Minutes of the Advisory Council Meeting
Sunday 26th April 2009
Present: Andy McBride, Brian Mahoney, Geoff Dickens, David Hannam, Mark Collett, Ken Booth, Clive Jefferson, Peter Mullins, Adrian Marsden, Simon Darby, Max Dunbar (representing Gary Raikes) Emma Colgate, Eddy Butler, Richard Edmonds, Bob Bailey, Martin Reynolds, Nick Griffin
Apologies: Gary Raikes, Lance Stewart
The minutes of the last meeting were agreed. There were no matters arising.
Election Paperwork
National Nominating Officer and National Election Agent signed the necessary authorities for all regional nomination packs and the Treasurer issued deposits to ROs.
Postal Votes
DISCUSSED. Decisions kept confidential at present for tactical reasons.
Action: All ROs
Possible non delivery of our leaflets by CWU members of Royal Mail was discussed and NE RO advised that his region has set up a special mobile phone number to monitor delivery. All members will text their house number and postcode on receipt of our election address thereby making it possible to monitor areas of non delivery. If our addresses have not been delivered within 7 working days after the expected delivery date, we should make it known. If non delivery can be proved then we can insist on a redelivery. Chairman will investigate the possibility of extending this monitoring scheme on a nationwide basis. Action: Chairman
Ballot Box Security
DISCUSSED. Decisions made as to actions kept confidential at present for tactical reasons. Action: Emma Colgate, Clive Jefferson and Michaela Mackenzie to research and confirm and MM to inform Returning Officers. Party solicitor.
Timetable to June 4th
Appointments to hand deliver nomination packs were made and £55,000-worth of bankers drafts handed to ROs
Action: All ROs must confirm to MM once nominations have been delivered, checked and accepted.
Action: On receipt of confirmation MM to inform Eddy Butler and Simon Darby, then Tony Avery and John Walker.
May 1st
The party manifesto should be delivered to Mark Collett to send to printer. Delivery should be made directly to Emma Colgate before the first press conference on 11th May. Action: Eddy Butler & Mark Collett
May 3rd
Question Time BNPtv broadcast from Cornwall. 3-5pm
May 5th by 5pm.
Action: All ROs/EOs/DNOs must inform National Nominating Officer of the final number of county council candidates standing in their region together with names, addresses and details of the county authority and division. An Excel spreadsheet is attached for this purpose. Once this information is collated we will know whether the party qualifies for an election broadcast. Prior to May 5th NNO should be provided with regular updates of the running total.
Action: MM to inform the BBC of the number of our candidates.
May 7th
Deadline for nomination pack submission for Euro and County Council elections.
In order to qualify for a television broadcast for the County Council elections we need to stand candidates in 1/6th of the available seats.
Action:All ROs must increase the number of candidates in their regions to ensure we qualify.
May 11th
Schedule of election broadcasts begins.
May 19th
Last date to register to vote. Action: MM to advise unit organisers via May Organisers’ Bulletin to make sure all members are currently registered to vote. Emma Colgate to provide Simon Bennett with copy to upload onto website.
During the last weekend of the campaign, target regions should hold table top sales, days of action and motorcades in as many towns as possible. Activists from SC and NE should travel to assist in NW. Activists from MW and SW should travel to assist WM. Action: MM to publicise in May Organisers’ Bulletin.
Progress of Euro Campaign Preparations
2.3 million warm-up leaflets already distributed this year.
Reprints will be needed of:
Euro warm up leaflet 300,000
Cass family leaflet 200,000
Vote Today leaflet 100,000
Action: Mark Collett
Coin stickers: We have enough at the moment. Should we need more, the re-order time is short.
The big Freedom run planned for May will service increased activism in the run up to polling day.
100,000 info. packs are being prepared and will be apportioned equally between Dispatch, Leeds and the Admin. Hub.
The call centre currently employs 10 staff but has the capacity to increase to 24. Any overspill will be handled by the Admin. Hub.
New Treasury Arrangements
Our current and anticipated growth has necessitated the appointment of a professional Chartered Accountant who will be assisted by an Accounts Technician. All payments will continue to be made by Treasury.
The above appointments are in no way a reflection on the outgoing Treasurer, Jennie Noble, who has worked so hard to achieve the badly needed controls, checks and balances now in place. Jennie has been asked to remain part of the Treasury team and to resume management of the Trafalgar Club. The Chairman asked that his, and the party’s thanks, to Jennie be placed on record.
New Treasurer, Simon Darby, reported that all the election addresses and deposits for the Euros had now been paid. It was noted that since January our fundraising efforts have generated £351,000.
Careless Extremism
The Chairman made it known that a policy of zero tolerance should be enforced against any member who jeopardises our electoral chances by making extremist remarks. Organisers should convey to members the necessity of observing the utmost caution in this respect. The party guidelines on vocabulary have now been updated and a new version will be publicised online this week. Action: MM to publish in May Organisers’ Bulletin.
Some local party websites have still to remove any instances of the party name and logo. Action: Eddy Butler
Bogus sites and blogs are bringing the party into disrepute. The party’s solicitor is drafting a standard warning letter which will be sent to their originators demanding that all reference to the party be discontinued or legal action will follow. Action: Eddy Butler and Simon Bennett.
Unit Review Parameters
Michaela Mackenzie suggested that we review the group and branch parameters for the twice yearly unit performance reviews since some hardworking branches raising but spending money on VOF and financing election campaigns could be penalised for having insufficient funds in their unit accounts. A working group will be set up after the elections to restructure the parameters.
‘Britain First’ Incentive Scheme
Adrian Marsden queried an old agreement that for every local enquirer passed to National Enquiries, the unit would be sent a copy of the updated ‘Britain First’ brochure. Since this initiative had failed to incentivise the vast majority of units to pass on their enquiries, it was subsequently been agreed that the brochure would not be either sold or made available to units. If units wish their enquirers to receive a copy of this very professional, full colour, glossy brochure, then their details must be forwarded to National Enquiries.
Bogus Resignations
Andy Mc Bride reported that the leaked list was being used to advise Membership Department of bogus resignations. Action: Tina Wingfield will check all resignations with the relevant RO in order to confirm whether they are bona
fide.
In the run up to the elections, all new members should have checks made on their names and addresses and be subject to home visits. All offers of activism should also be checked to eliminate any possibility of infiltration by our enemies.
MEP Term Sharing
The Chairman clarified that in the event of a BNP MEP being elected, the number two candidate would not automatically replace the number one candidate should be unable to complete the 5 year term for whatever reason, or be elected as an MP and so step down as an MEP, or should circumstances make it desirable to ask the MEP to step aside to allow someone else to gain the experience. Anyone on the list in question would be eligible to be considered.
