Jabron Hashmi who was killed in Afghanistan in 2006
The BNP claims to be the only party to support British troops, but its barmy policies on non-white soldiers and the disrespectful language used by some party officials towards our troops is a disgrace.
The BNP’s recruitment policy is to have an all white (what it terms it as ”the right to remain British”) British Army. It states there should be a top limit on the number of “non-British” soldiers in forces. This policy - which amounts to a cut over a period of time - is not only highly irresponsible, particularly during a time when the Falklands crisis is heating up and British forces are fighting terrorists in Afghanistan, but also ignores the massive contribution non-white Armed Service personnel have made historically and still make today.
(In October 2009 Nothing British was consulted by Britain’s most senior Generals. They condemned the BNP’s policy and said it would damage the frontline operational capacity of the Armed Forces - putting British civilian lives at risk.)
Today’s British military has a total of 11,300 ethnic minorities serving as regular forces. Men and women from Africa, Asia, the Indian sub-continent and the Caribbean have all willingly served on the front line, as soldiers, pilots and seamen throughout Britain’s history. Ethnic minorities play a vital role in every aspect of the Armed Forces and are taking increasingly senior positions. They are risking their lives every day in Afghanistan as they bravely battle against the enemies of Britain.
The BNP dismisses claims that it is racist towards “non-British” soldiers, but party officials have used racially charged and disrespectful language towards some of Britain’s bravest and most celebrated non-white veterans.
Recent examples used by the BNP and its supporters towards non-white service personnel:
- 1. May 2009 – The party dismissed the exceptional bravery of Lance Corporal Johnson Beharry VC as “routine”. They suggested he was awarded the VC because of “politicial correctness”. They contemptuously called L/Cpl. Beharry, who lives in London but was born in Grenada, an “immigrant”.
- 2. May 2009 – Nick Griffin showed a lack of regard towards the Gurkhas when he labelled them as “mercenaries” during a BBC Radio Five Live interview. He also said he didn’t think Britain can “realistically” say “Look you can all come and all your relatives”.
- 3. August 2009 – Andrew Brons MEP referred to the former soldier and Olympic gold medalist Dame Kelly Holmes as “non-British”.
- 4. October 2009 – BNP supporter and blogger The Green Arrow, which is run by Paul Morris, condemned the contribution made by Muslim soldiers.
British voters are not only horrified by these un-patriotic examples, but also know that without the daily sacrifice of non-white servicemen and women, more British lives would be put at risk and we would not enjoy our freedom.
The British Army relies on teamwork and our servicemen standing together, the complete opposite of the BNP’s ideology of sectarianism and division.
Maurice Cousins
For more information on the BNP and the Armed Forces please read our Stolen Valour report
