BNP Makes Successful Push into Devon
The British National Party has made a highly successful push into Devon, where a packed public meeting addressed by party leader Nick Griffin provoked the local leftist newspaper into a smear frenzy — which backfired badly when readers overwhelmingly expressed their support for the party.
The meeting at Broadclyst Victory Hall, near Exeter, was attended by around 100 supporters, and was described on the front page of the local Express and Echo rag as being “secret.” It also quoted several “anonymous” residents as “expressing outrage.”
However, Roy Elkins, chairman of Broadclyst Victory Hall, said he had only received one complaint about the meeting. He said: “It didn’t affect anybody whatsoever as far as I’m concerned.”
Parish councillor and BNP member Colin Fribbens (pictured alongside) who runs the village’s youth group, helped organise the event. He said: “We’re a political, common-sense party. We’re not racists or fascists. People seem to be coming across to us in large numbers. They’re generally fed up with Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives and they’re looking for something new.”
“The meeting was well attended by people from Broadclyst, Exeter, East Devon and the surrounding area. It was great and we made four new members that evening. There will be lots of meetings in the future in this area. We’re growing all the time here, which is great. You’re going to see more about us.”
BNP deputy leader, Simon Darby, said: “Support is very good in Devon. A lot of people are becoming interested in the BNP now there are migrant workers and a shortage of houses. Also, people are moving from London and the Midlands into the Westcountry and are very familiar with what’s happening. Devon’s an area that’s looking interesting for us.”
The response in the letters column of the newspaper, in its print and online version, was overwhelmingly positive. Here are a few extracts from the public’s response:
“May I just say thank you to the Express and Echo for their front page spread re the BNP meeting at Broadclyst. There is no such thing as bad publicity. The hall was an excellent venue and I must say the local pub, The Red Lion, was very hospitable when we bought food and drinks. If anyone wants the truth about the Party and not comments made from ignorance and misinformation just visit the web site.. They are not racist or right wing…just Pro British. Just wanting the country back to its rightful owners…” – J.
“Four people complain about a meeting from a population of 600 makes a story? What about 16.7 % of town’s population attend BNP meeting? Now that is a story!” – DS.
“Freedom of speech is a fundamental part of democracy. Without it you have a dictatorship, the BNP do not hold secret meetings, contact your local branch and you would be welcome to come along.” – LW
“With the complete implosion of U.K.I.P. the British National Party is the ONLY Party that wish for the United Kingdom to re-negotiate the treasonous Treaty of Lisbon and to withdraw from the creeping federalisation of Europe; they remain our collective last best chance to get rid of a REAL undemocratic body of trough hogs!” – PM
The Echo was also inundated with calls and web messages from people on the subject.
Commenting on the BNP’s quest for a South West seat, Jonny from Exeter, wrote: “I hope they get it. A real party who aren’t afraid to upset people and actually have a vision!”
Sarah, from Devon, said: “So you are all happy with paying all these taxes so that immigrants come into our country and claim all our benefits when decent, working class people get nothing? Why do you think so many of us British are emigrating? Too much political correctness in this world.”
Ian, from Heavitree, wrote: “BNP are right to target area and yes I hope they do get a seat down here. I’m a member myself and nobody asked me to become a member, I called them because I believe in keeping this great country great.”
R Johnson, from Taunton, wrote a formal letter:
“Liberal media paint false BNP picture, 27-August-2008.
REGARDING the story BNP targeting Devon in Euro seat bid, Echo, August 26, you say the Echo “has revealed a secret BNP rally…”
Really?
One of several things which made me look again at the British National Party was the very obvious way that the liberal media work with the hard left.
The latter arrange for mobs of violent, masked Marxists and anarchists to threaten BNP personalities, speakers and their audiences – and the police – as they did in the case of the ballerina “exposed” as a nationalist; and as they did at the Oxford Union and the recent BNP family festival, forcing the party to arrange local meetings – they don’t hold rallies – with minimum publicity to protect those attending from assault.
The media then use words such as “exposed”, “revealed”, “secret” and “rally” to paint an entirely false picture of the sort of people who join the party.
When you have to use tactics like this – plus, of course, censorship alternating with endless abuse – rather than try to refute their strong arguments, it makes it all the more obvious that the BNP is right and its opponents have no case worth mentioning. R Johnson, Taunton.”
