The BNP And The EDL

"The BNP are denying any involvement with the EDL, yet at least 2 BNP councillors from Stoke-on-Trent City Council were present at the EDL rally in Hanley on 23 January"

So were PnP, so was Cllr Mike Barnes. You're point is??? Childish, that's what it is. What lazy thinking.

They had every right to be in Hanley to wittness what was going on if they so wished, Cllr Coleman openly tells us that he, Cllr Sandland and one other man where there. Cllr Barnes, I realy can not see your problem in this, two are council members wishing to see what what going on within the city center, and I don't have a problem with that. The takeing of 1000 photos I think a bit extream, but hay, he might have have a large hard drive that needs filling up. As for Cllr Colemans crtiticisims of the police alowing the EDL to meet in pubs,where did he think they are going to meet up, Treantham Gardens Tea Rooms. How could you stop them meeting up in pubs, it would have antaginised the problem even more, and at least you had a idea where the b*****ds were, and that that area was more then lickly to area that problems could and did start, most of it in a 200 meater radius of Witherspoons. Polertics and beer don't mix, this is a fact, the problem was you need a brain to think about polertics and I don't belive the mass surport of the EDL had to many of them on the day.

The BNP councillors were there as observers, you were the one trying to stir it Barnes, getting up to the EDL supporters and shoving your camera in their faces.

If anyone was irrisponsible, it was you, you Urinate Against Freedom monkey.

My point is that the BNP deny involvement with EDL - do you think it was wise to be in Hanley in that kind of position - taking photos of the UAF where the EDL had just tried to break through police lines to attack a peace vigil.

In all the videos and photos you can clearly see former BNP members as part of the EDL scum riot.

To me it shows that the EDL and BNP are fighting the same cause with the same people

Shit is still shit by any other name

Barnes how many of these former members faces have been on the front page of the Sentinel?
Shit is still shit by any other name.
You are lower on the scale than any other.
Wath the fan Barnes.

I'm sorry Councillor but the fact that the BNP had distanced themselfs form the EDL is not good reason for them people not to go to Hanley to see what was going on. What did you want, police blocks of BNP members, I think to police force had enouthge on there plates without that. Its a free country, and they had every right. You say former BNP members on EDL frount lines, now this proves something, if you are correct in what you say, it proves that as the BNP have grown more politacal,wich they have, there is no deneying it, the hard core thugs have been rooted out and moved on to the new set a out of control vilent morons, the EDL.
I don't like the BNP and I detest the EDL, I make that clear. I don't like there views, and I don't like the fact that in my home city, we have so many council seats with people in them, who hold BNP views, but I an't going to stop anyone going anywhere for any reason.

Warren - I agree with you in that the BNP had every right to "go up 'anley". There is no question of stopping anybody going anywhere from me.

However, do they then have the right, nationally, to deny their involvement or attendance.

REPEAT: THE BNP DENIED BEING IN HANLEY ON THE DAY OF THE EDL RIOT.

The reason I made this point is that the BNP in the national media, were denying attendance and denying that the two cllrs I photographed were in Hanley on that day.

This was lying and deceitful and my point is to expose their lies.

Why? Is it the same reason many wear scarfs etc to mask their identity?

Why did they do a runner when they saw me taking photos of them, when they seemed perfectly happy to take photos of the UAF?

Put it another way, if the UAF had 17 arrested, if the UAF had tried to break the police lines and kick a police officer on the floor, if the UAF had attacked a police van, and then I tried to say I wasn't there - how many numpties like pond would have been on here to call me a liar?

The BNP denied involvement with the EDL, they didn't deny being in Hanley, so stop moving the goalposts.
Lots of people went to watch, not to take part, and these spiteful lies tryng to connect the BNP to the EDL march in Hanley, is all we expect from someone like you.

I suppose you were pretending to be a reporter again, were you?

