BNP rally in Stoke-on-Trent to attract 400 party members
A BRITISH National Party rally in the Potteries could be the biggest the organisation has ever held.
Organisers are expecting hundreds of members from across the UK to travel to Stoke-on-Trent later this month. Local councillors are planning to spend the morning targeting 10 areas as volunteers hand out up to 50,000 leaflets.
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BNP rally in Stoke-on-Trent to attract 400 party members
In the afternoon the party's Truth Truck – a lorry doubling up as a mobile stage – will be parked in a central location for speeches by a number of party figures.
They will include national leader Nick Griffin, deputy party chairman Simon Darby and local councillors Alby Walker and Michael Coleman.
Mr Walker, leader of the party's city council group, said: "People are getting a bus up from the London areas. It is going to be the biggest type of this activity that the BNP has held anywhere."
The event will be filmed by organisers to appear on the party's website, while BBC crews are also expected to film preparations for a future programme.
Local party leaders have held three meetings with Staffordshire Police to discuss how the September 20 rally should proceed.
Mr Walker said organisers had listened to police requirements and arranged an event which would be peaceful.
The focal point will be a protest over the recent sentencing of Normacot resident Habib Khan, who received an eight-year prison term for the manslaughter of his neighbour, BNP activist Keith Brown.
Mr Walker said leaflets condemning the court case would be distributed on 10 estates. He said: "They outline the injustice that was done to Keith Brown when the system let him down, the disparity in the treatment of Keith Brown and Habib Khan by local police and the discrepancy in how, if it had been the other way around, Keith Brown would be facing a 25-year sentence, whereas Habib Khan will be out in two years."
After the rally closes, members will move on to a social event at a nearby venue.
Mr Walker said a lot of details were currently being kept under wraps to avoid potential confrontation with protesters.
Up to 400 BNP supporters are expected to come from as far afield as Newcastle Upon Tyne and London.
Fifteen local marshals will be in operation and Mr Griffin is expected to bring his own security team.
Mr Walker added: "The people who have indicated they will come are family-type people and are BNP members, and our intention is to fully co-operate with police for a peaceful political process."
Staffordshire Police Superintendent Bernie O'Reilly confirmed the force had outlined the legal obligations of the rally to organisers and would continue to meet with them in the run-up to the event.
A spokesman for Stoke-on-Trent City Council said: "We are working together with the police to plan what is required for the event."
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by Warren, Stoke on Trent
Wednesday, September 10 2008, 8:59AM
“I think right minded folk won that one. James, do you thing you and I sould get together and interview old Grffo when he roles into town.”
by James, Penkhull
Sunday, September 07 2008, 5:51PM
“Warren, another question you could ask Nick Griffin and the party leadership is why they think national service is OK but none of them have ever been in the forces. Better still, do they think its right to reduce people who have served and been decorated, like Johnson Beharry, to the status of "permanent guests" thereby removing citizenship.”
by Warren, Stoke on Trent
Sunday, September 07 2008, 4:13PM
“Only me again, spent some time today haveing a good old nose in the BNP menifesto, and it makes pritty horiffic reading. now I will give them there do, it was only the short virsion of it, but my god, if they ever got a foot hold, the country would be bankrupped, we would be alone on the world stage, and justace would be deliverd by a gun.
Two questions I would like to ask Nick Griffen if I ever had the chance 1. How would you ever expect to work with the EU when you have pulled the country out of that very constertution. 2.On the subject of being a British citezen,how would you define a citezen when you first came to power, being that to spend time in the armed forcies difined this. Meny of the voteing public would be to old to spend time in there, and what would happen to the ill who could not spend time doing it.
In fact the more I time I spend thinking about it, the more asamed I feel that this city is sutch a hot bed for the BNP. There views and ill thought out ideals realy do make me feel sick. I would advise anone who thinks that this lot is a way forword to read this paper, it is freely given on the BNP website, and think again what the party stands for, becouse it sure an't any kind of freedom.”
by bertie bert, stoke
Sunday, September 07 2008, 2:52PM
“Taylor, you could join the BNP they have many jewish, gay, polish, hungarian members, you should stop reading the media lies, and look for yourself.
The BNP have a jewish councillor and leader Pat Richardson, she was re-elected with 40% of the votes in last Mays local elections.”
by Warren, Stok on Trent
Sunday, September 07 2008, 10:44AM
“The BNP say they will give full surport aganst the closer of Longton High School. The school get closed and the BNP say nowt. They say that they surport council home tennents, council homes are falling into disrepair and they do nowt. They say they are for help for the OAPs, council run eldderly care houmes are closed, they say nowt. Now we hear that OAPs in at least one area are fearfull of getting housebound as footpaths to there homes are to small to take there wheecheirs and mobilaty scooters, the BNP make no comment agine. They are intent only on one thing, the spreed of there very own brand of nastyness, they must begin to force change for the better on the city council, they have the seats to do it but they wil not, they dont care. All they care about is to get lots of there mates to come to Stoke on Trent and party with the Taffy windbag who leads there silly little party, puting fear in to meny good folk who make this city there home. Trying to force a reaction, no one sould give it to them, giveing them a chance to run to the morol high ground. They count for nowt, not one thing, ignore them, no matter what they do. Natise heaters,please stay at home, we dont need you. Like I say, they have not forced change, and never intended to, local folk are not daft and will get rid of all of them next time round.”