BPP State Plant Well Rewarded

A Non-Profit Event

United action needed

Unfortunately, Unite Against Fascism (UAF) and the main political force behind it, the Socialist Workers Party (SWP), have been largely absent from this campaign. This is despite numerous requests for meetings from the local campaign and the campaign leafleting the UAF national conference last March so they were aware of what was happening.

Some weeks after the details of the protest were announced, UAF members have begun distributing leaflets advertising a rally at 11am without any discussion with the local campaign. UAF have even added NStBNP as one of the organisations calling the rally without consultation! UAF's unilateral call for a rally at a different time has, understandably, raised fears that they are attempting to split the anti-BNP movement.

Any attempts to organise a rally separate from the NStBNP rally will weaken the strength of opposition to the BNP's festival. It would also show a complete disregard to the democratic lines along which the local campaign has been built, within which UAF have so far declined to participate. That would be counter to the idea of building a united mass campaign against the BNP, of involving new activists in campaigning and discussing tactics and slogans, of involving as many as possible to develop the best slogans and ideas capable of defeating the BNP.

Despite the obstructions created by the UAF's approach, the campaign is determined to make the protest a massive success and many people are involved in a range of work to build the protest. Last weekend, the campaign took leaflets to the Durham Miners' Gala as it wants an attendance from all over Britain.

Spot The Gimp!

This ponce was spotted outside of Campbell Primary school in Dagenham this morning.

Keep your eyes peeled, keep an eye on your kids.

Eddy Ready To Do A Runner

BPP founder and notorious alcoholic Eddy Morrison has gone to ground in light of the recent conviction of his race-hating pals, Simon Sheppard and Stephen Whittle

Not a good month for the glue sniffers and perverts of the BPP. Eddy has left a message on his blog shite saying "sorry folks... there is little point in me continuing this Blog".

Martyn Gilleard, one of their Yorkshire organisers was recently convicted of having a bomb under his bed and 39,000 "images" of children.

That "ZOG" is a real bastard isn't it? Nevermind the "sorry" Eddy, just don't do it again.

Pic: Eddy Morrison of the BPP with Gilleard, one of a number of paedophiles attracted to the organisation.

For Our Welsh Friend

Plenty more where that came from!

A Toothless Insincere Gimp!

Richard Barnbrook is a cynical, devious, shallow-opportunist and low life.

This time he has dashed in his bat mobile across town to try and make political gain from the tragic and senseless murder of sixteen year old Londoner Ben Kinsella.

Richard is very concerned because Ben is white. The cynical piss head, who makes a living out of creating racist misery for the people of London, took no time in getting to Islington, north London to parade himself as some sort of saviour of the (white) youth of London.

He pulled the same sick stunt last month, when he went as far as Kent, to attempt to grab the headlines when another youth was stabbed to death, 18 year old Harry Potter actor Robert Knox. Yes, the alleged killers are reportedly black in both cases. That's what Barnbrook wants you to know about these murders.

We won't dignify their pathetic attempt to portray a sweeping problem as some kind of "ethnic cleansing" by black youth on white youths by showing their pathetic video, but it's needless to say that Barnbrook is in his usual attire coincidentally standing outside of a pub.

Once more Barnbrook is urging Mothers to join with him in a campaign against knives. Exactly what an ignorant, bumbling, alcoholic can do to stem knife crime seems to be irrelevant. He cannot even control his bladder, let alone crime in London.

He claims that if he is elected to parliament he will end knife crime "immediately". What a cynical, shallow, gutless ponce on the miseries of decent people Richard Barnbrook and the BNP really are. Not only is it a bare faced lie that he could (or would) be able to do such a thing, it is an insult to All of the Mothers and Fathers of All of the young people in London who have fallen victim to this dire and senseless epidemic of brutal and indiscriminate thuggery.

Barnbrook's current dental problems sum him up as a man and as a "politcian".

Barnbrook, you are a toothless gimp and a charlatan. Anybody allowing their kids anywhere near you, a man who keeps Mein Kampf under his bed, and your sick friends would obviously be in need of a mental health check.

How Do You Help A Knob Like Bob?

Please vote.

Stopping the BNP is inspiration and application in equal measure

Taken from Where Now

The emphasis on big set-piece carnivals and central London demos is carved out of a late 1970s politics that is no longer enough to turn the BNP tide so excellently described in Nick Lowles's opening to this discussion.

