Redbridge and Epping Forest Together statement

| Thursday, 25 May 2006 Source: Redbridge and Epping Forest Together

Dear Sir

At a well attended meeting of Redbridge and Epping Forest Together last week, those present decided to issue a statement through the Ilford Recorder on the election of Redbridge's first ever fascist councillor, Julian Leppert of the nazi British National Party, who won a seat in Hainault ward on 4 May 2006.

The people at the meeting included members of all the three main political parties and smaller parties, members of a number of trade unions and people from the Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths.

The BNP's campaign was intended to divide our community. Its election literature was peppered with lies and distortions. BNP councillors all over the country have delivered a lacklustre service to their voters and Councillor Leppert is unlikely to be any different. Last week four racists racially abused and stabbed an Afghan immigrant in Barking, leaving him with two nearly lethal stab wounds and a St George's flag thrown over him. This is unfortunately a firm reminder of what follows in the wake of a BNP presence in a community.

Statement

We the undersigned represent thousands of Redbridge residents and people working and studying in the borough.

We regret the election of a British National Party councillor in Redbridge and deplore the racist aims and policies of the nazi BNP. We will oppose the BNP at every opportunity and commit ourselves to making sure that Redbridge remains a peaceful and inclusive borough in which all people can share in the benefits and responsibilities of citizenship.

Yours sincerely

Gerry Gable, Publisher Searchlight magazine and joint coordinator of Redbridge Together
David Landau, joint coordinator of Redbridge Together
Mike Gapes, MP Ilford South
Lee Scott, MP Ilford North
Jon Cruddas, MP Dagenham
Chris Stone, Chair Ilford South Labour Party
Clr Bob Littlewood, Redbridge
Clr Linda Eyre, Redbridge
Satnam Singh, Redbridge Racial Equality Council
Bob Crow, General Secretary RMT
Mick Rix, GMB National Executive Officer
Billy Hayes, General Secretary CWU
Megan Dobney, Reg Secr Designate, Southern & Eastern Region TUC
Barbara White, National Executive Musicians Union
Bob Archer, President Redbridge National Union of Teachers
Tim Lezard, President National Union of Journalists
Jeremy Dear, General Secretary National Union of Journalists
Gina Constantinou, TGWU
J Tennison Regional Development South East Region TUC
Clr Balvinder Saund, Redbridge
Rabbi David Hulbert, Bet Tikvah and Sukkat Shalom Synagogues
Mohamad Zafir, Qu'rani Murkuz Trust
Clr Ralph Scott, Redbridge
Clr Bob Little, Barking and Dagenham
Clr Valerie Rush, Executive member, Barking and Dagenham Council
Clr Graham Bramley, Barking and Dagenham
Clr Mick McCarthy, Executive member Barking and Dagenham Council
Clr Inder Singh Jamu, Chair DCB London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
Clr H Collins, Barking and Dagenham
Clr Chris Murphy, Enfield
Harmit Athwal CARF
Dave Brede Northamptonshire Unity Against Fascism
Clr Paul Crofts Wellingborough Northants
Tom Rubens, lecturer
Dan Nichols, Workers Liberty
Pauline Fraser, International Brigade Memorial Trust
Ashley Gunstock, Green Party
Dev Barrah, Racial Attacks Monitoring Unit
The Indian Workers Association (GB)
David Edgar, playwright
Anita Shaer, Redbridge resident
Laurie Laughlin, Redbridge resident
Tony Kerstein, Redbridge resident
Mel Dearlove and family
Liz Beashel
Sonia Gable, Ilford North Liberal Democrats
Diana Neslen, Redbridge resident
Gina Maillou, North East London PCS
Steve Maillou, North East London PCS.

North East London Civil Servants as follows:
Marianne Pangarcia
Joan Fraser
G Roopra
A Patel
S Danaher
Sabita Kundo
Marcella Louisy
Janet Cahill
Richard Humm
Kayode Adebanjo
Rabindar Kaur
Samantha Hawkes
Avis Gumbs
Mohammed Khaliq
Reza Moideen
Afsha Moideen
Anita Geist
Harjinder Pal
Roselyn Magera
Barbara Robinson
Kuldip Bhamra
Selvin Coe
Sri Rahulan
Tihn Piesie
Trevor Paul
Neesha Mehta
Valerie Defries
Jean Johnson
Kamal Quader
Alan Graham
J Kana
D Asiyani
A Mehmood
N Nakum
D Wilton
Jai Chugh
P Asiyani
V Jeyaranjan
S Balasirishevaran
Ian Barclay
Y Buhari
M Khan
L Toyobo
K Syed
Sharon Broadhurst
T Gladstone
C Burges
J Green
Peter Barrett
Leonora Montgomery
Jo Gloster
D. Cook
D Mann
S Abram
M.Wallace
M.Hall
Olayide Fadojutimi
M.Sambee
Maria Bispham
Yvette Francis
Rita Ryan
David Hammond
Steve Flint
Anita Sharma
Narinder Kang
Parween Shah
M Mehta
L Dawda
F Ahmed
Vimala Sivarasan
J. Kehinde
J Sheehan
Ravinder Dhaliwal
Sadia Qureshi
Nikki Wright
J Bains
L Pitt
Andy Mowatt Smith
Jamie Anifowoshe
Stephen Hellard
Sue Cessini
Ratna Desgupta
Firoza Mustafa

Clr Denise Headley London Borough of Enfield
Nick Craske GMB Holborn Branch
Richard M Koloma
Michael Cumerbatch Public Protection Team London Borough of Islington.