BNP's rally 'will not be anti-Muslim'

A RALLY in Stoke-on-Trent by members of the British National Party is likely to be held on September 20, the party's local leaders have revealed.

Councillor Alby Walker, the BNP group leader on Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said the event had been put back from the original date of August 9.

He said the postponement was a result of a delay in sentencing Normacot resident Habib Khan, who was convicted in May of the manslaughter of his neighbour, BNP activist Keith Brown.

Mr Walker said: “We are looking at holding it on September 20, but it depends on the sentencing being carried out by then.

“We have informed the police of our plans and they are quite happy for a lawful demonstration to take place.”

Fellow BNP member, councillor Michael Coleman, said the rally will be the biggest event of its kind to be held in the region.

He said: “We are expecting between 400 and 500 BNP members to attend and our national party leader, Nick Griffin, will address crowds at a central location in Stoke-on-Trent.

“There will also be about 50,000 leaflets going out to homes around the city.”

Mr Coleman said the rally was connected to the Habib Khan sentencing.

However, he denied that it would be an anti-Muslim event. He said: “I would say it is more anti-judiciary than anti-Muslim. It will focus on our anger at the way the courts have treated Keith Brown and his family.”