Two stark statistics sum the situation up. On 1 May 2008 the BNP contested 642 council wards, recording an average of 13.4% of the vote. Gathering in one London park, or Trafalgar Square for that matter is spectacularly inadequate to the task.

Yes of course we need inspiration. Music, film, humour, art and much, much more are vital to that end. But this has to be linked to application, if we cannot connect this to the community-led localised campaigning to turn the BNP tide wherever they stand in elections we are fooling ourselves, and more importantly all those - predominantly young - who turn out tto dance and sing against the BNP. This was the problem with the 'Love Music Hate Racism' Carnival in April. With four days of crucial campaigning left against the BNP time was already short but not a single effort was made to get those present out to leaflet and canvass against the BNP. All that was offered was a carnival programme that advised us to 'Don't Vote Nazi' or 'How to organise a fundraising gig'. Perhaps the organisers were too busy seeking to persuade those present to vote for their 'Left List' . With a crowd of 60-100,000 present just imagine if just 1% of those had turned out on the following Tuesday to help with Searchlight's leafletting of every London tube station against the BNP. Sadly, nothing of the sort happened, an important opportunity wasted that might have just made the difference.

Yes we need inspiration but it must be mixed with application. A month earlier with a tiny fraction of the budget put into the Carnival Philosophy Football with the support of the Fire Brigades Union put on a night for Searchlight. 75 of the 200 present were inspired enough by Billy Bragg, DJ Don Letts, comedian Shappi Khorsandi, grime theatre the Decypher Collective to sign up for Searchlight leafletting. Imagine if we'd had a nationwide tour of such nights, mixing inspiration and application across the country to draw in a new layer of activists.

When I came into anti-fascist politics it was all a matter of rocking against racism followed by demos to stop the nazis marching. The connection between inspiration and application was easy enough to make with bands like The Clash, TRB, Stiff Little Fingers, Steel Pulse providing the ready-made soundtrack of resistance. Today its different, organising locally, door-to-door leafletting and canvassing, the painstaking rebuilding of community organisation is rarely spectacular but we're being dishonest pretending theres any alternative if we're serious about stopping the BNP.

On Saturday 21 June there could be no greater contrast. Love Music Hate Racism with UAF call a 'national parade' through the empty streets of Central London with a couple of thousand of their most committted activists turning out supplemented by new, young, activists expensively bussed in from around the country. Meanwhile 7 miles away the BNP are standing in two crucial by-elections in Barking and Dagenham. I'm glad I chose to leaflet instead of march, proud of doing something practical and effective. I was inspired to do so by that night we'd organised back in March, but what if those 2000 in Central London, or just 10% of them, had joined us, we'd have covered the whole ward instead of one estate.

Inspiration and application, we need both. Each feeding into each other, serving the needs of rebuilding community-led campaigns against the BNP rather than the spectacle of a big turn out in Traflagar Square or some park.

Mark Perryman is the co-founder of www.philosophyfootball.com and editor of Imagined Nation : England after Britain.

The Great Rock & Roll Swindle

What's all this then? Not wanting to go on another Stop The War/Ban The Bomb/Stop The Nazis march?

Well, no. As much as protest is a valid and valuable way of stopping the BNP it is not and must not be the only way. In fact, it cannot be, because it just does not work on it's own.

The BNP will only be beaten by actually challenging their message with ours, and sadly with a large dollop of pragmatism.

The BNP is a party building itself up on the backs of the disenfranchised white working class. There is no point denying it.

Rock concerts to teenagers too young to vote-indeed as was the case at Victoria Park-not even told to vote- (the gig was held after the closing date to register even)is a postive way of building a progressive movement for the future. It was however, no substitute for the genuine hard work actually being done where the BNP was both strong, and where there was a large BME vote waiting to be galvanised.

But, sadly, in the case of the current UAF/LMHR swindle on the antiracist movement in case you have not realised it folks, the horse has somewhat already bolted. What is the point of marching in protest to city hall when there will not even be anyone in??

Searchlight's Nick Lowles has already dealt with the dissapointment of the BNP's election breakthrough here and here It's quite sobering reading. We might not all agree on his entire analysis' but it's probably more than just hitting the proverbial nail on the head: He's given it brain damage here and HERE

Still however, the UAF insist that marching alongside floats on a Saturday afternoon to an empty building to make an empty gesture will defeat the BNP.

