Local anti-BNP campaigners have condemned the “Voice of Change” conference held in Brinsley Parish Hall, Brinsley, Nottinghamshire on Sunday (26 January).
The conference, which drew an enormous police presence to the area, was organised by a split within the far-right British National Party (BNP), of which local Broxtowe BNP councillor, Sadie Graham, is a major protagonist. The split has seen a bitter feud within the BNP, with claims and counter-claims of nazi sympathies and other accusations being traded between supporters of Sadie Graham’s grouping and BNP members loyal to Nick Griffin, the party’s leader.
Notts Stop the BNP, which held its own conference last Saturday (19 January), with in excess of 100 people in attendance, have been conducting extensive leafleting of the Brinsley and Eastwood areas, despite receiving threats from unknown individuals, alerting local people to the real nature of the BNP.
A spokesperson for Notts Stop the BNP said, “No-one should be fooled by the so-called “Voice of Change” supporters within the BNP. Recent events have only confirmed that they do not represent any softening of the BNP’s extremist policies, but rather it appears to be about individuals within the party locked in a power-grabbing exercise. We appeal to the people of Nottinghamshire not to be taken in by the BNP or whatever guise in which they appear. We need positive solutions to the problems our communities face, not fear and hatred.”
Notts Stop the BNP have pledged to organise against the BNP’s annual Red, White and Blue” event, due to be held near Denby, Derbyshire, later this year.
Notts Stop the BNP, which held its own conference last Saturday (19 January), with in excess of 100 people in attendance, have been conducting extensive leafleting of the Brinsley and Eastwood areas, despite receiving threats from unknown individuals, alerting local people to the real nature of the BNP.
A spokesperson for Notts Stop the BNP said, “No-one should be fooled by the so-called “Voice of Change” supporters within the BNP. Recent events have only confirmed that they do not represent any softening of the BNP’s extremist policies, but rather it appears to be about individuals within the party locked in a power-grabbing exercise. We appeal to the people of Nottinghamshire not to be taken in by the BNP or whatever guise in which they appear. We need positive solutions to the problems our communities face, not fear and hatred.”
Notts Stop the BNP have pledged to organise against the BNP’s annual Red, White and Blue” event, due to be held near Denby, Derbyshire, later this year.
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A Laughable Party
28.01.2008 11:24
Come on Broxtowe Borough Council - we want a bi-election in Brinsley. We have a councillor who doesn't appear to know what political party she is in. What a complete joke and mockery they are making of the electoral system.
The number of police here on Sunday was dreadful - there would probably be less police presence for a murder or shooting.
no name
What they say
02.02.2008 11:24
The write-up gives the distinct impression that the event was less than exciting and makes no mention of the fact that it was taking place behind rows of police. (Incidentally the police presence appears to have included at least six vans, two horses and even a FIT Team brought up from the Met.)
The thrust of the meeting seems to have been that they remained loyal to the BNP, but believed in the need for reform and change in the higher echelons of the party. "A vote on whether a leadership challenge should be launched this year received an overwhelming yes vote from the conference floor." Quite who they intend to put forward is not clear, particularly with Sadie, the obvious candidate, having been expelled from the party.
They also made a fair amount of money from donations, a book sale (make your own jokes about their reading ability) and a St George Society merchandising stall. This will presumably pay for the swanky new banner they've bought themselves and their less than impressive website.
Interestingly, the report claims, "The venue and date had previously been set aside for the BNP’s annual January Organisers’ Conference but that was before Sadie was purged by Griffin." Whether this event would have required such an overwhelming police presence is unclear. One can certainly ponder whether they're more worried about local anti-fascists (who at Kimberley last year demonstrated their ability to effectively disrupt BNP events) or BNP loyalists with a chip on their shoulder.
Durruti