The latest British National Party meeting in Somerset raised £1500 towards election expenses as two new candidates were announced for the Yeovil and Bridgwater seats, reports deputy Somerset organiser Roger Bennett.

Long-time environmentalist activist Robert Baehr will be the BNP’s candidate in Yeovil while former counsellor and auxiliary nurse Donna Treanor will carry the party’s banner in Bridgewater.

The money to fund the campaign was raised at a well-attended weekend meeting in Somerset addressed by guest speaker and BNP foreign affairs spokesman Arthur Kemp, who also conducted the fundraising appeal.

Mr Baehr has a libertarian background and joined the BNP shortly after the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001.

If elected to parliament, Mr Baehr said he would campaign for British withdrawal from the war in Afghanistan.

“Initially I supported the invasion of Afghanistan,” he said. “Now I believe that I was wrong. Bringing our brave soldiers home alive and unharmed has to be the top priority.”

His local concerns include defending the green belt from development,   investigating the skullduggery behind Yeovil’s “secret mosque” and promoting local services including post offices, pubs, village shops and also small-scale industry.

“Another priority is immigration and an end to our population explosion,” he said. “Seventy million is ecologically unsustainable and it is social suicide.”

In common with all BNP candidates, Mr Baehr and Ms Treanor have called for the restoration of Britain’s sovereignty through withdrawal from the European Union.

“My dad didn’t risk his life in World War Two so that this country should lose its independence,” Mr Baehr said.

The establishment is pulling an elaborate confidence trick by claiming that individual “energy savings” are benefitting the environment because the end result of such savings are an increase in energy use, Exeter British National Party was told at its latest meeting.

Addressing a packed local venue, BNP parliamentary candidate for Exeter Robert Farmer explained that all savings made by individuals in fact led directly to increased energy usage through other means.

“Before we can understand why energy conservation cannot work, we must first understand one very important aspect of the banking system,” Mr Farmer said.

“Banks are able to loan out some ten times the amount of money they hold on deposit. This is called Fractional Reserve Banking,” he said.

“This means that if Joe Soap puts £1000 in the bank, then the bank is now able to issue and collect interest on loans totalling £10,000.”

With that point understood, Mr Farmer went on to explain how individual energy savings increased total energy use.

“Joe Soap lives in a big house and uses lots of energy and has an overall energy bill of £1000 a month. In order to reduce this bill, Joe installs a new, efficient, gas central heating boiler.

“He then changes all his light bulbs to the new energy efficient ones — you know the sort, the ones that glow in the dark.

“He buys a new fridge and freezer, has a ‘smart meter’ installed and is forever turning off lights and other appliances. And all this pays off, for at the end of the month Joe’s energy use has halved and his bill is now just £500,” Mr Farmer said.

“What will Joe now do with the £500 he has saved? The answer to this question will tell us why energy conservation is doomed to fail.

“Like most people, when presented with an extra £500 per month, Joe will more than likely do one of two things: he will either spend the money or he will save it.

“Should he decide to spend it, then he may now go out and buy that new TV set he has been looking at for the bedroom — a TV set that used more energy in its construction than the amount of energy Joe has saved, not to mention the energy the TV set will use during its lifetime and the energy needed to dispose of the set at the end of its lifetime.

“Joe may jet off to Florida and enjoy a holiday in the sun, but in so doing, use far more energy than that saved,” Mr Farmer said.

“As anything and everything Joe may buy will use energy of one kind or another, then whatever Joe spends his money on will result in a greater energy use than that initially saved,” Mr Farmer continued.

“But Joe may not spend the money saved at all; he may just put it into the bank. Surely that must conserve energy?

“Well I’m afraid not. As we saw earlier, banks, under the Fractional Reserve Banking system, are able to loan out ten times the amount of cash held on deposit.

“This means that when Joe puts his saved £500 into the bank, they are able to loan out £5,000 to people – who will then use this money to buy cars, TV sets, foreign holidays et cetera.