And yes although marches are nice, good fun etc, etc you have to wonder why when there are two council elections being held in outer East London where the BNP has very good chances of winning, the UAF are having a march instead through the centre of London to protest against one already elected BNP official.

Why are the UAF not going to actually join trade unionists and anti-fascists in actually doing some hard graft and trying to actually stop the BNP in the areas where they are standing, some 7 or so miles from where the UAF are having their march?

This is not the first time the UAF have been called into question. GMB steward Sam Tarry has attacked the UAF twice in the past month for their lack of campaigning during the elections.

In a recent interview on the Islam Channel Tarry told the viewers that the £400,000 spent by LMHR and UAF to hold their undersubscribed activity at Victoria Park, could have actually have been spent on employing eight full time anti-BNP organisers instead.

Further, in an article in Labour Briefing, Tarry claimed that the UAF had not put out any literature during the election campaign other than materials advertising their concert. Again, a concert where nobody was told to vote, and where the large majority were possibly not even registered.

This lack of voter registration is an enormous worry, something with planning and of course common sense, that the UAF could have addressed but did not.

In the latest edition of Socialist Worker, UAF joint secretary Weyman Benette goes some way in explaining why the UAF cannot and do not engage with voters who may well be voting BNP.

Weyman says:

United we will smash the Nazi BNP

Who will, and how? Well suggests Weyman, the SWP of course. "The BNP trades on whipping up fear and creating scapegoats out of immigrants and ethnic minorities".

He certainly agrees with Mr Lowles on that, then. Then he goes on "It’s important to tackle these lies. But there are deeper reasons for why the BNP is attracting so many votes. One is the fact that the mainstream parties have significantly less local involvement and engagement than they once had".

I agree. So how are the lies being told in Barking and Dagenham and in the two elections currently being held actually being addressed by a march in central London? He doesn't answer. But he does continue..."The BNP has exploited this political vacuum to present itself as some kind of political alternative. We need to expose their claims on this front too." Erm, could you be a bit more clearer Weyman, it reads to me like you're not really confident that you can engage on these issues yourself. So come on, HOW WILL YOU DO THIS EXACTLY?


"..we need to mobilise this anti-fascist majority. That means getting ordinary people out in their thousands – like at the Love Music Hate Racism (LMHR) carnival back in April, or on this Saturday’s demonstration"

BUT WEYMAN, THE PEOPLE VOTING FOR THE BNP LIES AND MYTHS WILL NOT BE AT YOUR MARCH. THEY'LL BE AT HOME READING LEAFLETS PUTTING THESE ARGUMENTS TO THEM!

He gets even better...."We have to challenge the Nazis where they are trying to build a base." This he can obviously do from a march in central London and not in the constituencies where the BNP is actually standing!!

He goes on to even claim the "BNP want another Nazi Holocaust." Is he totally mad? Has he ever knocked on the doors of Mr and Mrs Smith who are voting for the BNP. Try telling them that, when all they want is whichever ridiculous pot of gold the BNP has made quite accessible to them by simply putting out leaflets.

Running around shouting "Nazi" and "Fascist" is becoming a little bit long in the tooth. Rather like this great drain on the resources of the many genuine and decent people inside and out of the UAF, wanting to genuinally fight the BNP.


UAF & LMHR?

Just another Great Rock and Roll swindle.

A New Shirt For Dagenham Dave

Forget "I love Sharon" or "I love Karen" on the window screen. For this summer, you must know what we mean, Philosophy Football has produced the T-shirt in which to be seen.

BNP Launches Appeal For Dicky

The BNP leadership have travelled great distances to help their poor little lush read his work related documents.

They would aslo like someone to find the idiot a new suit.










We dunno, same suit different day for Dicky. The BNP would never have made Dicky number one on their list if they had known they'd only get just over 5%.

They sort of hoped the gruff, rough, but at least coherent councillor Bailey who normally reads Richard's papers in B&D would have been elected to help the idiot read.

