And people wonder why we are talking about UKIP!

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Sunday, 19 May 2013, 09:10

One or two people - generally supporters of UKIP - have questioned why HOPE not hate have taken an interest in UKIP.

Well, today's Sunday Mirror, which lists yet more racist rants from leading members, is reason enough.

According to the Sunday Mirror, Ukip’s leader of Lincs Council Chris Pain, the party’s East Midlands regional chairman, wrote on Facebook: “Have you noticed that if you ­rearrange the letters in ‘illegal ­immigrants’, and add just a few more letters, it spells, ‘Go home you free-loading, benefit-grabbing, resource-sucking, baby-making, non-English-speaking ********* and take those other hairy-faced, sandal-wearing, bomb-making, camel-riding, goat-********, raghead ******** with you.’”

Now, if that was a leading BNP member people will be rightly outraged. That this comment was made by a leading UKIP official is even more disgusting.

You can read the full Mirror article here: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/ukip-councillors-racist-rants-more-1897414

Later this week we shall reveal the details of over 60 HOPE not hate meetings we are organising around the country to discuss our response to UKIP.

Stand up for HOPE tour

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Saturday, 18 May 2013, 07:56

Early next week we will publish the details of over 50 HOPE not hate meetings we are planning to hold around the country. From Brighton to Plymouth, Swansea to Newcastle, these meetings will be an opportunity for our supporters to discuss the rise of UKIP and how, if anything, we should respond.

There are still a few towns and cities where we have not arranged anything but where there is interest for a meeting. If you live in one of the following areas and would like to help us build a meeting or even suggest a venue, please do let me know.

The areas where we are still looking to put an event on are: Portsmouth, Southampton, Hastings, Tunbridge Wells, Watford, Worcester, Aylesbury, Peterborough, Hull and Exeter.

You can either reply to this blog or email me directly at nick@hopenothate.org.uk

And still Lennon lies

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Friday, 17 May 2013, 21:12

A couple of days ago we exposed the lies the EDL leadership were telling over the claim that a year 7 student was gang-raped in a school toilet in Luton.

There was no truth in the allegation but that did not stop Stephen Lennon and Kevin Carroll trying to incite hatred and violence with their lies. Quite rightly, people on twitter went to town on it and even several EDL activists blasted their leaders for their lies.

Well, it now seems that Lennon is up to it again. Rather than admitting their lies and apologising, he is continue to peddle the story, though this time in a slightly less sensationalist way.

Asked for news on the rape story, Lennon, under the name Tommy Robinson, simply said that there was an incident involving a young girl at a Luton school and this had been confirmed by the council.

Of course Billy Liar, as Lennon, has become known, was being economical with the truth. By his answer he wanted to give the impression that the council was confirming his initial claim.

They are not and the incident Lennon refers to is quite from his initial claim.

HOPE not hate is fully aware of the incident that took place last year and while we cannot go into any details we can say that there was no rape, allegation of rape or gangs involved. In fact, it has nothing at all in common with the claim Lennon and Carroll originally made.

Lennon probably knows this but he hasn't got the decency to admit when he is wrong. Rather, he would prefer to continue to peddle lies with the hope of inciting more hatred and violence.

He is beneath contempt.

BNP tells porkie pies again

posted by: Matthew Collins | on: Friday, 17 May 2013, 18:09

Griffin: He loves a porky pie

Nick Griffin is often telling people how much he admires Russian democracy. It was one of the first things he tweeted about after the BNP got a hammering at the polls earlier this month.

So it is no surprise to often read a lot of pro-Vladimir Putin output on the BNP's website. Today was no different, going on about Putin's five minute standing ovation for a speech he allegedly gave in the Duma (the Russian parliament) telling foreigners to be more like Russians, respect their laws, no to Sharia Law, etc, etc when living in their country, or to go elsewhere.

It's the same speech, exactly the same speech, often attributed to the Australian PM (in fact to the current and the two former Australian PM's) with the words Russian and Russia replaced by Australian and Australia.

I think we get to see a chain email of the Australian version of said speech at least twice a month. Funnily enough, we never get to see or hear these words actually spoken. If you do want to see a good speech by an Australian PM, try this

Obviously, after we stopped Griffin getting into Australia a couple of years ago, the BNP has little interest in even attributing good old fashioned Xenophobia to Australia these days.

No, for them, a good old fashioned, racist speech, that nobody has actually seen or heard, would obviously come from their heroes in Russia. And the BNP wants people to share this excellent speech, obviously...

Sadly, the speech has already been proven a fake piece of racist spam mail, intended to get people hot under the collar. The fake has been taken apart here, perfectly.

Silly old BNP, you might think. I think something a little stronger myself, personally, but (other than being stupid), why would the BNP fall for such a thing?

Well, last week the BNP sent out another one of its weird and wonderful begging emails. In the email, the BNP talks about the "awesome power" of the internet. Yes, I thought immediately of a pyramid scheme being sold to me.

The BNP spoke about using "new techniques" to recruit members, and especially, "online activists". The email told me that I too could be an important part of this new initiative that the party had come up with.

What was the super new initiative to help build the crumbling party? Well yes, spam and chain emails like the very one they have on their website, sadly.

They promised they'd let me into this secret if they sent me a few bob.

So not for the BNP reinventing the wheel, but actually for them, it's reinventing spam email. Racist spam email at that.

Just to make sure, here is Putin's diary from the day in question:http://eng.kremlin.ru/by-keyword/21  No recorded speeches from Putin on that day and only two meetings

http://eng.kremlin.ru/transcripts?since=04.02.2013&till=04.02.2013

What bloody liars the BNP are

 

Lie: The BNP repeats the spam email lie

Spam for cash: The BNP selling the idea to members

How about a spam for cash enquiry?

Spam it: The BNP now tells their followers to spread the lie

Understanding UKIP: More Enoch Powell than Oswald Mosley

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Friday, 17 May 2013, 14:15

A UKIP leaflet putting the fate of the British in the same league of Native Americans

As everyone probably knows HOPE not hate is having currently consulting with our supporters, about whether we should respond to UKIP's rise and, if so, how. Over the next six weeks we are holding over 60 meetings across the country.

Our concern about UKIP has been over their increasing anti-immigrant rhetoric which, if anything, has overtaken the European Union as their main campaigning issue.

However, before we have this discussion with our supporters, we need to be clear about what UKIP is and what it is not. And for all its anti-immigrant rhetoric UKIP is not a fascist party and Nigel Farage is certainly not Nick Griffin.

UKIP might be many things our supporters might not agree with, but fascist is not one of them. Even their anti-immigrant stance is quite different from that of the BNP's. UKIP's position stems more from a xenophobic anti-foreigner position than the scientific racism of true fascists.

Many of its supporters look back to a (mythical?) golden past when Britain was white, ruled much of the world and didn't feel the need to have any serious relationship with continental Europe. Study after study has shown that for many UKIP voters, their opposition to the European Union owes more to their rejection of this changing world than the machinations of the European Parliament.

To call UKIP a fascist party is both inaccurate and will prove counter-productive. It also risks us missing the real threat of UKIP, which is what it culturally represents, as much as what it politically stands for. I will be writing much more about this over the next fortnight but in light of events in Edinburgh last night I wanted to put my initial thoughts down.

UKIP is mining the political tradition of Enoch Powell rather than Oswald Mosley.

UKIP Hypocrisy

posted by: Simon Cressy | on: Friday, 17 May 2013, 13:14

Nigel Farage, leader of UKIP can't quite work out what mood he should be in this morning.

Jubilant, following last night's victory in the Rotherham Council by election, Farage will have no doubt sunk a pint or two of real ale which he appears to have a particular liking.

