BNP office to open in Stroud
The British National Party is planning to open a base in Stroud.
They intend to use the property as a communication centre employing up to three people. The former Stroud MP David Drew...councillor John Marjoram...and Socialist party member Chris Moore have arranged a meeting to oppose the move.
I'll be speaking to David Drew and the BNP on Wednesday's show ahead of the meeting.
Post a comment with your thoughts on the issue...do you think it will encourage racism and division in the town as David Drew alleges...or as a legitimate, registered party do they not have the right to establish a communication base here in Gloucestershire? cummings@bbc.co.uk
Hi, I'm Mark Cummings. Every day I explore all things Gloucestershire on my breakfast show. The stories, the people, the history, the news - the complete package of what makes the county tick. On the show, and on this blog, we share our knowledge, stories and experiences to celebrate life in Gloucestershire.
Comment number 1.
At 28th Sep 2010, BluesBerry wrote:Oppose the move? Dear oh dear, have you never heard the expression: Opposition empowers resistance?
BNP is a legitimate, registered party; they have the right to establish a communication base in Gloucestershire.
In fact, I thought the People of Gloucester were handling this situation rather well (sic).
Councilors John Marjoram and Norman Kay sent a joint letter to the Stroud News and Journal.
The Green party were collecting signatures to the letter below.
Here is the letter that many of Stroudians signed:
“We would like to state here for the record that we are horrified that the BNP are planning for their communications HQ to be at Salmon Springs in Stroud.
The BNP’s policies of hatred and bigotry are hard for any community to stomach but they are particularly unwelcome in the progressive and open town of Stroud.
The Stroud district has a long history of tolerance. The vast majority of residents welcome and accept people of all nationalities, abilities and sexual orientations.
We would encourage anyone who feels the same to state plainly and clearly that the BNP are not welcome here.
Yours truly,
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You have to admit that the letter is somewhat schizophrenic -
"We welcome and accept people of all nationalities, abilities and sexual orientation."
We just don't want those BNP!
Why? Are they not people?
I on the other hand, agree with Stroud's Mayor Andy Read: "Whenever the BNP has put up candidates locally, it has had no support whatsoever. However, history shows that censorship only plays into the hands of such groups. The best approach is to bring the BNP and their policies out into the open. I know many Stroud people feel strongly about the BNP and will relish this opportunity to expose and challenge its policies."
Bring on the BNP! Contend with them, ignore them, engage with them…
What is the fear?
Is the fear that in Stroudian hearts of hearts they will end up agreeing with them?
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Comment number 2.
At 28th Sep 2010, Fred Hart wrote:I don't support the BNP but they are a perfectly legitimate party and have the right to set up an office in Gloucestershire.
Why they'd want to though is what confuses me, because the majority of their supporters are elsewhere in the UK.
I like to think that people living in Gloucestershire actually do like this multi-cultural society which the BNP do not, and I don't see a communications center changing that soon.
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