Never mind

Some Honour The Flag-Others Bring Dishonour To It

Above left: A traitor
Right:Johnson Beharry, awared the VC in 2005
Taken from this month's British Legion Magazine

Role of honour
The history that black and Asian service people in the British armed forces is a long and rich one, as Joy Persaud reports

Corporal Bharminder Singh Osahan, 27, (pictured, left) grew up in Kenya. A member of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), he has been attached to 4 Regiment in the Army Air Corps for the past eight years. He believes that a British serviceperson is a symbol of the nation’s and its people’s sovereignty.

"I am very proud to be in the REME, and above all the armed forces," he says. "In my unit, each individual has a role regardless of their ethnic origin, but there is a variety of backgrounds from all parts of the world – Indian, Zimbabwean and South African."

The notion that his race or religion could be an issue in the forces is one that Corporal Osahan finds hard to comprehend. "I find it a complete misunderstanding," he says. "People may have encountered personality clashes or arguments with their peers, and this may have been flaunted as a racism case. On the contrary there may be some cases of racism, but I haven’t heard of any while I’ve been serving."

He maintains that there are no conflicts between his religion – Sikhism – and his job, and has found that while some people are curious about his beliefs in a politely inquisitive manner, others don’t seem to notice.

"I personally choose not to wear a kirpan (ceremonial sword), as I have not been baptised yet. However I do wear a turban all the time. I wear a patka, which is a smaller turban when at work, or when I need to wear a helmet, as this doesn’t compromise my safety.

"People may have different approaches and be slightly aware of the difference in me, not knowing how to converse, what to expect, but after the initial barrier is broken, life’s plain sailing."

Such positive talk would likely be music to the ears of those at the Ministry of Defence, which has admitted that it is falling short of its recruitment targets among ethnic minorities.

The percentage of UK forces from ethnic minority backgrounds has risen only slightly recently; as of 1 January 2008, ethnic minorities accounted for 6% of the armed forces compared with 5.8 % at the same point last year.

The MoD stresses that it regards education and awareness of diversity and equality issues as a high priority. It says that annual equality and diversity training, at a level appropriate to rank and responsibility, is mandatory for all members of the armed forces. In addition, the Joint Equality and Diversity Training Centre at Shrivenham delivers a five-day course to unit equality and diversity advisers and a one-day seminar, which is mandatory for senior officers.

The MoD says that is has made ‘great strides’ in improving its record in equal opportunities. It’s hard to argue. After all, it’s within living memory that non-whites couldn’t join the army. They were categorised as ‘aliens’ and fears abounded that they would be ‘too conspicuous on the battlefield’. While such notions were, incredibly, held by 20th century minds, they would shock all but a minority today, which is testament to how attitudes have evolved.

Yet there has never been a shortage of black and Asian people volunteering to fight. During World War I, two out of every 10 service people were volunteers from the Indian Subcontinent, the Caribbean and Africa. In World War II, the figure rose to three out of 10 – this included nearly three million people from the Indian Subcontinent – the largest volunteer army in history.

In fact, more World War I soldiers came from India than from Scotland, Ireland and Wales put together. This commitment has been acknowledged of late. In 2002, the Queen opened the Memorial Gates across Constitution Hill at Hyde Park Corner in London to honour the millions from the Caribbean, Indian subcontinent and Africa who contributed so significantly in World Wars I and II. Without their sacrifices, the world may have been very different today.

As well as the Gates, regional war museums and education services have held exhibitions and published literature that tells the stories of those who eagerly left their sunny homelands and families to fight for Britain, many never to return. And there were, of course, the many service personnel from minority ethnic backgrounds, born within the British Isles.

The Ministry of Defence’s website includes a section entitled ‘We Were There’. It details the personal commitment and professionalism of Britain’s minority ethnic service men and women, aiming to promote understanding by showing how those from all over the world fought alongside British forces. It acknowledges that while it is a positive story, "it should be remembered that over many years some of those who served did experience racial prejudice. Despite this they continued to offer their services to help Britain."

Some accounts of bravery and service have inevitably been lost for good, but others are still celebrated. For example, the story of the first black officer of the British Army – Lieutenant Walter Tull – was unheard until relatively recently.

Tull’s father was the son of slave who arrived in England from Barbados in 1876, marrying a local girl. When his mother died, Walter was just seven, and he and one brother were sent to an orphanage when their father’s new wife couldn’t cope with the large family. Tull went on to be one of Britain’s first black professional footballers. He played for both Tottenham Hotspur and Northampton Town. When the World War I was declared, Tull, like many players, joined the Football Battalion.

