Church says boycott ‘fascist BNP’

Beth Catley | Thursday, 1 May 2008 Source: Ilford Recorder

VICARS are urging Christians not to vote for the far-right British National Party in the London mayoral and Assembly elections today (Thursday).

Rev Jonathan Evens of St John's Seven Kings, High Road, Seven Kings, said the Church of England in the Barking Episcopal area believes the BNP's "racist policies and fascist philosophy" are "incompatible" with Christianity.

During a speech to the Redbridge and Epping Forest Together rally, held at Redbridge Town Hall, Mr Evens said: "One trend that is causing great alarm among churches is the tactic of presenting a racist agenda as Christian.

"This has been done explicitly by an organisation called 'The Christian Council of Great Britain', led by BNP candidate Robert West.

"We are deeply concerned that such people are appropriating Christian language and symbols for policies that are the very opposite of Christian values."

Mr Evens continued: "The Christian view is that all people are made in the image of God, and this leads us to a vision of a just community where people of all backgrounds live together in equality.

"The BNP and organisations such as The Christian Council of Great Britain, clearly reject that vision and so, as Christian churches, we oppose the racist policies and fascist philosophy of the BNP, stating clearly that they are incompatible with the Christian faith and calling on all church members to use their vote for democracy and against the BNP."

BNP mayoral candidate Richard Barnbrook launched a scathing counter-attack against Mr Evens and the Church of England, accusing them of ignoring the concerns of parishioners.

He said: "One or two people I know actually attend that church and three or four years ago it was quite popular, but now the flock is going back and considering whether the Church of England really does represent the people that go there.

"Maybe [Mr Evens] will be looking forward to the future when his church is turned into a mosque."

Mr Barnbrook challenged Mr Evens to invite him to a hustings at the church "so his congregation has a better understanding of our policies".