Times reporter Dominic Kennedy is evicted from the BNP meeting in Hornchurch
Yesterday’s expulsion of Times Reporter Dominic Kennedy is just the latest in a long series of actions that shows the BNP’s uneasy relationship with freedom of speech.
The BNP claims that it is a democratic party and committed to the political process. One of its favourite narratives is to cry that “the Establishment” is anti-democratic. It likes its followers to believe it is a band of lonely patriots resisting oppression. When it is refused (wrongly in our view) a platform, its members protest as “victims” at student rallies. Anyone who disagrees with this narrative is dismissed as a “liar”.
BNP "victims" Adam and Mark Walker protesting at Durham Uni.
Unfortunately for the BNP, actions speak louder than words.
By way of an example, on a number of occasions over the last year we have contacted the BNP to encourage them to be more open and accountable by allowing us to subject them to the same level of scrutiny as any normal party.
We have asked for spectator passes to their events, a common practice at mainstream party events. We have telephoned their Press Office for comments or to confirm facts before we put up articles on our site. Needless to say, on all of these occaisions they have refused to cooperate.
A few examples of BNP non-cooperation:
-
1. Won’t allow observers at its events - we wrote a letter to Wendy Russell, BNP chief organiser for Red, White and Blue festival, and Lee Barnes, BNP Legal Director, for an observers pass. We have received no reply (30th July 2009)
-
2. Won’t debate us - the BNP refused to take part in a debate with Nothing British on Sky News because it said we were “un-democratic”. (20th October 2009)
- 3. Won’t talk to us – the BNP wouldn’t cooperate with us in our enquiries into its attempts to hijack the Armed Forces telling one of our freelance researchers to “f*** off!”. You can listen to our recording of the conversation here. (5th February 2010)
Maurice Cousins and Jonathan Dupont
Tags: featured
Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by NothingBritish: New post: The BNP’s uneasy relationship with free speech (http://cli.gs/EN72n) http://cli.gs/EN72n...
Like or Dislike:
0 
5
How many times have you used this foto now, 4 or 5 times already?
Do you get a royalty every time it is shown?
Maybe the BNP don’t see you as being mainstream press?
Maybe they won’t respond to you as they feel you come under the label of liars?
You know Times = Sun = Murdoch = Conservatives = Nothing British & so on ad nauseum.
Though that said you have had a couple of visits from top BNP officials, the rest of the time it is just the likes of me.
Hot debate. What do you think?
14 
2
They may not regard us as mainstream, but then they should not complain about us when we wish to contact them about facts or comments. Our lines are always open to them.
Hot debate. What do you think?
6 
11
So says NB who delete 90% of comments.
Hot debate. What do you think?
8 
9
Only comments that are off topic or conspiracy theories. As our guidlines clearly point out: http://www.nothingbritish.com/01/help-us-improve-the-site/
Our spam filter also picks out certain words (swear words etc). Stay on topic and don’t use conspiracy theories and you won’t get deleted.
Hot debate. What do you think?
4 
8
IMO and in my posting experience Maurice has a big prob with freedom of speech.
Hot debate. What do you think?
7 
2
Do you mean “conspiracy” theories like there’s no such thing as man-made global warming? That wasn’t much of a conspiracy was it? Rather the other way round.How on earth do you think you can judge what theories are conspiracy or otherwise?
Hot debate. What do you think?
7 
2
Anything that Maurice does not like appears to be a “conspiracy theory”! He ignores the fact that such “conspiracy theories” such as the Gulf of Tongking incident and the USS Maine sinking were proven as fact.
Hot debate. What do you think?
7 
2
Here’s a good theory for you Maurice – the treatment of Nick Griffin has been shameful in the extreme and shows beyond a shadow of a doubt that the political establishment in the country is totally undemocratic.
