A stunt that will come back to haunt them

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Wednesday, 1 April 2009, 10:39

The claim that Jesus would vote BNP is a fascist stunt too far. In mocking up this billboard, and sending over a covering letter to people in the name of Nick Griffin, they obviously thought that they could wind up faith leaders and in the process gain some publicity.

And they are definitely doing that.

Yesterday I launched a petition to register our disgust at the offensive BNP advert. Thousands of people have now signed our petition, of whom at least half are new to the HOPE not hate campaign. The reaction right across the religious divide has been fantastic, with dozens of local faith group leaders circulating our petition and emailing me offering their support for the campaign.

Martin Wingfield, editor of the BNP newspaper Voice of Freedom, boasted about the ‘Jesus poster’ on his blog yesterday morning. He concluded: “Our 'Jesus Poster' made both today's issues of the Daily Telegraph and The Scotsman. Those political church leaders who like to manipulate the Gospel to suit their own ends seem to be having a bit of trouble with this one. And I think this story could run on a little because the media quite likes to see sanctimonious clergy struggling with biblical interpretations.”

I am in total agreement that this story will run and run, but not to his liking. I’m now working on the second and third planks of our campaign, which will all be revealed very shortly. The BNP will rue the day they devised this childish and offensive prank.