“Thus Joe is still accounting for far more energy use now than he did before his conservation effort. It makes no difference whether he spends or saves the money,” Mr Farmer said to laughter and applause.

The meeting also heard from the BNP candidate in Totnes, Mike Turner, who discussed the recent events surrounding the election hustings at the Totnes Community College.

Mr Turner said the college principal eventually cancelled the hustings but the Totnes Civic Centre was offered as an alternative venue which proved more than adequate.

Some 250 people attended the hustings with the BNP alongside the Conservative, Labour, LibDems and Green Parties. Mr Turner ensured that he spoke on all issues discussed including education, local buses and travel, and local hospitals.

The meeting was also addressed by BNP website editor and foreign affairs spokesman Arthur Kemp.

A collection was held in which some £760 was raised for branch election funds.

The event for sixth-formers and members of the public, was supposed to have been held at the Ariel Centre at King Edward VI Community College, in Totnes, but was cancelled late last week after a National Union of Students official objected to the BNP being represented on campus.

One of the event organisers then resurrected the event by hiring the Civic Hall, but only after town councillors held an emergency meeting earlier this week to debate whether they wanted the BNP in “their” hall.

They decided there was no valid reason for declining the request and as a consequence the town clerk was authorised to give the go-ahead for the event to take place.

One of the event organisers was quoted as saying: ”All the schools involved have been extremely supportive.

“All prospective parliamentary candidates have been approached and the majority have responded and are happy to share the platform with the BNP prospective candidate.

“As arranged before the event it is primarily for the students from the schools in the constituency.

“The interest from the public has been amazing and although the number of tickets has been restricted due to the size of the hall, we have been able to offer a few to the public.”

Mike Turner reports: “It went very well, I sat between the Green and Labour Party candidates.

“I wasn’t backward in coming forward when it came to speaking up in the debate.

“I pitched in on all three subjects that were open to debate when the opportunity arose.”

It is further reported that the hall was packed and that in addition to members of the  general public that some fifty local students and a BBC film crew, thought to be from the Politics Show, attended.

Furthermore, the organisers of the event printed up individual leaflets outlining the policy platform for each of the constituency’s eight prospective candidates; these were set out in piles on a table for audience members to take.

One of Mike’s colleagues present in the hall commented: “Practically everyone took one of “Mike’s” leaflets from the table — more so than that for any other candidate.”

Mike has extended his thanks to the event organisers whose refusal to be cowed by political correctness proves that democracy is alive and well in Totnes.

In Weston Super Mare, former rock band manager and local resident Peryn Parsons has been nominated to contest the seat.

Mr Parsons will focus his campaign on local issues affecting the seaside town, in particular securing a future for the resort’s many tourist features such as the Playhouse Theatre, Winter Gardens and Tropicana.

Transport worker Richard Boyce will contest the Wells seat for the BNP. Mr Boyce will campaign on an end to British involvement in the Afghan war, withdrawal from the EU, and an end to immigration.

Local issues of concern for Mr Boyce will include lack of housing for local residents, the gradual erosion of law and order with an increase in anti-social behaviour, growing unemployment and house-building on our precious green spaces.

The fact that the County Council has plans to build only a further 30 homes around the county is woefully inadequate, as many more are needed to meet the demand for low-cost social housing.

It is reported that the five homes, built by Carrick Housing in Perranporth and completed in just five months, were designed to be as cheap to run as possible using some of the latest environmental technologies.

Although such housing may be technically superb and win awards, desperate families need basic decent housing at rents they can afford now, and plaudits for architects are of little interest.

All five homes have been fitted with ground source heat pumps which are said to save about £250 compared with more traditional heating systems — which is good news for the lucky five families concerned, but Cornwall’s housing needs far exceed five families, a sobering thought that the County Council has long ignored.

James Fitton, the British National Party’s prospective parliamentary candidate for Newquay and St. Austell, said: “The County Council’s decades’ long neglect of the housing problem is a disgrace.