Oh yes and here’s another theory – the political establishment knows it has pushed the British people too far and it is hitting out in fear and terror at anyone who tries to pick at the knots of PC which have bound us so effectively for the past 10 years or so. They have promised too many people too many things in return for votes and they are extremely scared of what will happen when they can’t fulfil their part of the bargain – because ultimately – we won’t let them!
I’ve got quite a few other theories…
Hot debate. What do you think?
12 
2
To be honest MLJ they have sold a big fat lie & the truth always surfaces.
The voters believe them less & less.
Like or Dislike:
2 
1
I recall Lord Bethell “debating” with Nick Griffin on Channel 4 News last year. A bit one-sided as Nick tore into NB’s Tory Generals for politicising the armed forces
Hot debate. What do you think?
10 
1
[...] BNP and freedom of speech « Nothing British [...]
Like or Dislike:
0 
5
i wonder what Mr brown would do if the press constantly lied about his party? I’m sure he would welcome them to meetings with open arms =)
Hot debate. What do you think?
10 
2
“The BNP’s uneasy relationship with free speech”
Well plenty of people think you have an uneasy relationship with free speech too!
I still don’t understand about the deletion of Peter’s comment even though I disagreed with it!
I would have thought you need all the friends you can get.
Hot debate. What do you think?
7 
1
“MLJ says:
February 15, 2010 at 2:05 pm
Oh, so where do you get your “facts” from then?”
Good quality Christmas crackers or maybe Chinese fortune cookies?
Like or Dislike:
4 
1
[...] HERE to read the full story on how the BNP wishes to censor and control our free [...]
Like or Dislike:
0 
1
You are having a laugh aren’t you? Our free press! The freedom of the press!! Censor and control our free press!!! Do they sell tickets to the planet you live on?You’ll be talking about the freedom of the BBC next and then the freedom of comment on this forum……
Hot debate. What do you think?
7 
1
Ah, yes! I remember the BBC’s embarrassment when it was revealed by a panelist on “Have I got news for you”, that a BBC political censorship department had banned a particular subject. He held up the letter from the BBC department.
Yes, the once impartial BBC is no longer a voice to be trusted.
Like or Dislike:
3 
2
Maybe if the journalists from the mainstream press showed a bit more ‘journalistic integrity” and did not editorialise in their ramblings, the ire of BNP supporters would not be raised.
Hot debate. What do you think?
6 
2
The BNP proved themselves again a cynical and opportunistic leadership supported by the gullible and protected by thugs.
Like or Dislike:
0 
7
I am still wondering whether Barbara is for or against sharia law in this country, she was against the idea of Lee Barnes suggesting it for a benefit cheat who comes from that culture where it would be used?
Like or Dislike:
6 
1
[...] the two way process by allowing access to its officials through the press. Nothing British has on several occasions attempted to ask for answers from the BNP on issues of policy and it has chosen not to [...]
Like or Dislike:
0 
2
Yet MORE lies.
For Nothing British to be talking about the BNP’s “uneasy relationship with free speech” given its recent behaviour is another staggering irony.
I made several comments here yesterday, none of which met these criteria Mr Cousins, and all of which just showed up your organisation’s bare-faced hypocrisy.
Here is a screen capture of the last comment I made, care to explain my transgression? If that is you have the guts to publish it…
http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/7575/capvj.jpg
Hot debate. What do you think?
8 
2
Conspiracy theories?
Hot debate. What do you think?
8 
8
Maurice, you KNOW that you delete on-topic posts which do not contain “conspiracy theories” or swear words. Only facts that you want to go away.
I ask you again: What do you have against the International Committee of the Red Cross? Do you believe them to be Nazis?
Hot debate. What do you think?
8 
1
Oh, so where do you get your “facts” from then?
Hot debate. What do you think?
10 
2
hope not hate, gerry gables fables at searchlight, the frankfurt school, common purpose, the nuj, socialist worker, mirror and so on lol
Like or Dislike:
3 
0
I bet you never saw him on HIGNFY again, Acorn!
Like or Dislike:
1 
2