Times reporter Dominic Kennedy is evicted from the BNP meeting in Hornchurch (Paul Hackett/The Times)
Times Reporter Dominic Kennedy has written about his thuggish experiences at the BNP’s EGM:
One man grabbed my nose and tried to remove it from my face. I was seized and shoved out of the door towards a parked car. I threw my hands out to steady myself. A BNP thug snarled: “Don’t touch people’s cars mate.” Obviously, I offered no resistance.
I had gone to the Elm Park pub in Hornchurch to report on a press conference at which Nick Griffin, MEP for North West England and chairman of the British National Party, was to explain how his activists had just passed an historic membership reform.
…
Inside, Mr Griffin gave a series of interviews. Asked about my rough ejection, he said that it was “because he is from The Times, which is owned by Rupert Murdoch, and it lies and it lies and it lies about this party. So he was told, ‘We’re sorry, you told one lie too many’, so we are not allowing anyone from The Times in — kindly leave. He refused to leave so he had to be en- couraged to leave.”
No such exchange took place. I was simply invited in and then ambushed by his henchmen.
Maybe they were all just frustrated because the Anti-Nazi League failed to turn up. I’ve just looked in the mirror at the Burger King where I am filing this story and spotted the blood drying on my face. I never thought I would actually get my nose bloodied trying to cover a press conference for a British political party — but that is the true face of Nick Griffin and his BNP.
…
Jonathan Dupont
Inside, Mr Griffin gave a series of interviews. Asked about my rough ejection, he said that it was “because he is from The Times, which is owned by Rupert Murdoch, and it lies and it lies and it lies about this party. So he was told, ‘We’re sorry, you told one lie too many’, so we are not allowing anyone from The Times in — kindly leave. He refused to leave so he had to be en- couraged to leave.”No such exchange took place. I was simply invited in and then ambushed by his henchmen.Maybe they were all just frustrated because the Anti-Nazi League failed to turn up. I’ve just looked in the mirror at the Burger King where I am filing this story and spotted the blood drying on my face. I never thought I would actually get my nose bloodied trying to cover a press conference for a British political party — but that is the true face of Nick Griffin and his BNPOne man grabbed my nose and tried to remove it from my face. I was seized and shoved out of the door towards a parked car. I threw my hands out to steady myself. A BNP thug snarled: “Don’t touch people’s cars mate.” Obviously, I offered no resistance.I had gone to the Elm Park pub in Hornchurch to report on a press conference at which Nick Griffin, MEP for North West England and chairman of the British National Party, was to explain how his activists had just passed an historic membership reform.…Inside, Mr Griffin gave a series of interviews. Asked about my rough ejection, he said that it was “because he is from The Times, which is owned by Rupert Murdoch, and it lies and it lies and it lies about this party. So he was told, ‘We’re sorry, you told one lie too many’, so we are not allowing anyone from The Times in — kindly leave. He refused to leave so he had to be en- couraged to leave.”No such exchange took place. I was simply invited in and then ambushed by his henchmen.Maybe they were all just frustrated because the Anti-Nazi League failed to turn up. I’ve just looked in the mirror at the Burger King where I am filing this story and spotted the blood drying on my face. I never thought I would actually get my nose bloodied trying to cover a press conference for a British political party — but that is the true face of Nick Griffin and his BNP.
Tags: freedom of press
You really love this foto!
The ANal?
Oh the Anti Nazi League, didn’t they die out with Blair Peach?
For a reporter to a broad sheet, rather than a hemorrhoid, sorry tabloid, he’s a bit out of date or retro with his references.
I am surprised he didn’t call the BNP the NF then.
Maybe he did & that’s what upset them?
No Dominic it’s the UAF these days & they only turn up when your NUJ colleagues tip them off.
Hence all the cloak & dagger stuff about meeting at the 3rd wash basin in Victoria station loo’s for further instructions.
Ah no that was Jeffery Archer wasn’t it?
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LOL!
NB seem pretty upset about poor little Dominics manhandling!
Why didn’t Kennedy just leave when he was asked!?
The BNP security have every right to expel this annoying little twerp!
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Kennedy, like many of his ilk, was trying to create the news. When asked to leave he was obliged to do so under the law. When he did not then he was legally ejected.
MAurice, you are grasping at straws!
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Kennedy is a liar when saying…
“I offered no resistance”
That picture NB loves so much clearly shows him putting up a struggle as does a YouTube video of the episode!
He can’t even lie straight in bed!
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He nose nothing now!
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Definitley lead by the nose.
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Didnt Labour eject an 80 yr old member in a very similar fashion a while back ? Pot Kettle black anyone ?
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Yes I think we are due to witness Dave snatching candy from a baby.
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‘ “Kennedy is a liar when saying…
“I offered no resistance” ‘
What Kennedy doesn’t know, is that only a few feet away, there was a BNPtv cameraman who recorded the whole lot…including Kennedy putting up a lot of resistance!
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Perhaps Kennedy should have left when requested as he is legally obliged to do.
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The man grabbing Kennedy’s nose was Lee Harvey Oswald, yes it’s a fact no conspiracy here.
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Look at him. Shaved head, black shirt, it’s no wonder he was thrown out. Fascists like him weren’t invited.
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But what about the journalist?
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You do have a point there! Whose hand is that grabbing his nose?
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I have just blogged about this. As a leftist I am ashamed to have to admit that a right-wing party taught one of Murdoch’s minions his place. Across the great political divide, well done the BNP.
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No one seems to raise an eyebrow when undemocratic forces align against the BNP; all in an attempt to prevent the BNP from being heard.
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If this was not legal, how come said reporter is not prosecuting the security guard, surely he would if he had a legal leg to stand on, after all it might make a great story.
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Its obviously not you,because his nose is definatly NOT blue
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Not like your dads Sami, hey,what happened wee man.
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My old mans a ..erm dustman .doesnt bother his bahookey with sports or politics or unlike you reguired(truth denier)religion.
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Is that where he found you? A disgarded doll with a pull string on the back, pull the string and you shout, fascist, death and destrution, up the ra and oh the IRONY.
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Oh dear ,Truth Denier youve gave the game away now.Were you recruited at the Lloyds arena?
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The irony is the journalist was dressed in black…had an almost shaved head and had the cheek to actually say that BNPers were dressed in black!
Is being dressed in black a privilage that only anarchists, journalists and widows can enjoy?
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