. If people stay at home then smaller extremist parties get a much larger voice. When good people do nothing, those who spout lies and hatred have a chance to thrive.”
Plaid Cymru AM Leanne Wood said: “Although the BNP have taken great strides in recent years to appear professional and credible, this shows they have the same values and politics as the European fascists in the 1930s. Today their focus is on Muslims, but the message is no different – it’s a message of hate and people should be under no illusion as to what they stand for.”
North Wales Conservative AM Mark Isherwood said: “People must beware the wolf behind the smiling mask. Our grandparents’ generation fought hatred with hope, and now we must do the same again as people try to use the same tactics as the Nazi Party in the 1920s.”
Former Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Mike German said: “This clearly demonstrates the kind of people the BNP chooses to associate with. Most people in Wales have people among their family or friends who fought in World War II against fascism, and we cannot allow the same parties to re-emerge in Britain that want people to be judged on the basis of their race, creed or religion rather than as human beings.”
Mr Darby, who heads the BNP’s list of European candidates in the West Midlands, said: “Both Roberto Fiore and Bruno Gollnisch are MEPs. Nationalists across Europe will be meeting more and more.
“At the Milan meeting, we were discussing the economic crisis that has been created by the other parties. I can’t help it that a small number of young men chose to raise their arms in a salute as we entered the building where the meeting took place.”
A leading member of the BNP in London posted an offensive comment about the death of David Cameron’s son Ivan on a website chatroom, it has emerged.
Jeffrey Marshall, who stood for the party in last year’s Greater London Authority elections, made the comment about Ivan, six, who had cerebral palsy, on a Yahoo site called the Conservative Democratic Alliance.
Tory AM Mark Isherwood said: “This is abhorrent and contemptible.”
BNP deputy leader Simon Darby said: “I think it’s appalling that our political opponents are trying to make capital out of this. The message wasn’t posted on a BNP website.”
antifa