A National broadsheet newspaper is going to be running a story, and when they put it to the BNP about the two cllrs attendance in Hanley they denied it.

I have been contacted to provide the evidence.

Craig, I can see Mike's point in a way, but Mike, the BNP could not speak for all its members on that day, council members or not, this is how the party will react. I'm not being rude, but the aftermouth of this protest is going on far to long, it's lost it's inportantance,its been over two week now, we are just covering old ground, it was commen knollage on the day that they were there, we need to move on to other debates.

What the hell do you expect from this loser Warren?

He's nothing but a far left bigot, and he is certainly no better than those he constantly attacks, whether there is reason to do so or not.

Hay! Craig, its not like me and you to find some common ground. Shall we just forget about Mike for the night and find something new to fight about tomorrow.

Barnes get it straight you said "In all the videos and photos you can clearly see "former" BNP members as part of the EDL scum riot"
Is it former or present members?
You have lost any credibility since you appeared in the Sentinel, just like another councillor.
So going round calling people liars is a bit rich even for you.

I don't think he as called anyone liars, partypooper. Its just a missunderstanding that Mike is exployting.

This isn't exploitation Warren, it's Labour propaganda of the worst kind.
This is a none story, and the reason Barnes is milking it so is to deflect the attention of local voters away from the Godawful mess he and his fellow Labour chimps have left this city in.

You watch, everything that's wrong with this city will become the fault of the BNP, the cabinet, regional government interference, the bloody tooth fairy!

This is electoral positioning, and Barnes is jockeying for his starting place ready for the big vote.

He's got as much chance of becoming an MP as my dog.

Cllr Barnes, you were at the rally supporting the UAF? These 2 BNP councillors were there not supporting the EDL but more as observers. Cllr Coleman makes this absolutely clear in the audio. So what is your problem? City councillors are meant to take an interest in what's going on in the city. I think you have made an error of judgement with this one sir.

Craig, it an't Labour propaganda, Cllr Barnes is in no way part of the Labour party anymore, it's far left non-sence, thats what it is.

So everybody who believes in equality, democracy and freedom and stands up for them is far left....yeh right

No, Cllr, but you forget, when you go on about democracy, BNP council seats have been won on a demercratic vote, I don't like the fact any more then you, but its true.

Well,

I met the 3 BNP blokes in Hanley that day. You all know I have argued against the BNP fiercely on this site.

That said, I have to say the conversation we had was perfectly pleasant. Interesting and informative conversation.

The unknown man, told me the EDL had threatened the BNP.

As much as I dont like what the BNP REALLY stand for I cant lie about the blokes who were there that day. They seemed genuine in their observation.

If I were asking any questions at all about their presence it would definitely be more about the photos they were taking but , we were all taking photos....so

I thought the point was this.

The BNP Leader Nick Griffin had made it abundantly clear that no BNP member was to also be , or appear to be a member of the EDL. He described them on TV as a proscribed (banned) organisation, and if any of his members were linked to the EDL, they would be forced to leave the BNP.

Believe me, because of the Police presence there that Saturday, you were with one side or the other. Press with passes and Police inbetween. No Messing.

They were not with us, so - the EDL ???

When will we see the expulsions from the local BNP Mr Griffin ??

Prove you do what you say!!

Joy...

I'm just glad I'm not a left winger who needed to get my hands on the new Argos caterlog that day. I'd have to have gone to the Festivel Park.

Too many members of the public had to witness the anger and intimidation that the EDL were quite proud to show. Whilst I accept that in a democracy such as we have everyone has a right to 'have their say' when they show blatant disregard for agreements they had made with the police and when they can veer from their stated arguement [a protest against extremism] to a very different one [it was a very anti Muslim] then there should be a way for the law to say 'no more'
Reality is that what had started as a relatively peaceful demonstration turned into an ugly show of hooliganism and thuggery.
And I dont think you have to be a left winger to see that. I do think that this issue needs to be addressed before they damage another city.