MP blasts BNP 'hate campaign'

David Siddall | Thursday, 7 September 2006 Source: The Whitehaven News

A BLIZZARD of racist leaflets opposing moves towards a Muslim community centre for Whitehaven has led MP Jamie Reed to "urge ordinary people in Copeland to reject the BNP hate campaign targeted at the borough".

The MP said he was 'incensed' by the BNP coming into the town. Twenty BNP supporters came to Whitehaven from Newcastle on Saturday spreading leaflets across local shops and homes.

"The BNP is the biggest threat to British values in our country," he said. "It threatens the very fabric of our society and none of us is safe from it. Nor is there much difference between the Ku Klux Klan and the BNP – both organisations thrive on hate and seek to destroy communities like ours where ordinary people can celebrate their differences and respect those of others.

"The BNP has insulted the people of Copeland with its carefully targeted leafleting. They are trying to exploit ordinary working class people. Like many others I have received anonymous hate mail from racists.

"I am now seeking to build a coalition of faith leaders, trade unionists, political representatives of all mainstream political parties and ordinary, fair-minded people in Copeland who will demonstrate to the BNP, and to racists, fascists and bigots throughout the UK, that the men, women and children of Copeland reject the BNP and everything it stands for.

"By all means, let us discuss immigration and different religious faiths, but let no-one be fooled by the insidious evil of the BNP – too many people from our own towns and villages died in fighting evil ideologies during the second world war. Every right-minded person in Copeland must ensure that those sacrifices were not in vain."

The MP said he had already had talks with the rector of Whitehaven the Rev John Bannister.