Keep BNP out, Welsh voters are warned

Dana Gloger | Friday, 28 March 2008 Source: The Jewish Chronicle

WELSH voters have been urged to vote in the May elections amid fears that the British National Party (BNP) could otherwise make substantial gains. All councils in Wales will be holding elections on May 1.

This week, Alun Hughes, national secretary of the Communist Party of Wales, said he was extremely concerned that the BNP could make gains in May.

“They are making huge inroads, especially in north east Wales. They have been saying that they are more nationalist than Plaid Cymru [the Welsh national party] and people are falling for that, which is dangerous,” warned Dr Hughes.

He added that he thought the BNP may make considerable gains in some parts of Wales, such as Wrexham and Cardiff, in the elections.

“I’m concerned that they might do quite well in certain parts of Wales, and many of them are just yobs,” claimed Dr Hughes, urging people in Wales to use their vote to stop the BNP.

“All the regular parties in Wales are involved in the National Assembly, so a vote for any of those parties is preferable to voting for a fascist party,” he declared.

Several high-profile BNP members live in Wales, including party leader Nick Griffin who lives in mid-Wales, and the party’s treasurer, John Walker, who lives in North Wales.

It is thought that Arthur Kemp, the author of March of the Titans, in which he praises Hitler and Nazi Germany, also lives in North Wales. As reported in last week’s JC, Mr Kemp was alleged to have been involved in the assassination of South African anti-apartheid activist Chris Hani in 1993 and previously co-ordinated the BNP’s London Mayoral efforts.

Gerry Gable, London-based publisher of the anti-fascist magazine Searchlight, told the JC it was believed that the BNP’s merchandise operation —Excalibur Products — is administered from North Wales.

“It’s the duty of everyone to get out and defend democracy, and to vote for any party other the BNP,” Mr Gable told the JC this week.

He added that Searchlight had a strong presence in Wales, where it is supported by the mainstream parties.

“There is a lot of activity against them [the BNP] and hopefully all the campaigning that’s going on will have some impact.”