Chelmsford: Residents upset by BNP leaflet

Essex Gazette | Thursday, 28 May 2009 | Click here for original article

VILLAGERS and townspeople have complained to Chelmsford Borough Council after propaganda for the far-right British National Party was distributed with a council newsletter.

Chelmsford and Writtle residents were shocked to find the leaflets apparently delivered with the summer edition of Borough Life, when it popped through letterboxes this week.

However, the council said that the unfortunate situation arose because of the distribution service and stressed the borough council's neutrality in the upcoming county and European elections.

Solicitor William Seymour, of Chelmsford, said: "What is disturbing is the fact that the BNP leaflet arrived through my letterbox inside Chelmsford Borough Council's newsletter.

"I don't know whether this was a conscious decision of the borough council but even if it wasn't, the council is now tainted by association.

"The other worrying point about the BNP leaflet being tucked inside the council's newsletter is that it removed the choice of the individual postal workers to refuse to deliver it, as they have done in other parts of the country.

"I have read the leaflet and it is very cleverly worded to ensure that it does not break any of the laws that we are fortunate enough to have in this country prohibiting incitement to racial hatred. But to my mind the racist message the BNP are peddling in their leaflet is clear."

Royal Mail bosses have said that postal workers do not have to deliver the election leaflets if they feel morally obliged not to do so.

Jimmy Johns, of St John's Green, Writtle, said: "I completely understand why there is confusion. What the council should do is contact the mailing company and make it clear that their publication shouldn't be delivered alongside political propaganda from any party."

Personal assistant Katharyn Howchen, 22, of Amcotes Place said: "It's not the best thing for a council to attach themselves to when they should maintain impartiality."

A borough council spokeswoman confirmed complaints had been received but said the situation was out of its hands and down to the way Royal Mail's leaflet distribution service operated.

She said: "We do not endorse any political party or indeed any company whose leaflets may be distributed with our own.

"It's a question of striking a balance between keeping people informed and keeping down costs, and using the Royal Mail's distribution service is the most cost-effective solution.

"If we changed the way the Life paper is delivered, there is no guarantee that the same thing wouldn't happen again, with another political party's leaflets."