However, following his humiliating appearance in Scotland last night where a loud protest greeted him as he turned up in Edinburgh to launch his party's Scottish campaign a grumpy Nigel Farage labelled the protesters as "fascist scum".

Farage told BBC Radio Scotland this morning that the incident was deeply racist and displayed a total hatred of the English.

We found the following quote from UKIP's Scottish spokesman Lord Monkton which looks suspiciously anti Scottish " The Scots are subsidy junkies whinging like a trampled bagpipe as they wait for their next fix of English taxpayers money"

I wonder what Grumpy Nigel has to say about that ?

UKIP by-election win stuns Labour

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Friday, 17 May 2013, 11:33

Last night UKIP won a council by-election. Yorkshire HOPE not hate organiser, Paul Meszaros, has written this for us:

The previously safe Labour seat of Rawmarsh in Rotherham was won last night by UKIP. The dramatic collapse of the BNP vote was clearly a contributory factor but is only part of the story.

UKIP are able to tap into the same discontents and fears that once made the BNP a threat, but without the overtly fascist baggage. This makes UKIP potentially far more dangerous as disenchanted voters are not faced with the same moral dilemmas associated with voting BNP.

Some commentators believe that UKIP is mainly a threat to the Tories, a thesis that remains largely untested as this year's elections were in the shires rather than the cities. However we have seen time after time UKIP coming second in Parliamentary by elections and now winning a council seat in Rotherham.

This does suggest that UKIP are a bigger threat to Labour than some imagine.

Notwithstanding some local contention regarding the Labour candidate, this result should be a wake-up call for those who miss the threat posed by UKIP.

Now is the time for Bedfordshire police to act

posted by: Matthew Collins | on: Thursday, 16 May 2013, 12:41

Kevin Carroll

Bedforshire Police has confirmed that there is no truth in the vile rumours made by the EDL leadership of a child being raped in a Luton school.

When will they be arresting Stephen Lennon and Kevin Carroll for incitement?

 

 

Lennon

Enough is enough of these dangerous lies

posted by: Matthew Collins | on: Thursday, 16 May 2013, 10:19

Yesterday evening we revealed how the EDL leadership is spreading a vile and disturbing rumour that a seven year old child-who later became a year seven pupil-at a school in Luton, had been gang-raped by a gang of Muslim youths, and that there was a conspiracy to cover up the alleged crime.

In fact, there had been no such crime reported in Luton.

Later in the evening, we called upon the EDL leadership to report this alleged crime to the police. As of 10.00am this morning, surprisingly, the EDL leadership of Stephen Lennon and Kevin Carroll had still not reported this alleged crime to the police.

Instead of reporting the alleged crime-a crime that Hope Not Hate would utterly condemn and demand that arrests were made and justice prevailed-the EDL has instead, continued with a barrage of threats, intimidation, half-truths and out and out racism.

The EDL's leader, Stephen Lennon, is a convicted liar and fraudster. Yesterday he used social media to tell his followers that the crime had been "confirmed" to him. He did not say by whom. He then wrote how "Luton needs to brace itself," no doubt a threat from him on behalf of what remains of his moronic following of more indiscriminate violence directed at the Muslim community in the wake of the shocking discovery that he alleged he had made.

His cousin and co-leader is Kevin Carroll, another notorious native of Luton, who once harboured political ambitions. Last year Carroll stood for the role of Police and Crime Commissioner for Bedfordshire, where he was, thankfully, not elected.

Carroll also tweeted to his followers that Luton was ready to "implode" stating that a Moslem (sic) gang had raped a child, and that Luton was the "biggest pressure cooker in the UK."

Yes, it probably is. The English Defence League is more than just a symptom of said pressure cooker. They are one side of a coin that is driven by lies and extremism to create tensions among communities that try to live together in often difficult and challenging circumstances. The "pressure cooker" is a direct result of the continued actions of the EDL in spreading fear, racism and violence in the town.

It seems to many people observing the desperate behaviour of the EDL's leadership, that they are more interested in starting a riot in Luton than actually helping exposing this sordid crime. The reason? Not only are they both habitual thugs and liars, their entire empire was built and can only be sustained on lies.

The news that a child has been raped in her school has now spread right across the town among those who still listen to this despicable pair of liars. If this lie is not nipped in the bud, by the weekend no doubt, EDL followers will be planning a demonstration about a crime that has no victim but has plenty of accused. The EDL is accusing all Muslims of being responsible for the non-existent rape of a non-existent child, in a non-existent school at a non-existent time.

The EDL is not seeking justice, they are seeking a lynch mob. At a time when there are very serious concerns about crimes against children in this country, one has to ask what sick and warped individuals would create further fear, revulsion, disgust and tension surely for personal gain?

The answer is, hateful people, driven by a hatred and greed that supersedes all common decency. People that lie, that cheat, that use violence as the very means of their existence. People like Lennon and Carroll, that issue chilling threats and create the imagery of child in severe, unthinkable distress, for their own twisted needs.

Hope Not Hate is now calling for the Bedfordshire Police to investigate not just the allegation that a child has been raped in Luton, but also, the comments by Kevin Carroll and Stephen Lennon that are likely in our opinion, to incite religious hatred and violent disorder.

Enough is enough.

Kevin Carroll: Threats from lies

Liar

Liar

Liar

Liar

Burning down schools??

BREAKING NEWS: EDL rape story is NOT true

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Wednesday, 15 May 2013, 19:46

Kevin Carroll: This man wanted to be a Police & Crime Commissioner!

Over the last couple of days the internet has been alive with rumours, indignation and threats of retribution over the allegation that Year Seven schoolgirl was gang-raped in a school toilet in Luton. The source of these rumours was EDL leaders Stephen Lennon and Kevin Carroll.

Well, HOPE not hate can now say, with some certainty, that no such incident occurred.

The rumour was kicked off by Stephen Lennon on Twitter early yesterday morning, when he wrote: “News coming in of a yr 7 school girl being gang raped in school toilets? By Muslims ! It's all being kept hush hush? School in Luton.”

Questioned about it, he simply said that he had “It's come from a good source . If its defo true Luton needs to brace itself.”

As EDL supporters joined in the outrage, Carroll waded in. “if a moslem child in year 7 was gang raped in a farley hill school toilets by non moslems the newspapers would not have enough ink #luton.”

But fortunately, not everyone was convinced and before long local people were questioning the accuracy of the EDL’s claims. But Lennon was undeterred. What do the facts matter when one spread rumours and stir up hatred?

“Had it confirmed little girl raped in School, more to follow,” he wrote yesterday afternoon.

Lennon then went quiet on the issue but Carroll has been stirring it all day. In between abusing Muslims and the Islamic faith, he’s been bleating on about a media cover-up. Time and again he has claimed that the reason why no-one seems to know anything about this case is simply because there is a deliberate attempt to withhold it from the public.

Well, now it seems that Lennon and Carroll have been, at best, deliberately stirring up hatred on a false rumour, at worst, making the whole thing up.

HOPE not hate has spent the day investigating the claim. We have scoured the local media, spoken to teachers and parents at local schools and rang every contact we could think of – and no-one has any evidence that this alleged incident took place.

In fact, it seems that no such incident has ever been logged by the local police.

Given that, according to the EDL leaders, the incident was to have taken place on school premises there is no way in the world that the police would not have been informed.

So, let’s put an end to these rumours as they are simply not true and let the authorities investigate Lennon and Carroll for deliberately inciting hatred.

Sick BNP attacks grooming victim's mother

posted by: Matthew Collins | on: Wednesday, 15 May 2013, 13:01

Vile: Simon Darby (right) pictured with Mark Walker

There’s outright fury from the BNP today over an article in the Daily Mirror concerning child grooming.