He was promoted quickly to Sergeant, and in 1916, he fought in the major Somme offensive. Although he developed trench fever and had to return to England, Tull had so impressed his senior officers that they sent him to Scotland for further training and, despite rules stating that no "negro or person of colour" could exercise "actual command" as officers, he was commissioned in 1917.

The 29-year-old and his men returned to France but, on 25 March 1918, in no-man’s land near Favreuil, a German bullet hit Tull in the head. His body was never recovered, despite the efforts of several of his men, who risked heavy machine gun fire to retrieve him.

Another life that is celebrated is that of Subadar Khudadad Khan. He was the first Indian to receive the Victoria Cross. Khan was a 26-year-old Sepoy in the 129th Duke of Connaught’s Own Baluchis, British Indian Army, during World War I. On 31 October 1914 at the front line in France, Khan was in charge of one of two machine guns. The British officer in charge was wounded and the other gun was put out of action by a shell, but Sepoy Khan, although badly hurt, continued to operate his gun after the other five men of the detachment had been killed. Eventually, he was left for dead, but was able to crawl back to his unit. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery in helping to prevent the German Army reach crucial ports.

Such accounts can be found, if you look, but they can’t negate the bad press that surrounds the treatment of some servicemen and women. At the time of writing, the struggle of the Gurkhas is in the headlines (See News, page 57). Many have handed back hard-won medals and honours to the Government to highlight the fact that pension allowances are less than those of British-born soldiers, as well as that veterans can’t stay in the country for which they helped to secure freedom.

The plight of the Gurkha veterans, who have been awarded an unparalleled 26 Victoria Crosses, has touched many who were previously unaware of the disparity in the way these soldiers are being treated. But while members of the public at least instantly recognise Britain’s strong connections with the Gurkhas – past and present – the same cannot always be said for Indian, African and Caribbean forces.

Hav Major Rajindar Singh Dhatt, 85, (pictured, right) who holds a Burma Star, is a member of the Undivided Indian Ex-Services Association. He says that until recently television coverage never mentioned the Indian Army – instead they would talk about America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand. "They ignored us. So, we decided to fight for our recognition and acknowledgement. In 2002, when the memorial was built, it was the best day of all of our lives. What we were struggling for we achieved. We were happy to get that in our lifetime."

While Major Dhatt acknowledges that British officers have "done a lot to help us get these Memorial Gates", he laughs gently as he recalls the differences between the way the Indians and the white British were treated. He doesn’t complain, he simply recounts the disparities in a factual manner. "We played hockey, football, volleyball and basketball and when we mixed with them, we were just like them. But there were differences between our uniforms, living standards and living quarters. We were living in mud-baked huts, and they were in very nice pukka barracks, they had ceiling fans and we had windows – the wind coming through was meant to be enough for us. "Rations were not bad but it was inferior to what the British were getting. So, sometimes we did feel the differences, but at that time they were ruling us."

He also acknowledges that the British officers were "happy if you did mix with them and they were trained in how to behave and about the religions and languages. They were prepared and were trained to do the right thing when they went to India."

Another ex-serviceman is West Indian AC1 Airman First Class RAF, Arthur Leigh, who joined up from Jamaica. He says that things have changed enormously since his days in the forces. The 85-year-old member of the West Indian Ex-Servicemen’s/Ex-Servicewomen’s Association UK (Wiesa) says he doesn’t see the point of dwelling on the negative experiences that some may have had more than 60 years ago.

"There were good times and bad – but we came through. I’ve listened to men giving their version of what happened to them during the war, in the Army, Navy and RAF, and they tend to highlight the negatives of the past. In those days you were put into a flight squadron and told to get on with the job.

"I have no regrets – that’s why I am here in England. If I had any regrets, I wouldn’t be here. I don’t agree with those who have come back and are living here comfortably and are griping about the experiences they had in 1945."

Unsurprisingly, Leigh says he would encourage young people to go into the services, saying that they would gain "discipline and straightening out", adding that the forces offer opportunities in various fields.

Major Dhatt echoes this. He and members of his association visit schools and Sikh temples to tell young people about the war. He describes them as being "very attentive" and curious about their treatment and daily lives.

