Vote No To The BNP

I have been sitting back a bit just lately taking a break from all things BNP and getting on with life in general, but I have also been keeping an eye on the goings on around the far-right world of the BNP. With the recent announcement from Eddy Butler that he is mounting a leadership challenge against the current British National Party Chairman Nick Griffin MEP, I didn’t think it would be long before the BNP smear and lie machine jumped into action from all sides, and it certainly hasn’t, with a number of new blogs having appeared and the internet army going into full overdrive to destroy Eddy Butler.

However Eddy Butler has now hit back with a piece of information that could have far wider reaching consequences to the British National Party and it’s 2 elected MEP’s. There are a series of very specific rules surrounding the ways in which monies issued by the European Parliament can be used and one of the core overiding rules of these monies is that they CAN’T be used in anyway what so ever to fund the party for anything other than anything directly connected to the work of the MEP’s in the European Parliament.

Eddy Butler has released a story today on his own blog which clearly shows a serious cause for concern, Eddy Butler whilst under the employ of Nick Griffin MEP and paid for by us the British Tax Payers via the European Parliament applied for and was given a grant of just over 10,000 Euros to arrange a trip for people from Cumbria to visit the European Parliament to see a presentation by Eddy Butler on last years floods.

But according to Eddy Butler it now transpires that over 10,300 Euros was handed over in cash by Eddy Butler to another BNP staff member Paul Golding in a rather clandestine meeting at a service station on the M25, he then goes on to claim that this money was then paid to Jim Dowson who according to Mr Butler is owed £100,000 by the British National Party and that this cash payment of British Tax Payers money was to be paid to Jim Dowson as part payment of the bill owed to him.

Now this is where the illegal actions come in, if as Eddy Butler is saying the money was paid to Jim Dowson this is a clear and direct breach of the European Laws and the BNP have directly used an EU grant to pay a party debt, this could not in my view be described as a payment for anything to do with the BNP MEP’s EU Business as Jim Dowson is the parties National Funraiser and is in no way connected to the European Parliament.

What follows are excerts from Eddy Butler’s blog:

What 10,000 Euros?

As a European Parliamentary assistant to Nick Griffin MEP, I arranged a trip to the European Parliament on 17th and 18th March for a coach full of residents from Cumbria. It was for a special exhibition which I had organised relating to the floods that hit Cumbria last November.

The European Parliament grants a subsidy towards such trips, which is paid to the trip organiser. It is not allowed to be paid to the MEP. For this trip it came to 10,790.56 Euros, which, after I paid for lunch for the attendees, left 10,315 Euros.

The Party had advanced me money to pay for the coach, the hotel and evening meal, and I gave the full remaining amount to the Party as a donation.

I spoke to David Hannam about arranging to meet him to give him the money on a number of occasions after 18th March, but in the run up to the General Election we were both busy and eventually it was agreed that I would give it to Paul Golding. On 29th March I met him at the petrol station at Thurrock Services on the M25, wound down my car window, and passed him an envelope containing 10,315 Euros. Luckily I took the precaution of having him sign for it. There was also another person in the car with me (Susan Clapp), but I am sure he didn’t see her as she is rather small and the meeting was very brief.

I thought it was a bit odd that I should be required to hand over the money in this manner. That weekend I had suddenly received a series of frantic requests to meet Paul Golding and give him the money. Paul Golding isn’t a fundholder but he is Jim Dowson’s closest aide in the Party. The cash was to be given by Paul Golding to Jim Dowson. Jim Dowson spends most of his time in Spain now for some reason, and giving him the cash would avoid currency conversion charges.

I have previously been told that the Party owes Jim Dowson £100,000 and this money was to be used as a part payment of that. I have no idea what the £100,000 we owe Jim Dowson is for.

It is clear to me, from the stories spread on the internet and from hints and rumours which they spread to other people that I was going to be accused of stealing the 10,000 Euros.

I was not to know, but during the period when I was trying to arrange to meet David Hannam, Nick Griffin MEP had been busy plotting to remove me from my positions, which he did just two days after I met Paul Golding – hence the desperation to get the money from me, and the unorthodox manner of the handover which was arranged so as to compromise me in the future.

The following is evidence offered by Eddy Buttler to show that the funds where handed over in cash to Paul Golding:

If these funds where paid in cash and not declared in anyway to either the European Parliament of the UK Electoral Commission then the BNP are in direct breach of EU and UK party funding rules, a situation that clearly needs investigating by both bodies.

Wildly flailing about for ideas to head off growing rank and file disaffection and to find scapegoats for the widespread demoralisation of the BNP membership in the wake of a disastrous general election performance, Nick Griffin has determined to fix much of the blame for his own abject incompetence on ousted webmaster Simon Bennett.

In an email sent on Friday afternoon, Griffin writes:

At the height of the General Election campaign, at a time when millions of leaflets were hitting doorsteps around the country, our website was destroyed by a treacherous former employee.

This unforgiveable act of treason contributed to the loss of dozens of election deposits around the country. [Our emphasis]

For several weeks a group of loyal Party officials and volunteers have been working hard getting the entire BNP internet operation up and running once again.

“It has been a hard slog but now things are moving once again. Instead of depending on one person to run the entire BNP cyberspace presence we now have a team of people working together, technicians, designers, writers and moderators,” said BNP webmaster Paul Golding.

The idea that the loss of the BNP’s website cost the party any votes at all is inane and is already being ridiculed for the fiction it is by formerly loyal Griffinites.

