Twitter users tell the BNP where to stick it

We're loathe to write a second blog post about Twitter in such a short period (more from Kate Hollern coming soon) but for, as Harold Macmillan once said, "events dear boy, events"!

It seems that a number of BNP activists have ventured away from the chummy racist echo chamber of angrylosers.com the BNP website to perform a bit of ill-advised "online engagement" with Twitter, the fast-growing internet messenging service. In the process, they've discovered first hand what the vast majority of the general public think of them.

The BNP leader Nick Griffin is standing as a North West candidate in the European elections on 4 June and Harriet Harman was correct in her recent assessment of the threat.

But we can take heart from the sturdy - and sometimes very witty - rejection they have suffered from Twitter users!

They seem to have adopted the "follow 1,000 people and hope they follow back" strategy. It's not even as they're targetting political people, as these hilarious posts show:

mattkirshen: Why are the BNP following me? Does he know I'm a Jew? And I'm in America so when I *GO HOME*, I'll be re-entering Britain

Flangel66: @BNPBen Get ready for a near-fatal overdose of Harry Potter and Doctor Who, 'cos I don't really Tweet about anything else!

blanche_dubois: Darling, what is the BNP? Is it some kinky British thing?

We're afraid it doesn't get any better for them:

Rogue_Leader: Urgh. The BNP followed me. How shall I get clean?

will_full: I'm disturbed to have found a user named BNPBen following me - I hit Block pretty quickly... Look him up though he's hilarious/disturbing.

christinamartin: Help I'm being followed by the BNP! Not for long though. Thank goodness for 'block'!

formulaic666: Why are the BNP following me? Let me put it simply. I hate you, your idiot redneck mates and everything you stand for.

Some users even tried to engage them in logical argument. Still no joy!

mrsminns: @BNPBen also thinks the anti-BNP messages he's been getting show a refusal to engage. Does he think "engage" means "agree"?

jaylett: On the prompting of @BNPBen, have read the BNP policies on their website. The words are 'thundering loonies'.

Well said guys. We couldn't have put it better ourselves!

Anyone wanting to read more (including things we can't print) or who doubts that these are representative can look here and here. Also check out our page on the BNP threat and Asif Sange's call to arms.

Source: Blackburn Labour Party

Apr 16, 2009

Police: No link to BNP

Lancashire police has said it has no connection to a BNP campaign leaflet being distributed in Preston.
The leaflet features a photograph of a police officer. A police spokesman said: "The leaflets include a photograph of an unnamed officer and it would be unfortunate if an impression were given that officers were supporting one political party against another."
The leaflet is entitled 'Say no to EU rule'.

Lancashire Evening Post
13 April 2009

14 suspended over racist e-mails

A major investigation is under way after Lancashire County Council suspended 14 members of staff over an allegedly racist e-mail.

The offending e-mail is claimed to have contained anti-Jewish material – and a large number of the suspended members of County Hall staff are believed to be from Preston.

But a union leader has condemned the move as "extreme" and added the County Council was "using a sledgehammer to crack a nut".

County Coun Vali Patel, part of the cabinet working group on voluntary community faith sector, said: "My understanding is that the e-mails were pro-Palestinian which may be perceived as anti-Jewish and that the members of staff who have been suspended were the receivers of the e-mail rather than the creators.

"I believe the majority of the staff who have been suspended are from Preston.

"The majority of them are Muslims, although they are not all Muslims.

"I think the County Council is quite right to have suspended them while they investigate the background of the matter."

Les Parker, Lancashire branch secretary of union UNITE, said: "I find it a bit extreme that 14 people have been suspended.

"You need to have sufficient evidence to do this.

"I would be concerned if these 14 people have been suspended on something that may be considered to be inappropriate if it is a silly joke e-mail that deserves a slap on the wrist rather than suspension.

"If all these employees have been guilty of is receiving the e-mail, then suspending them is totally inappropriate and way over the top.

"If, however, they have then passed the offending e-mail on, then that is inappropriate.

"It seems to me the County Council are using a sledgehammer to crack a nut."

The departments involved in the scandal are believed to include Adult Social Care and Children and Young People.

If found guilty, the workers will face disciplinary action and could even be sacked.


Lancashire Evening Post
13 April 2009

Swastika graffiti insult to war dead

WAR veterans were reduced to tears after mindless vandals defaced a Fylde coast War Memorial.

Blue swastikas were sprayed on and around the monument in Fleetwood.

And among the stunned people who queued up to condemn the damage was Frank Bee, 83, a former Royal Navy man who took part in the Battle of the Atlantic in the Second World War.

Fighting back tears he said: "I have two pals whose names are on there. I'm lost for words. Why do people do these things?"