"When we are interviewed or asked, we always say to the young boys that this is their country, they have to live here and where they live, they have to defend that country. You should join the Army or police. We say they should not just become doctors, lawyers or engineers – don’t miss out the armed forces.

"Some people say there is too much discipline in the Army or discrimination – but we tell them that all these things you have to face. Keep high-spirited and you can be successful.

"We used to go and see [lots of people] but now some of us are housebound and we can’t afford transport. We would like to carry on this duty so that if someone calls us, we can tell them about this country and encourage young people to join the Army."

Corporal Osahan agrees. "I would encourage strongly anyone who wishes to experience a lifestyle out of the ordinary, which is testing day to day, to join the forces," he says.

"If I did ever encounter racism, then the immediate point of contact is my chain of command. If that fails there is an equal opportunities officer I could report to. I am confident that if any such incidents occurred then they would be dealt with appropriately."

But maybe the fact that there needs to be training programmes and specific recruitment drives to attract black and Asian people indicates that this is still an area of concern. Perhaps in the future all service men and women will be able to echo veteran Arthur Leigh, who says: "Of course there were problems but there is absolutely no point in me repeating them. They were the problems of the day and they were resolved."

And perhaps those who remain ignorant will realise that the major conflicts of the last century were – in every sense – world wars and will happily acknowledge the sacrifices made by the millions who came running from distant lands when the mother country called.

BPP "Hardmen" Hit The Pavement

The Hardline British People's Party, a small band of bedwetting, alcoholic idiots were given a reminder yesterday not to take the people of London for granted. Once more (and as always), the gobby gobshite Peter Williamson was on his toes, leaving his comrades to peel their hardmen off of the pavement.

Welcome to London, BPP scum! And ES, mind out for cars next time you're doing a runner in wet underpants.

Below: Peter doing what he does best; hiding behind a woman.

This Drunk Wants To Be Mayor!

The uninvited BNP candidate for the London Mayoral elections, pulled himself out of a pub last week to gatecrash an election night at Friends' Meeting House, Euston.

Porn Producer, idiot and all around lush, Barnbrook stumbled into his seat wearing his unwashed suit and shouted from the back of the room that he had a right to be heard. His main problem was, most could hear him and giggled at what they thought was some old dosser.

Dyslexia may be a common excuse, but even the plonker that is "Tricky Dicky" should have been aware that the only candidates invited were those that worked in the borough of Westminster. (Why they held it in Euston then, is beyond us!)

Just have a look at this drunken troll:

No wonder the dancing ballerina (sic) prefers the tepid advances of the "Leeds Rhino" (that's a reference to his nose, not his cock)to the Barking Idiot.

p.s. When is the wedding of the year?

Night of Hope April 6th

Searchlight and Militant Entertainment Proudly Present:

"A Night of HOPE"Sunday 6th April 2008
The Grave Maurice, Whitechapel Road E1
(10 metres from Whitechapel Underground)
19.00hrs - 01.00hrs

Featuring Live Sets From:

The KRAK (former members of the Babyshambles)
The Mentalists (accoustic set)
The Screaming Blue Jays

Ben Wallis (Spoken word/poetry)

Skinny White Boys
(DJ'ing reggae/ska/whatever) Showing Films:

Who Shot The Sheriff (Directed by Alan Miles)
Hope Not Hate 2007 Tour (Gregg McDonald & Searchlight)

£7 on the door or £5.50 in advance
(It is strongly recommended tickets are bought
in advance to advoid disappointment) >> CLICK HERE TO PAY ONLINE <<

HOT OFF THE PRESS LATEST RAFFLE PRIZES CONFIRMED:

2 x tickets to Brixton Academy on 30th April to see: Alabama 3, Misty in Roots, Tom Robinson & The Levellers.

An exclusive photo-print by David Hoffman (Famous for the picture shot on the recent Searchlight Hope not hate calendar).

An exclusive print of the Searchlight iconic "Smash The Front" photo by Mike Cohen.
Signed Copy of Billy Bragg's new CD "Mr Love & Justice".

Signed Copy of "From Cable Street to Oldham" edited by Nick Lowles.
One year subscription to Searchlight.
Various t-shirts.

A poetry reading in your living room by Nick Lowles.