Note: This article is from the This is Derbyshire site. Apart from Darby's ridiculous comment that isn't really big enough (information from inside suggests this year's RWB was disastrously poorly attended), it suggests that a new location is being actively sought. 'There are a number of sites that want us', my arse.

Read on...

Anti-fascist groups say protesters will march against the British National Party's Red, White and Blue festival no matter where it is held. It was revealed yesterday that the party was looking at alternative sites after hosting the event in Denby for the third time last weekend.

Simon Darby, from the BNP, said Scotland and the south of England were being looked at as possible venues for 2010. Reasons for the proposed switch include restrictions placed on the Denby site by Amber Valley Borough Council. The authority this year restricted the number of caravans allowed and refused to grant a licence to serve alcohol.

Mr Darby also said the "hassle" given by protesters to Alan Warner – a supporter who hosts the event on his land in Codnor-Denby Lane – was a factor. Other issues include the size of the Derbyshire site, which may not be big enough if the number of supporters increases. The party also wants to hold the festival in a region it has not yet visited.

Mr Darby said: "They are provisional plans at the moment – there are a number of sites that want us. We have now held it in the north, the East and West Midlands and Wales. Talking to local people last week, they are very good about it, very stoic, and understand that it's not us to blame for the trouble but the protesters. It's also getting a bit big for the site and we have to think about the impact on Alan and his family."

However, Mr Darby said a decision was "not imminent".

Kirit Mistry, of the Racial Equality Council in Derby, organised protests against the festival alongside Unite Against Fascism and Stop the BNP. He said: "It's positive news that the event could be moving out of Derbyshire. Communities in Amber Valley and Derby have mobilised against it. Hopefully, wherever they decide to relocate the festival to, local communities and organisations can do the same."

He said the racial equality council would offer help and advice to other areas if they wanted support in organising protests.

Mr Warner, whose property has been vandalised and who has been sent threatening mail, thinks protests will continue even if the festival was moved. He said: "No matter where it is moved to, the protesters will follow. It's up to them if they want to move it. I'm just a party member, I have no say over where it's held."

Mr Warner's neighbour, John Lumsden, who is against the festival, said he had been a "prisoner" in his home during the recent gathering and the "entire village would be chuffed to bits" if it went.

Protestors blockaded roads to stop people getting to the event.

Yeah the way you oppose a people opposed to democracy is to try and smash democracy yourself.

.. do the math .. anti fascism does not work

20 left wing mps who oppose the government in the labour on paper .2000 on the demo, estimates of 200 at the RWB.

But then the BNP do love flogging dead horses when not trying to pick on minorities or disabled people

There were more protestors than atendees at the BNP car boot this year!

And stop saying 'Math' you numptie.

In the general election you watch that million votes shrink somewhat.

.. so what the BNP had a small car boot, small RWB whatever .. do you really not understand the significance that anti fascist demos pull hundreds, or a few thousand, while the BNP get a million votes? The significance is that anti fascism has failed. Anti fascism not only fails to stop the BNP gaining more and more support it has been shown over and over to actually benefit the BNP as they use it to spin their message. Support for the BNP is now general in the white working class and the message they are nazi is falling on deaf ears. what is needed is the understing that people are voting BNP not because they are nazi or fascist but because they have lost power as w/c people and are afraid of the future... and significantly most of the left and @ist movement have failed to involve themeselves with or support these people.

we have a choice, maintain the failed demo strategy as UAF demand, appeal to the state to ban and undercut these groups as HnH demand, or actually organise in w/c communities to build inclusive and strong communities which will actually defeat fascism from wherever.

D02s you seem to be abit of a armchair critic, majority of antifascists I know do organise,work& support w/c communities.
How many people do nazi demos attract??

People do need more support your right though everyday in our communities, antifascists are people too, we generally arent politicians, we need support. This has to be disciplined though as the media scrutinise & police scrutinise antifascists often more than the nazis

The BNP have nationalist cliches, conditioning, a right wing press& PNACs islamic war to bolster them recenty, no suprise they have had an increase in support in last decade.


MAYBE JUST BEING INVOLVED IN LOCAL CAMPAIGNS & BURYING YOUR HEAD IN YOUR ARSE OR BEING TOO FRIGHTENED OR APATHETIC TO TAKE ON FASCISM ISNT WORKING?? THUS ALLOWING THESE SCUM TO GET AWAY WITH IT
Basically seems like your telling all the disabled, black, mixed race, gay people & trade unionists we should just shut up & moddycoddle the moaning-ignorant who vote for them without criticism.

James wrote

"Antifascism isnt failing, it needs more support" -- no James, anti-fascism is part of the problem as it seperates fascism off from its context and cause

"D02s you seem to be abit of a armchair critic, majority of antifascists I know do organise,work& support w/c communities." -- far from it, i was in ANL in 78, AFA in the 8ts,a shop steward for c20 years, and resolute community activist and i sorry but i see few 'anti fascists' doing full on community work

"How many people do nazi demos attract??" -- ?? mate they deliberately do not do demos. surely you know this? and they get a million votes

"People do need more support your right though everyday in our communities, antifascists are people too, we generally arent politicians, we need support. This has to be disciplined though as the media scrutinise & police scrutinise antifascists often more than the nazis" --- not sure what this means

"The BNP have nationalist cliches, conditioning, a right wing press& PNACs islamic war to bolster them recenty, no suprise they have had an increase in support in last decade." -- no this is not the whole story and is a cop out. If non fascists can not win in a period like now there is something wrong. it is the politics. we have swopped working at the grass roots for the demo strategy that the nazis are smart enough to see does not work

"MAYBE JUST BEING INVOLVED IN LOCAL CAMPAIGNS & BURYING YOUR HEAD IN YOUR ARSE OR BEING TOO FRIGHTENED OR APATHETIC TO TAKE ON FASCISM ISNT WORKING?? THUS ALLOWING THESE SCUM TO GET AWAY WITH IT" ?? no it is that a lot of us with years of experiance of fighting the fascists realise they will not be beaten by daft demos or no platform or shouting "NAZI!!!!" at them

"Basically seems like your telling all the disabled, black, mixed race, gay people & trade unionists we should just shut up & moddycoddle the moaning-ignorant who vote for them without criticism." -- no i am saying your strategy is obviously failing and failing really badly and it is bizarre you can not see it .. a million votes is beyond the wildest dreams of the old National Front or the BUF .. like AFA in the 8ts, anti fascists need to take stock of what they are doing how they have failed to stop the BNP because they have failed to see what the BNP are.

If you wish to carry on this debate i suggest you join Urban 75 which has the best politics forums in the UK and where this debate is being had right now D02 :)

 http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8644741474&ref=ts

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUNUuqlG1a0&feature=PlayList&p=2A1681EE0364127A&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=5
still makes me smile:)

If the BNP getting 2 seats bothers you then vote & help get RMT & Green party to work together & to use as much direct democracy as possible, which already seems to be happening in support of the Vestas workers.
Urban 75 is good, maybe we can continue this debate there

In some ways i feel its working in others not.I feel that the organisers of unite against fascism sometimes dont help and have a habit of leaving people on their own and handing more agressive protesters into police.In leeds weyman was more concerened with getting his face on tv and letting the edl march.That is not fighting fascism its preaching to the converted in my opinion