“Five new homes will go nowhere in addressing the underlying problem. What we need is a major investment in social housing provision — decent homes at rents our young and low-income families can afford.”

The latest British National Party meeting in Dorset raised £1470 for the forthcoming general election campaign, reports our South West correspondent.

The fantastic collection was raised by guest speaker Andy McBride who, after an inspiring speech, conducted the fundraising effort.

The £1470 will go towards the party’s election campaign in Poole, where former Tory David Holmes will be carrying the BNP banner.

Mr Holmes told the audience that he had decided to stand for the BNP after realising that the real issues affecting this country were not being addressed by the Lib/Lab/Con alliance.

Also in attendance was the South West Regional Organiser Mike Howson, who carried out a question and answer session.

Mr Howson also announced that Rick Mather has been appointed Sub-Regional Organiser for Dorset and the previous incumbent, Barry Bennett, had joined the Sub-Regional Management Team.

Roy Cook (pictured), who is also the party’s parliamentary candidate for Plymouth, was warmly welcomed at the meeting where he was joined by fellow candidates Robert Farmer (Exeter) and Mike Turner (Totnes).

The well-attended meeting started with a minute’s silence to show respect for a recently fallen soldier and local lad, Rifleman Mark Marshall.

Mr Farmer then took the floor and discussed the media’s corrupt influence in society.

“The hostile media will wilfully distort any BNP action and present it out of context,” Mr Farmer said, warning supporters to be on the lookout for such activities in the near future.

Mr Cook spoke on his belief that the naval city of Plymouth could become the citadel for the BNP in the South West.

“The people of Plymouth are slowly awakening to the fact that the UK is a damaged society and that radical change is essential,” Mr Cook said.

“The BNP must exploit this growing awareness and show the public that only we have the necessary corrective policies.”

Mr Turner provided an overview of his electioneering activities and those of Torbay parliamentary candidate Ann Conway.

An auction, collection and a raffle raised £266 towards branch funds.

All who have travelled through the delicious scenery of North Devon, must needs know the little white town of Bideford, which slopes upwards from its broad tide-river paved with yellow sands, and many arched old bridge where salmon wait for autumn floods, towards the pleasant upland on the west!

Charles Kingsley, Westward Ho!, 1855.

Pictured: Gary Marshall, BNP PPC for North Devon.

Probably the best way to tell you all how the party is progressing in Devon is by telling you what happened the day after our regular meeting in Bideford — I bumped into one of our members in the local supermarket and we stopped to chat about our electoral chances. So, there you are — it is possible to discuss BNP policies and plans for the general election in a public place!!

With smiles on our faces and talking at normal volume, neither of us felt anything other than extremely positive after meeting our two local candidates — Gary Marshall and Nick Baker —  the night before, and Pat told me she would be bringing more new people along to our meeting early next month.

And that’s the other story here in Devon; at every meeting we see new faces. Word is spreading that the BNP offers the best hope of solving Britain’s many problems — get control of our economy, society and destiny back from Europe and give British workers a fair deal.

Many of the new members are all too aware of how the labour market now is pitched against them. Local Brits are losing their jobs to a massive influx of migrants from Eastern Europe, Africa and Asia — even down here in the sunny South West.

Two men with young families who joined us last Thursday night have just been made redundant from a local factory, along with 27 others. Sean, a former Marine, told us that only two of the 29 to lose their jobs were non-British, and that the remaining workforce in this local business is now two-thirds ‘foreign’.

Jobs and affordable housing are the two hot topics in our region — and across the South West — and BNP policies are hitting the right note with many disillusioned voters. As we plan for the election, we are confident of making an impact on the smug, ‘main stream’ parties who simply don’t understand what it’s like to lose your livelihood while they build their ‘multicultural’ Never-Never- Land on the ‘never-never’!

