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Nick Griffin says ejecting Dominic Kennedy proves party is not 'soft'
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle7028258.eceNick Griffin has defended violently ejecting a Times reporter from the British National Party’s extraordinary general meeting yesterday, insisting that it had not gone “soft” on political correctness.
The BNP chairman told its members: “Millions of viewers will have seen the report of us ejecting a lying Times journalist from the press conference. That’s not the actions of a snivelling PC party, but of an organisation that has had enough of being lied about.”
Richard Barnbrook, the BNP’s London Assembly member, had objected to an article in The Times on Saturday which reported that he had been spat at in his local area and that some of his black and Asian neighbours were worried about visitors to his home.
After a brief discussion with officials, the reporter, Dominic Kennedy, was photographed being manhandled out of the meeting by BNP security guards, one of whom tried to do so by grabbing the journalist’s nose.
Today, the Labour Party described the BNP’s actions as a “Nazi stormtrooper attack” and “fascist behaviour”. The incident raises questions over whether the BNP has set itself back in its attempts to recreate its political image.
While Mr Griffin once called for a defence of white rights with “well-directed boots and fists”, he began changing course in 1998. He told the BNP: “We must at all times present [the public] with an image of reasonableness.”
Denis MacShane, the Labour MP, former Europe minister and an ex-president of the National Union of Journalists said the BNP attack on the Times reporter showed the party's contempt for freedom of expression.
He argued: “Their Nazi stormtrooper attack on the journalist in front of Richard Barnbrook, their so-called law and order spokesman, shows the true anti-democratic face of the BNP.
“The excuse that the physical violence against the journalist was simply an attack on political correctness is a cynicism too far. When will the BBC and other papers report the BNP as the thugs they are?
"The BNP hopes to cash in on the MPs’ expenses scandal and the unleashing of anti-immigrant sentiment by MPs who should know better and win serious votes at the election.”
Chris Huhne, the Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, said: “The BNP’s commitment to democratic values such as freedom of speech and expression was always skin deep, and this episode shows that their attempted makeover is entirely phoney.”
Eric Pickles, the Conservative Party Chairman said: “The values and views of the BNP are abhorrent. This cynical move by the BNP to avoid a court injunction does not change the fact that the BNP remain an extreme racist nationalist party, which wants to divide our country over the issues of race and colour.”
David Campbell Bannerman, deputy leader of UKIP and head of policy for the party: “The press has a vital role to expose the truth. They have an important role in society which we fully endorse.”
BNP members agreed yesterday to remove the part of its constitution which had restricted its membership to “indigenous Britons” — essentially those with an Anglo-Saxon background. Mr Griffin was given extra powers to make further changes as needed to comply with race laws.
The changes must still be considered by the Equality and Human Rights Commission and will then be the subject of a further court hearing.
The Commission has already expressed concern that the BNP’s principles are “indirectly discriminatory” because they required members to pledge to oppose integration if it might affect the unity or maintenance of the “indigenous British”. It was unclear last night whether amendments to the principles were made on Sunday.
Mr Griffin is understood to have made amendments to the constitution shortly before Sunday’s meeting, which raises questions whether the vote is valid; members must be given 14 days’ written notice before they vote on changes.
Today, a 78-year-old Sikh explained why he wanted to be the first non-white member of the BNP.
Rajinder Singh said he would not approach the BNP for membership but would join if it was offered. Speaking to The Times, he said: “I can’t say no. It is like dinner — if they invite me to dinner I will go.”
He shrugged off the issue of racism. “I don’t think anybody is not racist. It is the very basic nature in human beings to be racist. Human beings are basically insecure. People want strength in their own religion, their own complexion. A child is born with discrimination.”
He supported the BNP because of concern about the encroachment of Islam in Britain. “Fundamentalism is part of Islam,” he said.
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