TUC calls for ban on BNP from public sector
Delegates at the TUC conference in Liverpool unanimously called for a ban on members of extremist parties working in the public sector.
One union boss said: “It is not acceptable that you can be a fascist at weekends, yet work between Monday and Friday accessing confidential information of members of the public”.
Another said it was “wrong” for BNP members to be allowed to work in the probation service. While the NUJ said the BBC was wrong to allow Nick Griffin, leader of the BNP, on Question Time.
These sorts of reactionary measures against the BNP are not only unnecessary (since it overstates the BNP’s influence within the public sector), but also counterproductive.
Authoritarianism and ideological grandstanding will not defeat the BNP. Addressing the issues, however, will. A more constructive and productive approach would have been for the TUC to do a point by point rebuttal of the BNP’s immigration or economic policies.
Nick Griffin has spent the last eight years trying to convince the electorate that the “Establishment” are the true fascists and not the BNP. Making the BNP look like martyrs only proves Griffin’s point and distracts the electorates attention away from the true fascists, namely, the BNP.
(NB: Not all the Left are not in full agreement about some of the TUC delegates views on the BNP going on QT. Hadleigh Roberts, a Labour Party activist, has written an encouraging piece over on LabourList)
TUC ban BNP from public services – The Guardian
Belgium throws out Neo-Nazis from army
Eight soldiers have been thrown out of the Belgian army after it was discovered they had links to “Blood and Honour”, a neo-Nazi organisation with strong links to the BNP. (Many of its leaders are BNP members and Blood and Honour nazi bands have raised money for the BNP. Also see Europol report)
Belgium’s Federal Prosecutor Daniel Bernard said: “There was no evidence of an imminent attack, but from the documents the authorities had seized it was clear that the group wanted to attack the structure and institutions of the state”.
A bomb capable of blowing up a car was just one of the items seized in the raids on five barracks and 18 homes in Flanders. “We found an enormous amount of ammunition. All manner of weapons from hunting rifles to military guns, detonators and above all extreme right and even neo-nazi propaganda,” added the Federal Prosecutor.
The arrests were the result of a two year investigation. Sources claim the group had used army grounds for paramilitary exercises, shooting practice, as well as the spreading of neo-nazi ideology.
According to a report by the US Department for Homeland Security, neo-Nazi organisations are attempting to recruit and radicalize veterans and currently serving members of the armed forces in order to exploit their skills and knowledge derived from military training and combat.
Belgium police foil alleged neo-Nazi plot – Euro News
BNP member banned from streets after racist slur
John Chappell, a 60-year old Cambridge member of the BNP, has been banned from his local streets after he declared himself to be “BNP and proud” and subjecting neighbours to racist abuse.
Chappell told a Cambridge-born man with Caribbean origins to “go back where he came from”, a court heard.
He admitted to the charges of racially aggravated harassment, racially aggravated common assault and disorderly behaviour.
Magistrates made an exclusion order banning Chappell from going to his victims local area for six months. He was also ordered to pay them £75 each in compensation and made the subject of a six-month community order and a six-month supervision requirement, including that he tackles alcohol issues.
The Judge said: “This sort of behaviour is entirely unacceptable, and we are particularly concerned that this was witnessed by a 9-year-old girl.”
BNP supporters ban from street after racist slur – Cambridge News