Chippenham Group Organiser and prospective parliamentary candidate Councillor Michael Simpkins (right), along with South West Regional Organiser Michael Howson (left), were invited as key opinion formers, representing the British National Party,. Their role was to gain greater awareness and understanding of the British Army. This, of course, is something both Mr. Howson and Cllr Simpkins have no little experience of,  as they are both former military men.

The main part of the evening was a presentation by the Army’s Presentation Team, which represents the Head of the Army, General Sir Richard Davies, on “The Army Today”.  There followed an open forum during which the BNP pair asked searching questions on the needs of the Army. The BNP being only too aware of the scandalous issues of defence cutbacks, service personnel kit, medical provision and, of course, sub-standard housing for military families. Wiltshire BNP’s campaigning on the latter subject, has been previously reported on this site and has resulted in substantial support from personnel and their families stationed on the military bases on and around Salisbury Plain.

The evening concluded with refreshments and a chance to meet and talk to members of the Regular and Territorial Army, as well as Army cadets. This provided invaluable feedback and will go a long way in fostering mutually beneficial links with the Army in the community.

“Whilst acknowledging our belief in the democratic process, the overwhelming consideration has been the view that we should hold to our passionate belief in the values of diversity, tolerance and inclusion. This consideration precludes us from involving a party that is in opposition to these values.”

Having read this the word “hypocrite” comes singularly and powerfully to mind.

So what has Mr Turner done to warrant his newly found status of “Non Person”?

Could it be that his fundraising work for local charities — such as the British Heart Foundation or Brixham Does Care is deemed beyond the pale? They are, after all, predominately Britain orientated charities. Perhaps it’s Mr Turner’s sterling efforts in support of the Devon Air Ambulance that is at the root of the problem? But then again who knows, indeed — who cares? Why waste any column inches on what may or may not, motivate what many consider to be censuring provincial bigots — Mike Turner is worth any assorted dozen of such blinkered types.

Yet it all begs a very pertinent question: What is it that such people are afraid of?

Could it be they fear Mr Turner would raise the vexed issue of MPs’ expenses and allowances claiming? It is not difficult to see why this may be deemed a tad too sensitive a subject for some.

Maybe it is the distinct likelihood that Mr Turner would ask and answer awkward questions in relation to the real reasons for our involvement in Pipelineistan — sorry — we mean, of course, Afghanistan?

Then, of course, there is the “man-made” global warming scam so unquestionably embraced by Establishment politicians of all political shades — but particularly those having shareholdings in related investment and hedge funds. Mr Turner would not pull his punches on this we suspect.

Perhaps it’s fear that Mr Turner would link ongoing immigration into Devon with certain sections of the business community having close links with the political establishment in those parts? We can’t have a nationalist upstart suggesting that cheap labour, business and politics are closely entwined now can we?

But, at the end of the day, who gives a fig for whatever their reasons may be — they simply don’t matter. The only “debate” of importance in a democracy is that between properly nominated candidates and the electorate via the medium of the ballot box — a medium that affords Mr Turner the opportunity to raise all those “difficult” issues that some find so obviously unpalatable.

Our last word goes to Mike Turner:

“Unlike those who claim to be democrats but whose actions indicate otherwise, I am standing in this election to provide a radical choice for those enlightened electors who are sick to their back teeth of the deceit of the Lib-Lab-Con cartel and who want real policies to vote for.”

In Chippenham, 50 year-old former RAF Police Officer and Councillor Michael Simpkins will carry the party’s banner. Mr Simpkins was elected to serve on Corsham Town Council in 2007 and is well-known as a local businessman.

He is a long-time road safety campaigner and will focus on road safety issues in his campaign as well as better services for the elderly and disabled and the immediate withdrawal of British troops from Afghanistan.

In the North Swindon constituency, 57 year-old volunteer mental health worker Reg Bates will contest the seat on behalf of the party.

