Exclusive: BNP racists’ vile Hitler slur on Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy

Sunday Mail | Sunday, 24 January 2010 | Click here for original article

SCOTTISH Secretary Jim Murphy yesterday hammered BNP racists after they doctored a picture to make him look like Adolf Hitler.

The image was posted on the website of the extremist party's leader in Scotland where Murphy was accused of supporting "a political ideology from 1930s Germany".

Horrified Murphy branded the doctored image a "sick stunt" yesterday while members of Scotland's Jewish community called it deeply offensive.

The picture was posted on BNP leader Gary Raikes' website earlier this week.

Raikes is standing against Murphy for the MP's East Renfrewshire seat, which is home to nearly half of Scotland's Jewish community.

Murphy said: "I spent this weekend commemorating the Holocaust with many Jewish families.

"This is a sick insult against all those who lost family members in the Holocaust. East Renfrewshire is the most diverse place in Scotland with large Jewish, Muslim and Sikh communities.

"It's this type of sick stunt that shows why the BNP aren't welcome here. There's nothing Scottish or British about the BNP.

"All good people of all faiths and all political stripes have to stand up to their evil."

The image has also been condemned by members of the Jewish community in East Renfrewshire.

One woman, who did not wish to be named, said: "A lot of people have found out about this and I think that it's particularly offensive.

"The BNP are hoping to stand in an area in which many Jewish people live and yet they put something like this on the internet.

"It's hard to understand what they are trying to achieve here. It might amuse this Raikes' cronies but it certainly isn't funny."

The photo of Murphy has been crudely drawn over in black to copy Nazi leader Hitler's distinctive black side-parting hairstyle and moustache.

Raikes also attacks Murphy on the web page, making the bizarre claim: "The BNP are not anti-Jewish, we have Jewish members and one of our elected councillors is Jewish.

"The BNP do not give salutes of any kind to suggest we do is childish, unlike Murphy we have absolutely no interest in a political ideology from thirties Germany."

Raikes, who has been BNP Scottish leader since 2007, also posted a link to his website and another copy of the photo on his Facebook page.

Raikes has no chance of winning the seat at the General Election.

It is likely to be a straight fight between Labour and the Tories. But the drive in Scotland is part of a BNP strategy to win a regional Holyrood seat at the next Scottish elections in 2011.

They will also contest seats held by Gordon Brown, Alistair Darling and Alex Salmond.

Raikes could not contacted for comment but has previously admitted: "Jim Murphy is a very important target for us.

"This is just a step to 2011 when we will be in with a chance of winning a regional list seat."