The BNP’s occasional (it is occasional, as few people bother to ring them) Press Officer, Simon Darby, is furious with the mother of a victim of grooming.

Darby, a notorious and monotone bore who spends his time shovelling and sweeping up behind the error prone bigot that is his boss Nick Griffin, has described Angela Sinfield as a “Bigoted, white liberal fantasist," who "writhes in self-loathing ecstasy.."

Sinfield, a factory worker, is the mother of a child groomed by a sex gang in Keighley,West Yorkshire in and around the year 2000.

Darby and the BNP have obviously taken exception to the fact that rather than start a riot or go out and feather the political nest of their own tiny, inconsequential and squalid political gang of social lepers, rapists, child abusers, terrorists and racist murderers that is the BNP, Sinfield helped change the law on grooming and also gave short shrift to the BNP who wanted to capitalise on her and her daughter’s misery.

Upon discovering that the BNP was using her daughter’s story to recruit and stir up racism in 2006, she stood against the BNP council candidate in Keighley and won. To really rub the BNP’s nose in it, Angela told the media that covered her story at the time “It’s not a race issue, there are paedophiles in every walk of life.”

This is of course, not something that the BNP wants people to hear about. The BNP would like people to think that it is only Muslims that abuse children.

Darby, who like his leader Nick Griffin, has been caught up in sex scandals of his own in the recent past, does not have any children of his own. Instead, he sits on his computer bragging about his louche lifestyle of bargain pork chops and cheap bottles of wine. Upon reading Sinfield’s story, Darby wrote it was “a truly disgusting and crass offering that wouldn't look out of place in Pyongyang.” This from a political party whose own policies come straight from Nazi Germany!

Angela Sinfield got a law changed and there is more work to do. The BNP gets banged up by the law and will soon all be out of jobs.

If they can’t make political headway out of people’s misery, then the BNP is not interested in them at all. No matter what colour they are; even white people like Angela and her daughter. They just do not give a toss.

It’s because of Angela Sinfield’s campaign that people can now be prosecuted for child grooming offences-regardless of their colour or their religion. No wonder the BNP hates her.

We have no problem with listing all of the BNP members and supports and other Nazis who you would not allow to babysit your children. When will the BNP do the same?

 

NB: Darby is pictured with Mark Walker, a BNP member you can read about here.

Offensive: postive news is never good news to the BNP

And now for some good news...

posted by: Matthew Collins | on: Wednesday, 15 May 2013, 11:02

After yesterday's story about a group set up as a front for the BNP's racist agenda in Shrewsbury, some decent minded people appear to have taken action against the group in question.

The facebook page looks a whole lot different this morning...

Anti-prayer group is just another BNP front

posted by: Duncan Cahill | on: Tuesday, 14 May 2013, 14:32

Jamie Butler: (in purple)prefers to be called "Jay Casuals" for his racist rants.

A group set up to campaign against a prayer centre in Shrewsbury is just another BNP front.

The group "Against the Shrewsbury Muslim prayer centre" is complaining that Shropshire Council has sold Column Lodge to the Shropshire Bangladesh Welfare Society in a £215,000 deal.

The former church, based near to the Column roundabout, was home to the council’s registration services before they were transferred to the Guildhall in Frankwell last year.

Now a group has been set up on facebook to campaign against the prayer centre. But as usual, it's not just concerned residents worried about parking, the price of fish or the bad weather, it's just another BNP front.

Three of the four admins for the group are school children, and the group's founder is Joe Rushworth, a BNP member from Shrewsbury who seems to have a military obsession.

Also posting on there are a host of other well known racists from the area and one "Jay Casuals" who is in fact, Jamie Butler who has attended a number of far-right demonstrations, including one by the CxF.

The page is dripping with racism and anti-Muslim sentiment. It is not a group of concerned citizens, but another group full of Nazi cranks.

Jay Casuals aka Jamie Butler

Bishop to address far-right conference of Jew haters

posted by: Matthew Collins | on: Tuesday, 14 May 2013, 10:48

Bishop Williamson: Holocaust denier

A Catholic Bishop who has described Jews as the "enemy of Christ" is set to address a conference in London this Sunday attended and organised by Holocaust deniers from across the British far-right.

The controversial Bishop, Richard Williamson, was expelled from the Society of St. Pius X last year after years of controversy over his outspoken attacks on Jews and his own Holocaust denial. Earlier this year he was fined by a German court after he denied Jews and other victims of the Holocaust had been "deliberately gassed."

Bishop Williamson sparked a global crisis in Jewish-Catholic relations in 2009 for denying the Holocaust shortly before Pope Benedict XVI readmitted him to the church (after Pope John Paul II had excommunicated him).

The 73 year old has long been admired by members of the far-right around the world for his views, while the mainstream Catholic Church has desperately tried to distance themselves from him. Born in the UK, Bishop Williamson had previously spent most of his time in the United States before retiring here to continue his "teachings." He has been well received by Jew haters and Holocaust deniers here.

The meeting is billed as a meeting of the "British Nationalist Friends of Palestine," but will include pretty much the same sort of people who attend these usual Holocaust denying functions under the many different other names used by the meeting's organiser, Jeremy Bedford-Turner.

Turner has for years been trying to organise the far-right in this country in his role as some kind of self-appointed saviour of fascism. His influence however, extends to meetings in grotty hotels and hanging around on National Front marches.

Although there will be no actual Palestinians at the meeting, the Iranian government's Nazi bag-man Peter Rushton will speak, as will Lady Michele Renouf, another darling of the Iranian and Russian media.

Turner: organiser of conferences of filth

Rushton: Followed by another veteran Jew hater, Richard Edmonds

UKIP's friends part 1: Will Farage ditch this Italian racist?

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Tuesday, 14 May 2013, 10:47

Mario Borghezio MEP

Mario Borghezio MEP, who sits in UKIP's EFD political group in the European Parliament, has been reported as making racist comments about Italy's first black minister last week.

According to the Gazzetta del Sud, Borghezio said: "This is a bonga bonga government, they want to change birthright citizenship laws and Kyenge wants to impose her tribal traditions from the Congo."

"The country is what it is, and the laws are made of crap.

"You can't say the word 'nigger' in Italy, only think it," Borghezio added. "Pretty soon you won't even be able to say illegal immigrant - you'll have to say 'your excellence'. She seems like a great housekeeper, but not a government minister."

"Africans are different. They belong to an ethnicity much different from ours. They haven't produced great genes. Enough consulting these Mickey Mouse encyclopedias. "Kyenge is a doctor. We gave her position in a state-run facility that should have gone to an Italian".

In 2011, Borghezio said he agreed with many of Anders Behrings Breivik's ideas:- "Some of the ideas he expressed are good, barring the violence. Some of them are great."

Nigel Farage is the co-President of the EFD group but didn't sanction Borghezio in 2011. so far he has said nothing about this latest racist outburst.

Gazzetta del Sud article: http://www.gazzettadelsud.it/news/english/44740/Italian-MEP-makes-racist-comments-about-first-black-minister.html

BBC coverage of Borghezio Breivik remarks: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14315108

HOPE tour

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Monday, 13 May 2013, 18:39

Over the next two months we are planning to hold over 50 meetings of our supporters around the country in order to discuss our response, if any, to the rise of UKIP, and our direction and priorities over the coming year.

Among the towns and cities where we are planning to organise meetings are: Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Preston, Manchester, Liverpool, Wigan, Warrington, Stockport, Crewe, Wirral, Bradford, Halifax, Leeds, Doncaster, York, Sheffield, Lincoln, Boston, Nottingham, Leicester, Loughborough, Northampton, Burton, Coventry, Dudley, Birmingham, Shrewsbury, Cambridge, Ipswich, Norwich, Luton, Watford, Oxford, Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Bournemouth, Brighton, Canterbury, Lewisham, Wimbledon, Barking & Dagenham, Camden, Cardiff and Swansea.

More locations will be added tomorrow.

If you would like to be part of our discussion about if, and how, we respond to the rise of UKIP, and the priorities of our work more generally, then sign up here:

http://action.hopenothate.org.uk/oppose-ukip

The HOPE not hate conversation

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Saturday, 11 May 2013, 06:45

Over 700 people have registered an interest in joining our debate about if, and then how, HOPE not hate should respond to the dramtic rise of UKIP.

Over the next few days we will be hoping to put together meetings in as many of the areas where these people live so we can actually begin the discussion.

What is really exciting is that most of these people live in areas where there has been little or no HOPE not hate activity before.

When the 723 people who are interested in meeting are combined with the people who responded to our previous two emails about UKIP we now have over 2,500 engaged. That is quite some number.

We have always said that any possible response to UKIP needs proper thought and discussion so we intend to use these meetings to discuss our options with our supporters, listen to what they think and what they would be prepared to do. Once that is completed, we will then develop a paper on where HOPE not hate will go.

In the meantime, if you would like to engage in our debate then please register your interest here:

http://action.hopenothate.org.uk/oppose-ukip

A brilliant launch, now the real work begins

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Friday, 10 May 2013, 20:04

Angela Sinfield gives an emotional account of what she and her daughter experienced.

Just arriving back into London from what has been a really successful launch of Community Alliance Against Sexual Exploitaton (CAASE) on Bradford today. Well over 100 people attended, as did five TV crews and numerous journalists.

Speaking at the event was Ralph Berry (lead member for Children's Services on Bradford Council), Chief Superintendent Angela Williams, from Keighley, Alyas Karmani, (Co-Director of STREET), the Bishop of Bradford, Zulfiqar Karim (Bradford Council for Mosques), Angela Sinfield, Paul Meszaros (Yorkshire HOPE not hate) and Javed Khan (CEO of Victim Support).

Introducing CAASE was Julie Siddiqi and myself.

The event pulled no punches as to the scale of the problem and the work we need to do. However, it also highlighted several really excellent initiatives in Bradford that are already making a real difference.

Angela Sinfield's description of the abuse her daughter suffered and the impact that had on her and the rest of the family was one of the most emotional and haunting speeches I have ever heard. It really put the day into context and reminded us so vividly about why we were so keen to launch CASSE in the first place.

A common theme running through the event was the need for partnership working. Child protection is obviously central to all of this but there is a vital role for communities, the media and other outside agencies.

I will write a more reflective blog over the weekend, and upload some video and photos from today, but in the meantime I would just like to say a big thank you to the speakers and everyone who attended.

The launch was a great success but the much more challenging work of building and supporting local coalitions starts now.

Introducing CAASE, a new alliance against on-street grooming and child sexual abuse

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Friday, 10 May 2013, 10:54

There are few more awful crimes than the sexual abuse of children. There are certainly fewer crimes that incite so much anger and hatred within our communities. Sexual assaults on young girls have been in the news recently with the unfolding Jimmy Savile scandal, the arrests of several high-profile TV stars and the reports into abuse at a North Wales children’s home and Manchester music school.

Yesterday, the jury at an Old Bailey trial retired to consider a verdict againstnine men from Oxford accused of grooming and sexually exploiting young girls over an eight-year period. This is just the latest in a series of high-profile cases involving British Muslim men, which have then been seized upon and exploited by the Far Right and more general anti-Muslim adherents. In fact, there is little else they are campaigning on at the moment. But if we are to prevent the likes of the British National Party (BNP), English Defence League (EDL), National Front (NF) and their hate-fuelled friends benefiting from these cases, we need to prove to the public that we are concerned about these stories of grooming by both gangs and individuals, and, more importantly, are going to do something about it.

And that’s why HOPE not hate is delighted to be involved in the setting up of the ‘Community Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation’ (CAASE). We are seeking to develop a cross-community initiative that can deal head on with the issue of ‘on-street grooming by gangs’.

Our aims are simple. We want to raise awareness of child sexual exploitation, via education and campaigning across all communities. We want to encourage reporting and promote services to help vulnerable young people. We want to produce training kits and background fact-sheets for faith and community leaders, so they can speak out with knowledge and confidence.

Furthermore, we intend to produce myth-busting materials to counter extremist groups who are tempted to exploit these terrible crimes for their own destructive purposes, in order to divide communities and stir up hatred. And we want to create a space for dialogue and open discussion between – and within – communities, to help break down misconceptions, address issues of real concern and develop more effective cross-community responses.

Fundamentally, we want to help create a ‘zero tolerance’ attitude to child sexual exploitation and develop young leaders to take the campaign into their communities.

Paedophilia and sex abuse reach across all communities. These sickening actions involve men from all ethnic backgrounds – so it is vital we take ‘race’ out of the equation. However, we must also be willing to confront the issue wherever we find it. Staying silent and ignoring the problem is simply not an option.

There are many great initiatives going on already. Police, local authorities and child protection agencies are working hard. But there is more that can be done. We believe that community and faith organisations are often best-placed to reach out to local people and prevent their communities being divided: that is why CAASE is a long overdue initiative and one that we hope will make a real difference.

***

Led by the Islamic Society of Britain (ISB), and HOPE not hate (HNH), CAASE is being supported by faith and civic leaders including the Muslim Council of Britain, Muslim Youth Helpline, Muslim Community Helpline, Federation of Muslim Organisations, the Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board (MINAB), Faith Associates, the Christian Muslim Forum, City Sikhs Network, and the Church of England, plus women’s rights networks including Inspire, the Henna Foundation, and Making Herstory.

Professional guidance is being provided by Victim Support, plus STREET, which works with at-risk young people, and NAPAC (the National Association for People Abused in Childhood) which specialises in support for abuse survivors.

Community Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation – CAASE – is a cross-community response to the issue of ‘on-street grooming by gangs’. It launches today, 10 May, in Bradford.

www.caase.org.uk | @no2grooming

 

Hundreds sign up for debate

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Thursday, 9 May 2013, 12:44

In just an hour since we sent out our email, several hundred people have already signed up to be part of our discussion over how we should respond to UKIP.

Interestingly, but I guess not surprisingly, many were from the very areas that UKIP did well last week.

Looking at the sign-up sheets, it is clear that there is interest in us holding eetings in Ipswich, Exeter, Brighton, York, Watford, East Sussex, Portsmouth, Cambridge and Oxford.

To register your interest in being part of our debate, click here:

http://action.hopenothate.org.uk/oppose-ukip

Opposing UKIP, we could but should we?

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Thursday, 9 May 2013, 11:45

Last Thursday the British political landscape changed. The United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) eclipsed the BNP as the principle depository for right wing votes in this country. They polled 25% of all votes cast, gained 139 news councillors and came second in hundreds more.

UKIP is clearly not a fascist party and Nigel Farage is quite clearly not Nick Griffin. However, UKIP does taps into an English nationalism and xenophobia that was once mined by Enoch Powell. While the party is best known for its opposition to the European Union research shows that it is hostility to immigration and even multiculturalism that is driving its supporters.

Their vision of Britain is something quite different from ours, but is that enough for us to oppose them?

How can we really celebrate the decline of the BNP when UKIP run such strong anti-immigrant campaigns? How can we sit by when UKIP candidates are caught giving nazi salutes and blame Jews for the Holocaust? How can we not respond when some local UKIP leaflets which are worse than those put out by the BNP? Should we forget that the EDL leader recommended people vote UKIP?

I'm not sure we can. And I don't think you can either. When we asked you back in March what we should do, an astonishing 1,800 replied, of which almost 70% said we focus more on UKIP.

http://action.hopenothate.org.uk/oppose-ukip

Whether you live in an area with a UKIP councillor or somewhere they are not currently active, we want to talk to you. Once we see who is interested then we will organise our meetings accordingly.

http://action.hopenothate.org.uk/oppose-ukip

UKIP is not the BNP and we cannot deal with them in the same way. But they are adopting an increasingly anti-immigrant stance and the party seems to be becoming a home for hardline racists, fascists and antisemites.

Do we take them on or ignore them? Do we just put them under the same scrutiny as we have the BNP or do we simple create a positive anti-racist campaign that challenges their anti-immigrant rhetoric and offers an alternative set of values?

If you have any views on this then please register your interest in joining one of our discussions.

Over the next two months we are planning to hold dozens of meetings across the country to discuss our options. Sign up if you are interested in being part of our discussions.

Whether you live in an area with a UKIP councillor or somewhere they are not currently active, we want to talk to you. Once we see who is interested then we will organise our meetings accordingly.

Lennon still hanging on

posted by: Duncan Cahill | on: Wednesday, 8 May 2013, 13:43

Renton: Left the EVF to run back to Lennon

After the EDL's debacle in Leeds last weekened (which followed a series of other debacles), EDL chief Stephen Lennon has been told by his few remaining supporters that if he does not turn up to the EDL's Newcastle demonstration at the end of the month, they will be replacing him as leader.

Not that it's likely they physically can do this, but since his release from prison, Lennon has become somewhat of an enigma, only really surfacing to wrestle control of the EDL's facebook page from the East Anglia division who had turned it in to some kind of racist junk shop for people who bet on football.

Lennon is holding firm that he is still in charge of the organisation but his non-appearance at the Leeds demonstration allowed a number of his detractors to spread further poison about him. Lennon claims he spent the day at the seaside with his family. No doubt his mind was on other matters, most likely his appearance in court today in St Albans, Hertfordshire.

The realignment of the rest of the counter-Jihad street movement does not seem to have caused Lennon too many sleepless nights. English National Resistance (ENR), the umbrella organisation launched by Jim Dowson and Paul Prodromou seems to have stalled since Dowson went on radio silence and Prodromou ran the March For England demonstration in Brighton into the ground last month.

At the beginning of May, the English Volunteer Force (EVF) announced that it was joining the English Democrats, Prodromou's South East Alliance (SEA) and Dowson's own Britain First in the umbrella organisation. No sooner was that announced then a number of EVF members decided that they would be re-joining the English Defence League (EDL) because they could not work with Dowson's errand boy and former BNP young gun, Paul Golding.

EVF leader Chris Renton (aka John Sheridan) agreed with Lennon to not attend the Brighton rally as it was under the control of the ENR. A number of other EVF/EDL who did turn up in Brighton did not go on the march as it was led by ENR/SEA leader Prodromou, who the EDL has taken to calling "Stavros".

Lennon has confirmed he will be in Newcastle. The last time he came up against people from the North East, Lennon's cousin claims the rival racist gang the Infidels tried to kill them them after a disastrous rally in Blackburn. With this in mind, is it any wonder that Lennon is trying to claw his army back?

Golding: How some (including the EVF's leaders see him)

Prodromou:Driving the Brighton demo into the ground

Timmy Hoben (centre): Listening to Prodromou and Golding

Demand: Turn up "Tommy" or turn off

BNP election results

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Wednesday, 8 May 2013, 07:49

The 2013 elections proved to be a new low for the BNP. Not only did they not win a single seat but their vote has continued to decline. The rise of UKIP all but gaurantees that the electoral threat of the BNP, and other far right groups, will be minimal for the forseeable future.

The exception, of course, might be Nick Griffin in next year's European Elections, when he only needs 7% of the vote in the North West to be re-elected. however, even this looks unlikely in the current circumstances.

We have produced a simple infographic on their BNP's 2013 election results.

http://www.hopenothate.org.uk/images/HnH-BNP-election-stats-2009-2013.jpg

As you will see, the BNP stood just 104 candidates and they averaged 5.5%. By contrast, the BNP stood 461 candidates in 2009, when the county council elections were last held, and averaged 11.2% of the vote.

Anyway, please have a look

http://www.hopenothate.org.uk/images/HnH-BNP-election-stats-2009-2013.jpg

Billy Bragg supports HOPE not hate

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Tuesday, 7 May 2013, 09:29

I'm delighted to announce that Billy Bragg, one of the original HOPE not hate patrons, will be playing at the Great Escape in Brighton this month in support of HOPE not hate.

As part of Billy's current tour he will be playing a gig at the Dome in Brighton, during the Great Escape festival. It should be a great night and we hope to see you there. The Great Escape is annual music festival that showcases new music from around the world. This year's festival features 350 bands playing across 30 venues.

To buy a ticket and make a donation to HOPE not hate please click here.

Thanks to Billy and the organisers of the Great Escape

http://www.billybragg.co.uk/

http://mamacolive.com/thegreatescape/

Food for thought

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Saturday, 4 May 2013, 16:24

Several hundred people have already sent in their thoughts about Thursday's county council elections. Many are jubilant about the demise of the BNP, especially in Burnley, but almost all are expressing concern over the growth of UKIP.

These messages have provided me with much food for thought as I begin to discuss with colleagues about what we need to do.

Next year we have the European Elections and we have to decide how we view UKIP if they continue to pursue such an agressive anti-immigrant agenda. We also need to be honest about what we impact a small campaign group can have in a national election. Taking on the BNP is one thing, which of course we will do to ensure Griffin is not re-elected, but taking on a party that could well come first is quite another.

It is a big decision we have to take and we need to be guided by our supporters. So, if you have a view then please let us know.

http://action.hopenothate.org.uk/bye-bye-bnp

EDL relegation party turns into crime against fashion

posted by: Duncan Cahill | on: Saturday, 4 May 2013, 13:27

The EDL are set to begin their march at 13.30hrs. There are now about 150-180 of them drunk in the Penny Fun pub in Moortown.

Among them is "Diddyman" from the Infidels who according to our calculations, has worn the same clothing now for the last two years.

West Yorkshire police are not going to allow the EDL to misbehave here and are being very strict with everyone.

Bye, Bye BNP

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Saturday, 4 May 2013, 13:16

Shortly after midday yesterday, the returning officer in Burnley announced that Labour had gained the Padiham and Burnley West seat on Lancashire Council from the British National Party (BNP). In doing so, Burnley became BNP-free for the first time in 2002.

It is an incredible achievement, and one only made possible by the hard work and dedication of the small team of people in Burnley who have consistently campaigned against them.

The BNP, under Nick Griffin's leadership, made their first breakthrough in Burnley back in 2002. Within a year they were the second largest party on the council. It is fitting that today's result mirrored the electoral collapse of the fascist party.

The BNP's problems began with their heavy defeat in Barking & Dagenham in 2010. Since then they have been consumed with internal strife, huge debt and demoralised activists. In yesterday's elections they only managed just over 100 candidates and only a handful managed to poll above 10%.

We should absolutely celebrate the electoral demise of the BNP because we have played a part in their downfall. However, this joy is tempered by the surge of support for UKIP.

UKIP fought the election on an increasingly hostile position to immigration. While the media became fixated with a few Nazi and overtly racist candidates, we should actually be focusing on the party as a whole, its assault on immigration and multiculturalism and its long term significance.

Just as importantly, we need to assess UKIP's impact on the mainstream parties and ensure that they do not begin an anti-immigration arms race.

Whether you want to celebrate a BNP-free Burnley or express your concern over the rise of UKIP, please get in touch. Your views will help shape what we do next

http://action.hopenothate.org.uk/bye-bye-bnp

We have already received hundreds of messages, both celebrating the demise of the BNP but also expressing concern over UKIP. You can read some of these messages here

http://action.hopenothate.org.uk/bye-bye-bnp

EDL prepares for relegation party?

posted by: Duncan Cahill | on: Saturday, 4 May 2013, 11:18

Legless this early in the day

Despite their demo not starting until 2pm, about 60 EDL members are already drinking heavily in Leeds.

I would say it was a carnival atmosphere, but of course, it's just full of drunken race-haters.

The EDL are demanding to be allowed to march to their demo spot, which is 4 miles away....

 

UKIP victories

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Friday, 3 May 2013, 16:27

Ok, here's my latest on UKIP victories. I make it 134.

One or two of these councils still have wards to declare and I'm sure I've missed one or two as well.

Buckinghamshire 6

Cambridgeshire 12

Cornwall 6

Devon 4

Dorset 1

East Sussex 7

Essex 10

Gloucestershire 3

Hampshire 10

Kent 11

Leicestershire 2

Lincolnshire 16

Norfolk 15

North Yorkshire 2

Northamptonshire 1

Somerset 3

Staffordshire 2

Suffolk 9

Surrey 2

West Sussex 10

Worcestershire 2

Bad loser

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Friday, 3 May 2013, 13:51

Cathy Duffy, BNP candidate in Syston Fosse, Leicestershire, has walked out of the count even before her result was announced.

Her vote was so low that she obviously didn't want the embarrassment of hearing it being read out.

Next year, Duffy is up for re-election as a borough councillor. Let's hope for a repeat performance.

British Democrats lose councillor

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Friday, 3 May 2013, 13:36

The BDP went into these elections with one county councillor. They now have none. Graeme Partner won Coalville ward, Leicestershire, in 2009 for the BNP. He then became an independent, before switching back to the BNP. However, he then decided to re-stand for the newly formed British Democratic Party.

He should really not have bothered. He came fourth with just 215 votes

Labour - 1294
UKIP - 825
Tory - 476
Brit Dem - 215
Lib Dem - 84

Burnley is now BNP-free

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Friday, 3 May 2013, 11:45

This is the news we have been waiting for. Burnley is now BNP-free for the first time in 11 years.

And not only has the BNP failed to hold its one remaining county council seat but their candidate appears to have come fourth and last.

This is brilliant news.

Far-right round up

posted by: Matthew Collins | on: Friday, 3 May 2013, 10:50

Well, most of the far-right will probably be hiding under their pillows if the results continue to point to their demise-unless of course they're wearing them as hoods...

The English Democratic Party's springboard for the Euro Elections looks to have sunk already. Poor old Robin Tilbrook found his party bereft of funds towards the end of their election campaign, partly due to the absence of Jim Dowson, the far-right's "Mr Midas."

Despite being unable to use either the telephone or the internet, Dowson went and formed another new party last week and like every other political party he has been involved with, one that has no political ambitions according to their founding statement!

Dowson is becoming something of a showman over in Belfast where he threatened last week to turn up in court naked. This is no idle threat; it's fair to say he left Nick Griffin stripped bare a few years ago too.

The EDL is back tomorrow, standing up for English values, etc, etc. They're out to protest in Leeds about an empty pub being turned into a community centre. The community centre will include a library and a gym so obviously according to the EDL, it will be a Mosque. There is room for prayer in the proposals but no bar-hence the EDL's protest.

Do not expect to see their glorious leader, the illegal immigrant Stephen Lennon, leading his troops. By all accounts he is going on holiday. Six months in Wandsworth obviously was not enough for him?

It's been a while since we last wrote about Bill Baker. Baker is not so important these days, despite being the King of Cladding on Canvey Island. Still, we should have had a wager with him on last night's results. Bill was having a bet that there would be a high amount of electoral fraud in Bradford, Birmingham and Tower Hamlets.

He'll have a long time waiting for those votes, as there are no elections in those places.

This is just another reason why the far-right is in the mess it is. People like Bill that think they're the master race. Apparently he now runs a one man crusade against paediatricians...

Baker: Probably still searching for those results

The collapsing BNP vote in Warwickshire

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Friday, 3 May 2013, 10:41

Here is a comparison between how the BNP vote in Nuneaton and Bedworth yesterday and in 2009:

Bede 21% (2009) 7.1% (2013)

Camp Hill 30.9% (2009) 9% (2013)

Nuneaton Abbey 13% (2009) 6.6% (2013)

Nuneaton Wem Brook 22.2% (2009) 4.7% (2013)

Arbury & Stockingford 22.4% (2009)  9.8% (2013)

Poplar 17.8% (2009) 11.0% (2013)

 

South Oxhey heartache

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Friday, 3 May 2013, 10:21

The BNP have poll just 3.6% in South Oxhey ward, Three Rivers. They won it in 2009. How times have changed!

BNP vote collapses, even without UKIP standing

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Friday, 3 May 2013, 10:11

The problems for the BNP have been graphically illustrated in Nuneaton Camp Hill, where the BNP polled 9% of the vote. And this is without UKIP standing.

In 2009, the BNP polled 30.9% in this ward.

Just for information, HOPE not hate delivered a campaign newspaper through every door in the ward.

Humiliated but consistent

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Friday, 3 May 2013, 09:44

Two results have just come in from Staffordshire and the BNP candidates got just 3% in both. One finished last and the other sneaked in ahead of the Liberal Democrats.

The results are further humiliation for the BNP but at least they are consistent.

Over and out for Robin Tilbrook?

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Friday, 3 May 2013, 09:21

Spare a thought for poor old Robin Tilbrook, leader of the English Democrats. A couple of years ago he genuinely thought that the collapse of the BNP would give his party the opening they needed.

Last night, as he came last in his Essex ward, he must have realised that this dream was over. He gained just 3.2% while UKIP came second with 25.5%.

Tilbrook has pumped a lot of his own personal money into the English Democrats. Perhaps it is now time to find an alternative hobby.

Morning recap

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Friday, 3 May 2013, 07:10

Good morning everyone. After a couple of hours break the live blog is back up and running. The vast majority of councils will count today so we should be in for a busy one.

Here's what happened so far.

The BNP vote has collapsed and they have generally polling at only 20-30% of the vote they achieved in 2009.

The big winners so far are UKIP. They came a strong second in the South Shields by-election and have won 42 council seats. This is likely to increase to well over 100 by the end of today.

This includes 16 gains in Lincolnshire, 10 in Hampshire, 9 in Essex, 3 each in Somerset and Gloucestershire and one in Dorset.

The political landscape is changing and a populist right wing party is squeezing out the traditional far right.

UKIP gains

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Friday, 3 May 2013, 02:16

This is definately UKIP's election. They have so far won 11 on Lincolnshire council, seven in Hampshire, three in Essex, two in Gloucestershire and one in Somerset.

That's 24, though some are saying 28.

There are still many wards to declare in these councils, while 80% of councils up for election this year are actually counting tomorrow.

Oh dear, how embarrassing

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Friday, 3 May 2013, 01:44

BNP candidate Christopher Caffin always knew he was not going to win in Bridgemary ward, Hampshire. But surely he must have thought he would have polled above 1%.

But no, even that was too much for him.

Caffin polled just 32 votes (0.92%). How embarrassing!!

BNP vanish under UKIP steamroller

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Friday, 3 May 2013, 01:38

In 2009 the BNP polled 20.5% of the vote in Spalding East and Moulton ward in Lincolnshire. This time they polled a pathetic 3.9%.

Everywhere, the BNP is collapsing.

The party has been in decline since 2010 but now it is getting wiped out by the UKIP surge.

Two more UKIP wins in Lincolnshire

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Friday, 3 May 2013, 01:28

UKIP have now won Louth Marsh and Mablethorpe, to add to the eight I have already mentioned.

UKIP gain more in Lincolnshire

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Friday, 3 May 2013, 01:20

UKIP now have won 8 seats in Lincolnshire:

Spalding South

Boston Coastal

Boston East

Boston Fishtoft

Gainsborough Hill

Spalding East & Moulton

Boston North West

Lincoln Hartsholme

UKIP gain three in Hampshire

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Friday, 3 May 2013, 01:17

UKIP seem to be on a roll in Hampshire as well. They have taken three wards so far - Fareham Crofton, Eastleigh East and Bishopstoke and Fair Oak.

Last place for BNP

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Friday, 3 May 2013, 01:14

I think we should get used to this blog headline...

The BNP came last in Goffs Oak and Bury Green ward, Hertfordshire, with just 52 votes (2.0%). Compare this to the 619 (15.7%) votes the BNP polled in the same ward in 2009.

UKIP win second seat in Essex

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Friday, 3 May 2013, 01:04

Rayleigh South

Turnout

Majority

26.8%

185

Candidate

Party

Votes

Swing

FLACK, John Christopher

The Conservative Party Candidate

1194

-14.5%

GIBBS, Keith Anthony

UK Independence Party

1379

SCOTT, Cameron

The Labour Party Candidate

331

+3.0%

WALDIE, Pam

Liberal Democrat

563

-1.4%

UKIP gain five in Lincolnshire

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Friday, 3 May 2013, 01:00

UKIP have now won five seats in Lincolnshire:

Boston East

Boston Coastal

Boston Fishtoft

Spalding South

Gainsborough Hill

There are still more to declare

Another UKIP gain in Lincolnshire

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Friday, 3 May 2013, 00:54

I predicted UKIP would do well in Boston and I've just heard that they have taken Boston Coastal from the Conservatives

Here's the full result

• RANSOME, F.E.E 45.8 % (826)
  UK Independence Party Up 20.6% GAIN
• BEDFORD, P 40.4 % (730)
  Conservative Down 14.6%
• GLEESON, P.M 13.8 % (249)
  Labour Up 4.1%
• Electorate: 5796
  Turnout: 1805 (31%)

UKIP gain seat in Essex

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Friday, 3 May 2013, 00:41

UKIP gain a seat in Basildon Westley Heights, Essex, from the Conservatives. Winning candidate is Kerry Smith, brother of Barking and Dagenham council leader Liam Smith.

BNP vote plummets

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Friday, 3 May 2013, 00:18

The first result involving a BNP candidate has just come in and it shows the BNP vote has plummet. Robert West polled 4% in Holbeach ward, Lincolnshire. this is down from 16.6% in 2009.

UKIP polled 42%, only just behind the Tory candidate

Electoral Division Map - Holbeach

• WORTH, N. 44.8 % (979)
  Conservative Down 18.6% HELD
• FOYSTER, P.C 42 % (918)
  UK Independence Party Up 42%
• MAYHEW, D. 9.2 % (200)
  Labour Up 0.8%
• WEST, R.M.B 4 % (88)
  British National Party Down 12.6%
• Electorate: 7610
  Turnout: 2185 (28%)

UKIP make another gain

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Friday, 3 May 2013, 00:04

Gainsborough Hill (West Lindsey)

• BEAVER, J.W 36.5 % (428)
  UK Independence Party Up 10.1% GAIN
• TINKER, M. 30.1 % (352)
  Liberal Democrat Down 11.2%
• WITHERS, M 17 % (199)
  Labour Up 7.8%
• BUTROID, R.D 16.4 % (192)
  Conservative Down 6.7%
• Electorate: 6830
  Turnout: 1171 (17%)

That's the second gain of the night

UKIP poll 25% in another Lincolnshire ward

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Friday, 3 May 2013, 00:02

Scotter Rural (West Lindsey)

• UNDERWOOD-FROST, C. 42 % (717)
  Conservative Down 17.3% HELD
• PEARSON, C. 25 % (428)
  UK Independence Party Up 25%
• ROLLINGS, L.A 22.9 % (392)
  Liberal Democrat Down 9.5%
• INDIAN, J. 10.1 % (172)
  Labour Up 1.7%
• Electorate: 6168
  Turnout: 1709 (27%)

Lincolnshire's looking bad for the Conservatives as UKIP poll well

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Friday, 3 May 2013, 00:01

The Conservatives seem to be losing votes to everyone in Lincolnshire. Another result in shows a strong Labour gain in Louth North. The Tory vote is down 22.7%, with UKIP standing for the first time and taking 15.2%.

• DODDS, S.R 46.9 % (857)
  Labour Up 32.5% GAIN
• WATSON, P.F 29.2 % (534)
  Conservative Down 22.7%
• BEECHAM, M. 15.2 % (278)
  UK Independence Party Up 15.2%
• SIMPSON, D.A 6.5 % (118)
  Lincolnshire Independents Up 6.5%
• DOBBY, D. 2.3 % (42)
  Liberal Democrat Down 18.3%
• Electorate: 5352
  Turnout: 1829 (34%)

UKIP gain

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Thursday, 2 May 2013, 23:55

UKIP make first gain of the night. Filton ward, Gloucs: UKIP - 338, Lab - 233, Ind - 185, Cons - 151.

First result in: Hykenham Forum (North Kesteven)

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Thursday, 2 May 2013, 23:29

The first result has been declared in Hykenham Forum (North Kesteven), Lincolnshire. UKIP polled 26.1%, which is up 11.7% on 2009. They were still third but it's an indication of the strength of their vote tonight.

Full result:

MARRIOTT, J.R 31.6 % (609)

• Liberal Democrat Down 11.4% HELD
• CAWREY, L. 28.9 % (558)
  Conservative Up 1%
• NEWTON, P.A 26.1 % (504)
  UK Independence Party Up 11.7%
• GREY, A,J 13.3 % (257)
  Labour Up 5.7%
• Electorate: 5780
  Turnout: 1928 (33%)

Lincolnshire

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Thursday, 2 May 2013, 23:05

In 2009 the BNP stood 23 candidates in Lincolnshire. This year they are standing just four.

The vote is being counted

Essex

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Thursday, 2 May 2013, 23:02

In 2009 the BNP stood 44 candidates. This year they have just 8.

Elections declaring tonight

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Thursday, 2 May 2013, 22:49

Most councils are counting tomorrow, but there are a handful announcing during the night. They include Essex, Somerset, Devon, Lincolnshire, Hampshire and some of Hertfordshire and Staffordshire.

There are eight BNP candidates and one English Democrat candidate in Essex.

Lincolnshire will probably deliver some very high UKIP votes. I guess Devon and Somerset will too.

The clock is ticking

posted by: Duncan Cahill | on: Thursday, 2 May 2013, 20:23

EDP: Needing a good solicitor

Not long now until the BNP, BDP and the EDP find out just how much of their electorate has been eaten away by UKip.

Our guess is quite a bit of it, but there has been no room for complacency on our part. Teams of activists are still out around the country delivering materials.

The BNP is bragging that "BNP activists are out campaigning – winning over voters on the doorstep." The English Democrats (EDP), beset by what could turn out to be a near fatal police investigation into electoral fraud against them, has already announced that they are instead of these elections, now focusing on the European Elections.

The EDP describe tonight's potential shellacking as a "springboard" for that Euro campaign. Of course, if you could just send them some cash now, it would help tide them over and possibly retain the services of a decent brief...

Their ridiculous optimism certainly makes one proud to be English.

No word from the British Democratic Party (BDP), as to their future plans, but it will probably involve a moody meeting in a real ale pub somewhere and not any kind of real, political activity. Some Jews will probably get blame.

Even on the brink of disaster, they're all still demanding more cash from their members.

Strike!