As a Swindon resident and former Honda worker, Mr Bates is keen to promote British jobs for British workers in Swindon and stop the overdevelopment of green field sites around the town. He will also be campaigning for the end to British participation in the Afghanistan conflict.

This is a topic which will also be close to the heart of the party’s campaign in Salisbury, where the BNP has selected 40 year-old construction industry expert Sean Witheridge.

As a local resident, Mr Witheridge is keen to support small businesses, promote affordable housing in the area and provide fair treatment of servicemen and their families.

The latest Cornwall meeting heralded a packed room at the usual venue of the enthusiastic Cornish group, who listened to an excellent talk from the local parliamentary prospective candidate for Newquay and St Austell, Mr James Fitton. With the run-up to the general election, and the national presiding of the last dying wheezing gasps of Gordon Brown’s disgraced Labour government, much discussion centred around the forthcoming general election.

Planning ranged from political tactics to be adopted, leaflet distribution and street campaigning, all designed to let voters in Cornwall hear the British National Party’s message of truth so that they be given a real alternative to the discredited Lib/Lab/Con failed policies.

The guest speaker was the parliamentary prospective candidate for Plymouth Moor View, Mr Roy Cook, who gave a well-received and incredibly rousing speech on the dangers this country is being led into by mainstream politicians. He spoke about the damage wrought by uncontrolled immigration and why people were now turning to the sensible BNP policies as they were becoming increasingly disillusioned and aware of the lies regarding the party constantly fed by the mainstream media and money grabbing politicians of all the main parties.

Following Roy’s excellent talk, planning centred around the cooperation by members from Plymouth and Cornwall in assisting each other in the election campaign. Total donations during the evening topped a princely sum of £300, which, when added to the group’s retained funds, ensures that the Cornish campaign can be well fought in the weeks to come.

Roy’s excellent speech can be heard below:

Long term activist Bill Dillon presented the group with the fantastic illustration below of which we hope will be the first of many!

Just over £1000 was raised for the election fund of Bristol, Bath and South Gloucestershire British National Party at their latest meeting, reports our South West correspondent.

“It was a good meeting with just over 30 people, many of whom were new meeting attendees,” organiser Mr Andi Lake said.

Well-known local activist Mark Clutterbuck commenced the meeting with news about the successful street activism before Christmas and recent social events which had also contributed to the party’s coffers.

Mr Clutterbuck then conducted a fundraising auction which raised £1000 which will be put to good use financing the election campaigns of the party’s candidates in the branch’s region (previously announced on this site).

Mr Lake then spoke on the importance of fighting local elections as a means of building the party branch into a credible force, while activist Ms Liz Lake touched upon the various ways members and supporters can help with campaigns. She ended with an appeal for all supporters and sympathisers to get involved “as much as they can.”

The evening was finished off with a question and answer session focussed on the Extraordinary General Meeting to he held this coming weekend.

Mr Turner is a Brixham resident and is organiser of the Exeter BNP branch. He is well-known as a fundraiser for many local charities. Mr Farmer is also a Brixham resident who retired to the West Country from his home town of Wednesbury.

Both BNP candidates will be focussing their campaigns on the local issues of housing, education and the National Health Service, while on a national level they will campaign for the immediate withdrawal of British troops from Afghanistan.

Mr Farmer’s nomination brings the number of declared BNP candidates in Devon to five, a record for the party.

In Plymouth Moor View, 32-year old businessman and Plymouth resident, Roy Cook will be carrying the party’s banner, while former nurse Ann Conway will contest Torbay.

Mr Cook, an arboriculturalist by trade, said that as well as “campaigning on local issues that affect the people of Plymouth, he will concentrate on exposing the lies behind the war in Afghanistan and will demand that all British troops be withdrawn immediately.

Ms Conway said she would “do all I can to see that money from the public purse was spent on local people” and campaign on local issues such as health and education.

The South West region of the British National Party is pleased to announce its candidates for three parliamentary constituencies: North Devon, Poole and St Austell and Newquay.