Chairman of Fleetwood Royal Naval Association Brian Welling added: "I'm disgusted. The people who have done this will brag about it so someone will know who has done it."

The desecration in Memorial Park comes just two weeks after the funeral of Fleetwood's latest war victim, Marine Darren Smith who died in Afghanistan. His name has yet to be added to the roll.

Ron Kennedy of the King's Own Association said: "I'm speechless. It's just crazy."

Local councillor Ruth Duffy said: "I'm appalled. You can't fathom out what goes through the brains of these idiots.

"And it's so terrible after we have lost a young lad, Daz Smith. I'm shocked someone in Fleetwood could stoop so low."

Police found spray cans in bushes close to the memorial and are carrying out house-to-house inquiries.

Insp Dave Vickers pledged: "We're going to leave no stone unturned in relation to this despicable crime. As soon as the person responsible comes forward and admits their actions, the better for them."

Within hours of the graffiti being found yesterday morning, Wyre Council workers had begun cleaning it off.

Coun Lynne Bowen, living places portfolio holder for Wyre Council, said: "Acts of vandalism are always taken seriously in Wyre, but to deface something that honours people who have died serving their country is downright disrespectful.

"We are consulting specialists to see how the memorial can be protected."

Blackpool Gazette
10 March 2009

Hitler wanted Blackpool as 'personal playground'

IMAGES of wartime Blackpool used to guide the bombs of the German Second World War Luftwaffe have been put up for sale.

Although the Fylde coast escaped largely unscathed from the ravages of Hitler's Blitzkrieg – the maps are a chilling reminder of the devastation that might have been.

The intelligence images, which have been plucked from a former
German military base, clearly mark the resort's main landmarks including the three piers, Stanley Park and Blackpool Tower.

Now copies of the maps have been released for sale by York company www.GermanInvasion.co.uk

Elaine Smith, chairman of Blackpool Civic Trust, said she was delighted to hear about the maps.

She said: "This will no doubt be a source of much interest to a lot of local people, especially those who were alive during the war.

"I've heard Hitler intended to use Blackpool as his personal playground after the war which is perhaps why we largely escaped the bombing.

"I know the Italian Gardens in Stanley Park were mapped by the German's as the paths in the Italian Gardens clearly mark the directions of North, East, South and West.

"I very much look forward to seeing it."

The maps and aerial photographs were issued in Berlin in the early 1940s by the German Department for War.

They cover most areas of Britain with an emphasis on the south and east coasts – likely landing areas for the intended invasion.

The Blackpool map shows a number of changes in the last 70 years. On the map South Pier is named Victoria Pier and a large swimming pool is marked nearby.

The former Central Railway Station, which is now Central Car Park, can also be seen.

Michael Cole from GermanInvasion.co.uk said: "We're expecting a lot of interest from around the country with these fascinating maps.

"I got them from Germany around a year ago and although a few copies have been seen in the UK over the years, they are still very rare.

"They have immense historical significance as some of the few surviving remnants of World War Two German invasion material and also as exceedingly scarce items of local history for the areas of the UK involved."

The first bombs Blackpool saw in the war fell on North Shore golf course in August 1940. The most serious incident came on September 11 when a stick of bombs fell near North Station.

One was a 500-pounder and Seed Street, off Talbot Road, took the brunt. Eight people were killed and 14 injured.

Blackpool Gazette
23 February 2009

Stop the BNP 'day of action' on March 14th in Liverpool

The BNP have called a march in Liverpool on 14th March. They have never had a March in a major British city before. Last time they brought up around 60 members, including Nick Griffin, it is anticipated that they will number around 600 that day.

Merseyside Coalition against Racism and Fascism has called a counter demo alongside the TUC. We hope to bring as many anti-Fascists to the city on that day. We hope to raise awareness of the issue and send a message out that they are not welcome in our community.

For more information go to:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=127374645726

CCTV image released in racist attack probe

POLICE are hunting a man suspected of a racist attack on a shop worker.

The incident happened around 7pm on New Year’s Day outside the Somerfield store on Red Bank Road, Bispham.

A thug followed a 22-year-old man for a short distance and made racist comments before punching him on the jaw.

The victim suffered minor facial injuries but did not need hospital treatment.

Police have released CCTV footage of a man they want to speak to in connection with the incident.

Investigating officer PC Queenie Chan said: “This was a particularly distressing incident for the individual concerned.

“I would urge anyone who may recognise the man from the CCTV footage to contact the police immediately.”

The man police want to speak to is white, aged between 20 and 25, around 5ft 8in tall, slim, with short hair. He wore a white jacket at the time of the incident.

Anyone with information can contact Blackpool Police on 01253 293933 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Blackpool Gazette
30 January 2009