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BNP leader Nick Griffin himself has been a controversial figure.
He has made past statements that have been construed as anti-Semitic
Holocaust denial and has also tried to exploit Islamophobia after al
Qaeda affiliates attacked London in 2005. Despite its local council
seats and other minor victories though, the party has had other
headaches, including factional strife, expulsion of head officials and
membership list leakage. They have clashed with actress Joanna Lumley,
a tireless campaigner for UK settlement rights for British Gurkhas who
have served in the armed forces. The Labour, Conservative and Liberal
Democrat Parties have all slammed its racism and denounced it as
neofascist.
Apart from its hostility to Muslims, immigrants, refugees and
asylum seekers, the BNP also has a track record of vitriolic
homophobia. They want to repeal the Civil Partnerships Act and favour a
return to the days when homosexuality wasn't 'promoted' in high school
sex education courses. Some BNP activists have compared out gay
politicans to murderers, rapist and pedophiles, while former BNP Youth
activist Mark Collet described us as "AIDS Monkeys," "bum bandits" and
"faggots."
After Stephen Gateley's death, Griffin said he opposed gay public displays of affection. Moreover, jailed criminally insane neofascist terrorist David Copeland, bomber of London's Admiral Duncan Pub (1998) was a former BNP member. The BNP also has connections to Combat 18, a neofascist paramilitary group. BNP members are banned from the Police, Prison Service and Anglican Church.
After Stephen Gateley's death, Griffin said he opposed gay public displays of affection. Moreover, jailed criminally insane neofascist terrorist David Copeland, bomber of London's Admiral Duncan Pub (1998) was a former BNP member. The BNP also has connections to Combat 18, a neofascist paramilitary group. BNP members are banned from the Police, Prison Service and Anglican Church.
Recommended:
Nigel Copsey: Contemporary British Fascism: The BNP and its Quest for Legitimacy: London: Palgrave Macmillan: 2004.