In North Devon, 51-year old former RAF serviceman, fire fighter and Ilfracombe resident Gary Marshall will carry the party’s flag.

“As well as concentrating on issues that matter to the people of North Devon locally, I will be strongly campaigning for the immediate withdrawal of our brave troops in Afghanistan. Bring our troops home, now,” Mr Marshall said.

In Poole, 57 year old management consultant and Poole resident, David Holmes, will be the BNP candidate.

In addition to seeking the withdrawal of our troops from Afghanistan, Mr Holmes said he would campaign on the “main core issues that affect us, namely immigration, EU membership, law and order, and taking care of our sick and elderly.

“I believe that the BNP is the only party that has the political will to actually make a change for the better,” Mr Holmes told BNP News.

In St Austell and Newquay, 30-year old transport worker James Fitton will be fighting that seat for the BNP.

“My number one issue will be the immediate withdrawal of our brave troops from Afghanistan,” Mr Fitton told BNP News.

“My campaign will also be run on local issues such as low wages and affordable housing,” he added.

Dorset British National Party has resumed its weekly leafleting sessions in preparation for the forthcoming general election, reports our South West correspondent.

The number of activists has doubled after Dorset BNP held its last meeting in 2009, he continued.

“We regularly distribute 1000 leaflets per session and come rain or shine our activists are leafleting somewhere in Dorset every week.

“As Dorset is such a large area it is heartening to know we now have such a good core of reliable and dedicated activists,” the correspondent said.

“As pleased as we are with our progress, there is no resting on our laurels. Without any doubt there are more supporters and potential members out there. It is just a matter of getting our message across to them,” he said.

Wiltshire British National Party members held a Christmas party last week, packing out the venue on Salisbury plain.

Guest speaker at the event was Jonathan Bowden, who delivered an inspiring speech, reports Paul Holt, Salisbury and Wiltshire Sub Regional organiser.

Members of the Salisbury activist steering group have put a great deal of effort into making the event a terrific success, added Harry McPhie,  Amesbury contact.

Through generous donations, a raffle and an auction, some £366 was raised for the election fund.

After the speech, members from all over Wiltshire and Bristol enjoyed a well deserved party and a great time was had by all.

Salisbury branch would like to wish all BNP members throughout Great Britain a very happy Christmas and a very active new year.

“We were out again, bright and early in yet another shopping area bringing the good news of British Nationalism to an extremely receptive public,” our correspondent said.

“Such was the demand from the Saturday Christmas shoppers that we ran out of leaflets. It seems wherever we go, the public’s response is totally at odds with the opinion of the media. When the chips are down, increasing numbers of British people can see for themselves who is telling them the truth.”

Congratulations to the hardworking activists who never give up.

Nearly 40 South Somerset British National Party members got together earlier this week for their annual Christmas function in a superb venue in Taunton, reports our South West correspondent.

On the menu, apart from the traditional turkey, was roast pork and beef followed by a Christmas pudding desert.

The branch chairman delivered a short speech on the subject of the Christian meaning of Christmas, something all too often forgotten in this age of unbridled commercialism.

Toasts were made to “Queen and Country” and, of course, to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

On a more political note 2009 has been a good year for the South Somerset branch. It was a year in which it stood a record number of candidates in the local elections, polled its highest ever voting percentages and saw an increase in its paid-up membership of around 70 percent.

Later that week it was the turn of Exeter BNP to hold their Christmas social to celebrate all the great achievements of the past 12 months.

Exeter organiser Mike Turner made a short speech in which he thanked all the members and supporters who, through all their hard work and dedication, contributed to Exeter’s continued success.

During the event a raffle was taken and two pictures were auctioned off in aid of party funds.

The function was also attended by key activists and officials from Cornwall branch and various Devon groups.

All the groups and branches in the South West took part in Christmas social events this month, and now take a few days well earned rest and recuperation in preparation for the fight to come.