Wrexham Council object to the "incorrect" use of Owain Glyndwr.

[Beorn]

http://images.nwnmedia.co.uk/assets/article_main/2009/09/23w2p01owain%20glyndwr%20cutINT.jpg



OWAIN Glyndwr would be “turning in his grave” according to Wrexham Council’s leader after it was revealed the BNP have produced T-shirts featuring the Welsh hero.

The T-shirts have been produced as part of a range being sold through the British National Party’s merchandising arm Excalibur.
This morning, both Wrexham Council leader Aled Roberts and Wrexham MP Ian Lucas condemned the move, with Mr Lucas claiming the party was “thriving on ignorance.”
The T-shirt reads British By Birth, Welsh by the Grace of God and feature an image of Glyndwr.

Wrexham Council leader Aled Roberts said: “I’m pretty sure Owain Glyndwr would be turning in his grave for using him as one of their heroes.
“The people of Wales respect Owain Glyndwr because of his stance over the Welsh national identity.
“This is completely contrary to the stance of the BNP.
“This is part of the PR machine of the BNP and they change the message according to who they think is guillable enough to take in their PR.
“The party don’t recognise Wales, they only recognise Britain as a whole.
“All the people who think a great deal of Wales will have nothing to do with the BNP.”

According to the BNP’s website the items of clothing have been developed: “Drawing upon Scottish, Welsh and English history.
It adds: “The T-shirts have been designed for maximum impact and are guaranteed to start a conversation anywhere — a perfect way to introduce the idea of nationalism to a total stranger.”
The clothing has also been condemned by Wrexham’s MP, Ian Lucas.
He said: “I just think the BNP thrive on ignorance and this is yet another form of ignorant propaganda which is not based on fact. They should stop pedalling these lies that support their noxious policies.”

John Walker, BNP national treasurer, defended the move and said: “The BNP are Britain’s foremost patriotic party and we represent English, Scottish, Irish and Welsh people.
“We are using them in a positive way – anyone who criticises it has got a political axe to grind. Whatever we do, someone will criticise us for it.”
Wrexham’s university is named after Owain Glyndwr. A spokesman for the university said they would not be commenting on the matter.



Source (http://www.eveningleader.co.uk/news/78347/fury-as-bnp-use-owain-glyndwr-to-sell-t-shirts-have-your-say.aspx)

Will this dawn the arrival of Owain Glyndwr to ride down from his resting place and smite the heads off the BNP and instigate the peaceful settlement of all who are Muslim and not Welsh?

[Beorn]

The far-right British National Party has been accused of hijacking images of popular figures from Welsh and Scottish history.

The right-wing group's merchandise website, Excalibur, is selling items emblazoned with images of St George, William Wallace and Owain Glyndwr together with slogans such as "British by birth, Welsh by the grace of God". The BNP claims the idea is to draw on Scottish, Welsh and English history to "introduce the idea of nationalism to a total stranger". But the merchandise has caused bitter consternation across the UK.

Dafydd Wigley, the former Plaid Cymru leader, also condemned the merchandise: "I find it very distasteful that the BNP would hijack the image of Owain Glyndwr in an attempt to further their cause in Wales."

Glyndwr led the historic revolt against English rule and was the last native Welshman to be proclaimed the Prince of Wales on 16 September 1400. A 4.5m high bronze statue of Glyndwr mounted on a horse was presented to the people of Corwen, Denbighshire – the town of Glyndwr's birth – in September 2007 at a cost of £125,000.

The sculptor Colin Spofforth spent four years creating it and said he was "shocked" when he found out it was being used by the BNP. "First of all, what they have done is against the law," he told The Western Mail. "I certainly did not give any permission for it to be used and I never would have done."

Another statue of Glyndwr stands in the Princes' Memorial Garden in St Peter ad Vincula Church in Pennal. Rev Geraint ap Iorwerth said Glyndwr would be "turning in his grave" if he knew the BNP were using him as one of their heroes. "Glyndwr was not a racist or a bigot in any shape or form."
The BNP has yet to win seats in the Welsh Assembly or any council seats. Yet mainstream politicians are worried that the party could be growing in popularity. In the 2007 Welsh elections the party fielded 20 candidates, coming fifth behind the major parties in some areas.

The BNP's adoption of William Wallace, who led the resistance in the Wars of Scottish Independence, highlights the misgivings of Jim Murphy, Secretary of State for Scotland, who warned against "complacency" after this year's European elections which saw the BNP win two seats. "We all know that they are racists and anti-Semites, but their vote in Scotland has gone from near zero 10 years ago to 27,000 at the European elections," he said.
John Walker, the BNP national treasurer, defended the T-shirts this weekend, saying the party was using the images in a positive way.

"The BNP is Britain's foremost patriotic party and represents English, Scottish, Irish and Welsh people," he said. "Anyone who criticises it has got a political axe to grind."Source (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/bnp-condemned-for-hijacking-scottish-and-welsh-heroes-1793843.html)

People seem to forget what it was "their heroes" actually fought for. I wonder if Owain Glyndwr or William Wallace faced with the choice to fight for or against the current multiculturalism would choose to align with Plaid Cymru or some other equally pathetic "nationalist" political party?

[Treffie]

It's so funny reading the leaders of Plaid Cymru complaining about the BNP - no one really knows what Plaid Cymru stands for - independence and erm.........:p

[Iago]

It's so funny reading the leaders of Plaid Cymru complaining about the BNP - no one really knows what Plaid Cymru stands for - independence and erm.........:p

They don't even stand for independence anymore either, they are a carbon copy of the SNP.

OUT of the UK but IN the EU :rolleyes: