Bnp win a council seat in london
Last Thursday saw the bad news that the fascist British National Party had conned their way to a local council seat in Barking, east London.
This result gives new urgency and importance to our campaign, in support of Unite Against Fascism, to use music to bring people together to oppose the racists and fascist in this country. A result like Barking could happen in YOUR town - why not get started on putting on a LMHR gig or club night where you live - big or small it doesn’t matter, DOING something is what’s important. Maybe you could also give out LMHR and Unite leaflets at gigs and club nights already happening where you live, and find like-minded people to work with?
We’ll be looking to help local people organise anti-fascist music events in and around Barking, a multiracial area. We’ll also be looking to use our three gigs at next month’s European Social Forum to get lots of new people involved in the struggle to stop the BNP.
Here’s the press release Unite sent out about the BNP election win Friday:-
Unite Against Fascism
Po Box 36871, London WC1X 9XT
020 7833 4916/ 020 7837 4522
unite@natfhe.org.uk
www.uaf.org.uk
17 September 2004
Ken Livingstone calls on “progressive Londoners to join movement against the BNP”
Anti-fascist campaigners are calling for the campaign against the BNP to be stepped up, following the BNP’s election in the Goresbrook ward by-election in Barking and Dagenham, east London yesterday. The BNP received 1,072 votes with 51.8% of the vote, Labour finished second with 602 votes, 29.1%. The turnout was low at 28%.
The BNP have polled high votes in the Barking area of east London. A breakdown of the European election results by local authority shows that the BNP polled their third highest vote in Barking and Dagenham with 14.8% of the vote. In the Valence by-election in Barking in July the BNP received 31.5% of the vote.
This is the first time the BNP have been elected in London since 1993.
Chair of Unite Against Fascism, Ken Livingstone said:
“The BNP is a fascist party. Wherever they are elected racist violence increases. Every concession to racism or Islamophobia by mainstream parties assists the BNP. These results show that the BNP is now a bigger threat than ever before. Every progressive Londoner should wake and join the movement to stop the BNP because they threaten everything which makes London such a wonderful, diverse city.”
Brendan Barber, TUC General Secretary said:
“This terrible result must banish any complacent thoughts that the racists were down and out after their election failures this year. This should focus minds and inject vigour into the campaign to convince Londoners to vote and keep racists out in next year’s General Election”
Sabby Dhalu, Unite Against Fascism Joint Secretary (National Assembly Against Racism) said:
“This result shows that we cannot afford to be complacent in fighting the BNP. Over 70% of people that live in this ward did not vote. We believe that the majority of people in London and the rest of Britain strongly oppose the BNP. The only way to defeat the BNP is to mobilise the anti-BNP majority and ensure that they use their vote. We must redouble our efforts in campaigning against the BNP.”
John Cryer MP said:
“The BNP are a real threat - they cannot be written off. The BNP is a fascist organisation and we must keep fighting to stop the BNP.”
Weyman Bennett, Unite Against Fascism Joint Secretary (Anti-Nazi League) said:
“The BNP is a Nazis organisation we must mobilise every one to expose their programme. We have defeated the nazis every time they have raised their ugly heads we will again. Never again can those who deny the holocaust be allowed to hold political office.”
Notes for editors
1. For a full breakdown of the results please visit the Unite Against Fascism website at www.uaf.org.uk
2. Unite Against Fascism is a national campaign against the BNP and other fascist organisations. The campaign includes the TUC and major affiliated trade unions, cross party MPs, the National Assembly Against Racism, the Anti-Nazi League, black communities, faith organisations and many others.
3. For further information contact Sabby Dhalu on 07949 882 609 or Weyman Bennett on 07734032314. Contact the UAF office between 9am and 6.30pm, Monday to Friday.
