Call for boycott of BNP hotel

TRADE union bosses are calling for the boycott of a Blackpool seafront hotel which opened its doors to the BNP.
The Kimberley Hotel on New South Promenade hosted the BNP conference in November following a veil of secrecy.
Today, the Lancashire Association of Trades Union Councils (LATUC) urged visitors to refuse to stay at the hotel in protest.
Peter Billington, secretary of the Lancashire TUC, said: "We are supporting Blackpool, Fylde & Wyre TUCs' call for trade union members and all decent people not to use this hotel.
"There are 2.7 million workers in the North West and 34 per cent of them are trade union members.
"We have written to the national TUC and asked it to circulate the hotel's details to all UK unions so that members can avoid this place."
Mr Billington said the hotel had knowingly supported for "a group of violent, racist, criminal thugs".
He added: "It shouldn't be forgotten that two Lancashire BNP members, one of them a BNP local council candidate in last May's elections, are currently in custody awaiting trial on bomb-making charges."
The BNP has vowed to return to Blackpool for its annual conference this year after hailing November's conference a huge success. Members of the far-right group staged the two-day conference at the New Kimberley Hotel on South Promenade in secret.
The Gazette quizzed Kimberley Hotel boss Peter Metcalf in the days before the conference but he denied the event would be held at the hotel
Anti-fascist demonstrators staged a protest outside the hotel but the conference passed off peacefully.
BNP bosses today promised this year's conference would be "even larger" despite being issued with "stay away" messages from council chiefs.
Roy Goodwin, from Blackpool's BNP, said: "The TUC is interfering with the democratic rights of a perfectly legal political party to hold its conference where it wishes.
"The amazing thing about what they are doing is that they are doing it under the banner of the UAF (United Against Fascism).
"I feel that a great deal of the British public may come to the conclusion there is a distinct odour of hypocrisy surrounding them."
The Gazette contacted the Kimberley Hotel but no-one was available for comment.

Source: Blackpool Gazette
31 January 2007

BNP Blackpool Letter

Dear Roy Fisher ,

I am writing to express my outrage at the recent news that the British National Party (BNP) will be hosting their Conference in Blackpool during the weekend of November 25/26th.

You will be aware that the National Union of Students (NUS) hosts its Annual Conference in Blackpool and has done for many decades., Aside from anything else the revenue NUS consistently brings to Blackpool should be valued by the town and the council.

I am extremely proud of the diversity within NUS’ membership . All minorities are represented whether they be black students, lesbian, gay bisexual, trans students, women students and disabled students Muslim, Jewish, Hindu or Sikh. All take an active part in our democracy and through NUS lead the fight against racism, fascism, homophobia, sexism, disablism, anti-Semitism and Islamophobia on our campuses and in our local communities.

An immediate concern is the safety of our students located in the area, many of whom are international students and black and ethnic minority students. As is well documented and as I am sure you are well aware, whenever the BNP are active in an area - either during elections, conferences or other events - the number of racist attacks increase.

The British National Party stand for all that we fight against, they are a fascist organisation that threaten the diversity and multiculturalism of this country that my movement is so proud of. They prey on the insecurities and concerns of ordinary people, spinning their lies and propaganda to their own political gain. They have no regard to the unity of the community or the safety of individuals in which they seek to gain power.

We are disappointed to say the least that any Hotelier in Blackpool would accept their custom, and should this conference go ahead we would certainly never use their facilities in the future. We would also have to seriously consider whether continuing to use Blackpool for our Annual Conference, would be in the best interests of our members in the future.

I would like to know what, if anything, the council has done to prevent this conference from taking place and if it is seeking to offset some of the damage it will cause, by putting extra funds into anti racism or diversity projects for the local community.

Yours,

Gemma Tumelty

NUS National President

On behalf of the National Executive Committee of NUS

CC: Joan Humble MP

Gordon Marsden MP

Unite Against Fascism

Blackpool Gazette

Source: officeronline.co.uk
19/10/2006