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Thursday, 2 May 2013, 20:13

Earlier today I identified ten wards and areas to watch in these elections. To add a bit of fun to proceedings, we have turned these key wards into bowling pins.

If the BNP lose these elections we will knock over the corresponding pin.

Will any still be standing by the time the counting has finished tomorrow? We shall see

The unwanted elections. Far right struggle to make an impact

posted by: Matthew Collins | on: Thursday, 2 May 2013, 07:53

These are the elections that the far-right could have done without. The UKIP “steamroller”, may have been picking up votes from both disillusioned Tories, Lib Dems and even Labour voters, they have had a far greater affect on the small, “populist” pool of votes that the BNP and English Democrats (EDP) rely upon.

 

The introduction of the BNP-splinter group, the British Democratic Party (BDP), has had little affect on either the BNP or the EDP’s fortunes. Despite only standing three candidates (one already a sitting former BNP councillor), the BDP has failed to offer any practical on-the-ground support to them. Although their three candidates have all leafleted their respective wards, the BDP re-evaluated its intentions shortly after the close of nominations, with party chairman l Kevin Scott writing off the chances of all nationalist parties due to the “UKIP affect”.

 

The BNP may portray themselves as financially sound but the reality is the sole consequence of a legacy left by a dead member.

Troubled at its head offices by in-fighting and bickering, the low number of candidates at the county council elections is just another failure by a party that also failed to find candidates to stand in today's Mayoral contests in Doncaster and North Tyneside.

 

The BNP’s campaigning has been sporadic. In Cumbria, where the BNP has an office and fulltime staff, as well as parish councillors, they managed a last minute smear campaign against both the Labour Party and polish migrants.

 

In South Tyneside the BNP targeted the local Muslim community with a leaflet that blamed both the Conservatives and the Labour Party for the community’s presence there. In Pendle, Lancashire, the BNP and BDP will trade electoral blows with hopefully, little affect on the electorate.

 

So sparse and underwhelming is the BNP’s campaign this year that the party actually refused a spot on Newsnight to discuss its shrinking fortunes.

 

Shortly after the programme, the BNP announced to its membership in a bulletin that it was “Undefeated, confident and fighting to win.” The bulletin was both angry, bizarre and in places childish, accusing UKIP of being part of the Zionist conspiracy and then mocking-up a picture UKIP's Nigel Farage to look like Margaret Thatcher. The party suggested its members spoil their ballots if there is no BNP candidate in their area. 

Of course, the presence of UKIP is a convenient excuse for the party's poor performance. Their desperate appeal for second class stamps so that they could post out election addresses to voters reflects far deeper problems within the party than UKIP's current surge.

 

The English Democratic Party (EDP) campaign has been seriously derailed by cash and membership flow problems. Originally the party bullishly planned to stand 394 candidates, enough to secure an election broadcast. But then their fortunes plummeted. In February their sitting Mayor in Doncaster quit the party, allegedly over its growing links to the far-right. The party performed worse than some rather less serious candidates in the Eastleigh by-election and despite a controversial link up with a number of former EDL activists, most of the EDPs Essex base returned to the BNP. The party then lost the “Midas touch” of notorious far-right fundraiser Jim Dowson in early March, when a court in Belfast set bail conditions that prohibited him from using both the telephone and the internet.

In mid-March and with rumour rife that the party was in a serious meltdown, party Chairman Robin Tilbrook sent out an email explaining how the party still stood a chance of winning the Doncaster Mayoral election. Other than that, mention of the council elections in bulletins was rather sporadic with St George’s Day dominating nearly all for another month. Tilbrook made a rare foray onto television at the end of April when he admitted on the Daily Politics Show that as many as 10% of his party were formerly in the BNP.

 

Like the BNP, the EDPs have vented much of their political spleen at UKIP. The EDPs own “attack dog”, Steve Uncles, engaged his longstanding habit of bizarre and inflammatory attacks on social media against his opponents. No sooner had candidate nominations closed, concerns were raised about some of the nominations of EDP candidates in Uncles’ home county of Kent. As the police launched an investigation into alleged electoral fraud, Uncles began a campaign where he claimed he had been the victim of a UKIP “black-ops” campaign to derail the party.

 

The National Front have held a series of meetings for supporters to support their candidates but their great hope is some return from the Doncaster Mayoral election where they hope to fill whatever void there is possibly left by the absence of the BNP and BDP. The last mention of the elections on their website was on the 12thApril.

Election Day

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Thursday, 2 May 2013, 07:51

Welcome to our Live election blog. Over the course of the next 36 hours we will be covering the 2013 local elections as they happen. We'll be giving regular updates from around the country, reporting results as they happen and trying to give a quick and immediate analysis as to what it all means.

While we will be particularly focusing on the fate of the xxx far right candidates, we will also, for the first time, be casting an eye on UKIP, both in terms of their impact on the far right parties but also on the political mainstream.

Over the course of today, we will be looking at the electoral campaigns of the British National Party (BNP), the British Democratic Party (BDP), the National Front (NF) and the English Democrats. We will be looking at our own campaign, and reflecting how it has changed from previous elections. And we will be getting reports from the campaign trail across the country.

There are 27 county councils up for election, 8 unitary authorities, two Mayoral contests and one parliamentary election.

Most councils are counting the votes tomorrow, but a few will be announcing through the night.

So, if you are interested in how the far right do in these elections, the strength of the UKIP vote and it's possible impact on the mainstream parties, then keep tuned in to our election coverage.

You can follow us on this blog, on twitter (@hopenothate and @lowles_nick) and on Facebook.

In the meantime, here are ten contests to watch:

1) Padiham and Burnley West. The one County Council seat the BNP is defending. Lose this and the BNP is totally wiped out of Burnley. The omens don't look good for the BNP as sitting councillor Sharon Wilkinson decided not to defend her seat.

2) Coalville, Leicestershire. Graeme Partner is defending this seat for the British Democratic Party. He won it in 2009 for the BNP, went Independent, rejoined the BNP and then decided to stand for the BDP. Weird.

3) Pendle Central. A head to head battle between the BNP and the BDP in a traditional BNP stronghold. The BNP candidate, Brian Parker, is a local borough councillor but this contest has got quite bitter.

4) Doncaster Mayoral elections. The BNP and BDP could not find candidates for this contest, so it is left to the National Front to fly the fascist flag. The English Democrats won this election four years ago but their successful candidate is now running as an Independent.

5) South Shields parliamentary by-election. Will the BNP register a vote in what traditionally has been an area of strength for them and how strong will the support for UKIP be?

6) Leicestershire, Syston Fosse ward. Cathy Duffy is standing for the BNP. She is already a strong local borough councillor so the strength of her vote will be a good indication as to her chances of retaining her council seat next year.

7) Cumbria, Maryport North. With its close proximity to the BNP headquarters, the party has done more work here than in any other area of the country. It is the only area where we know Griffin has campaigned and the candidate is Clive Jefferson.

8) Kent, Swanley. Steve Uncles is contesting this seat for the English Democrats. He has no chance of winning but we'll be seeing just how badly he does and the UKIP impact on the English Democrat vote.

9) Derbyshire, Amber Valley division. For a long time this has been one of the BNP strongholds and in 2009 the party polled 29.8% in Central Heanor and 24.7% in Greater Heanor. Can the BNP vote hold up against UKIP and given that this is a key marginal parliamentary seat, just how will a strong UKIP vote be seen by the main parties.

10) Lincolnshire, Boston division. Last year the English Democrats took two council seats in Boston West and the area has a long history of voting for anti-EU and anti-immigrant parties. In the 2004 European Elections, the combined UKIP/BNP vote in Boston was 44%. In 2009 it was 35.6%. Just how well will UKIP do here?