BNP ditches NI election plans

| Tuesday, 11 October 2005 Source: Press Association

The far-right British National Party has abandoned plans for an electoral assault on Northern Ireland, it emerged tonight.

Strategists have ordered members in Belfast and surrounding towns to concentrate on financing its future advancement plans in Britain.

The policy contradicts a pledge by BNP leader Nick Griffin to stand at least five local government candidates during his last visit to Northern Ireland nearly two years ago.

And a fierce opponent of the party regarded as neo-Nazi extremists, SDLP Assemblyman John Dallat, was elated by the re-think.

He said: "The BNP or their sidekicks the National Front did us no favours and did everything possible to ignite racism.

"Thankfully for once the main political parties gave them the once up the posterior and I only wish the same level of co-operation was available on all forms of sectarianism or racism."

Mr Griffin had pledged to contest council elections in Northern Ireland as part of a campaign to halt a mass influx of immigrants.

His promise proved unfounded, however, when the May poll passed without BNP involvement.

No explanation was ever given, and even today a former spokesman said he had severed links.

But another party representative in Belfast, who asked not to be identified, disclosed: "There was an internal debate about whether any money raised should be used to fund elections here and gain publicity but very few votes, or go across the water where we are getting 25%, 30% of the vote and winning seats.

"Greater pressure has been put on the local branch for money to go centrally to fight campaigns.

"That's the way it will be for the foreseeable future.

"For every pound spent you will get a better return on your money in England, it's as simple as that."

Mr Griffin, who was later charged with race hate offences following an undercover TV documentary, last visited Northern Ireland in December 2003.

At the time he said a man had already been selected to represent the BNP in the north Antrim area.

He also claimed the extreme grouping has attracted significant support among serving police and soldiers in the province.

But since then the party chief has not returned to Northern Ireland. A spokesman said he had been concentrating on Europe and America, holding meetings with French far-right leader Jean-Marie le Pen among others.

Although membership levels were not disclosed, the party insisted they have not declined in Northern Ireland.

"It's steady, but it hasn't increased," the representative conceded.

"What happens is people who inquire about us believe the media image and then drop out because its not sensationalist enough.

"Northern Ireland is different, it's as simple as that.

"It (contesting elections) will eventually happen, but it's going to be slow.

"The state of politics here is dreadful.

"The SDLP, for example, claims not to be sectarian yet it's Catholic this and Catholic that. They don't mention Protestants, Hindus or Muslims."

But Mr Dallat, who has defied threats to speak out against racists operating in his East Londonderry constituency, was astonished at the criticism.

He added: "There will be no weeping or gnashing of teeth now that the BNP has copped on and is withdrawing from the North.

"However this motley crew is in no position to lecture the SDLP on sectarianism given their disgusting association with loyalist paramilitary figureheads who can't make up their mind who they hate more - Catholics or immigrants."