In the past few days leading figures in the BNP have taken out a free blogspot called “The BNP Truth Chronicles – Countering the smears, lies, crackpots and traitors” aimed squarely at vilifying Simon Bennett. The location of the blogspot has been widely disseminated, not least by tame poodles “Bev Kerry” of the snake-pit VNN, and the cringingly sycophantic Paul Morris (who has sacked the entire moderating team of his barely visited grovel-fest of a forum).

Scales have been falling from previously unquestioning BNP eyes by the hundred since the magnitude of the BNP reverse became apparent as the hours of May 7th ticked on. The myth of Nick Griffin’s infallibility has been firmly pricked. Formerly pliant members are now admitting that his Question Time performance was a disaster, that the BNP’s Euro “success” was not quite what it seemed, and that the party’s Griffin-led general election “strategy” was a complete failure.

The more intelligent of the grass roots and middle-ranking members aren’t buying Griffin’s excuses or his crude attempts to scapegoat Simon Bennett, and seem fairly resolute in their demand that Griffin stand down from the leadership.

Griffin is undoubtedly watching and waiting to see who comes forward to head up any putative rebellion, the name most talked about being that of Eddy Butler, who left the Barking and Dagenham count openly discussing ways and means of deposing Griffin with Richard Barnbrook.

Butler, of course, is already in the frame to take a share of the blame for Griffin’s ineptitude, while it is believed that Barnbrook continues to smoulder that he was abruptly shoved aside as the BNP’s Barking PPC by the carpet-bagging Griffin on the promise that he would lead the BNP group on Barking and Dagenham Council – an empty promise, as it turned out, and one which inevitably angered drink loving street-fighter Bob Bailey, the sitting group leader, who resigned as the BNP’s London organiser this week.

In the meantime the beleaguered Griffin has launched his standard containment strategy of shifting the blame for his own yawning deficiencies and smearing his enemies as traitors and plants, a strategy he has deployed with unimaginative predictability ever since he first rose to exceedingly minor prominence in the 1980s National Front.

Previously untroubled backwaters of the Internet, where BNP members debated in a quietly deranged way among themselves while contending with the odd anti-fascist interloper, have become targets for blunt but counter-productive Griffinite and Covert Tactics trolling, notably the BNP sub-forum at the British Democracy Forum, where BNP members and supporters are overwhelmingly in favour of change at the top of the BNP. A rash of quickly banned new arrivals whose presence threatened to turn BDF into a replica of VNN caused the forum’s owners to institute a “zero tolerance” policy in tandem with “draconian moderating”.

Zero tolerance is something long practiced by Nick Griffin throughout his turbulent, purge-filled years as leader of the BNP. Self-preservation was never so well embodied in the being of one man. He isn’t big enough to admit his failings and walk away. Self-sacrifice for the good of the cause isn’t a thought that ever entered into his head. With a year to pass before local council elections are due, and several years to come before the next Euros, he has all the time in the world to identify his real and potential internal enemies and isolate them before danger threatens.

The question is, now that the spell of Griffin has been broken for so many, will those preparing to topple him – as we know they are – just for once have the wits and strategic sense to attempt to outsmart him on their own terms instead of his; that is to say, will they realise, as they fight over whatever remains of the BNP, that from the beginning a desperate Griffin can be relied upon to play dirty, and that there’s very little point to upholding the Queensberry Rules when the man they are fighting has loaded his gloves with lead?

Source: Norfolk Unity

The battle’s within the British National Party (BNP) continue to heat up, following the removal of Nick Griffins European Union website, it now seems that Simon Bennett has removed the website of the Trafalgar Club.

The Trafalgar Club is used by the BNP to fund Nick Griffin by donations coming from people who do not want to go on the public record as donating to the BNP, the Trafalgar Club doesn’t produce any financial records so nobody knows exactly what happens to the money (£15 per month per member).

But it certainly seems that Simon Bennett is quickly upping the stakes and putting pressure on the BNP from all sides of their online operations, these acts will no doubt continue have have crippling effects on the BNP’s ability to raise funds, even more so when we can clearly see some deep divisions appearing throughout the entire party.

The questions that people are starting to ask now are amongst other just how long is it going to be before the BNP split in two and a new party emerges leaving Nick Griffin with the scraps of people who are loyal to him?

Simon Bennett and Eddy Butler have set up a new web-site calling on the BNP leader to stand down and for an urgent internal debate within the party.

The new Obama-style web-site, which is attempting to hijack and talk directly to the 25 000 BNP supporters currently on Facebook, calls on BNP members and supporters “to discuss the future of nationalism.” Adding:

“It is intended to be an open platform for honest open debate and the door is open to all nationalists.

The current structure and constitution of the British National Party does not allow open debate, criticism or opinions other than those of its leader / dictator. Nationalism as it stands is in disarray and for progress to me made we have to face up to the obvious fact that change and reform are a necessity for the uphill battle we face.”

Bennett himself has openly called for a “new leader” and said that criticisms about Griffin are “usually” stated “facts”. He also takes a swipe at the revolting Green Arrow blog – saying Paul Morris likes to “intimidate and bully women”.

Answering calls about why he has distanced himself from the Griffin leadership Bennett allegedly told one party supporter:

“The only traitor round here is griffin you f**king mug, just shut up and keep giving him your money you fool.”

But Bennett’s dissent has clearly rattled a number of BNP officials and supporters, including Debra Kent (see below), a BNP school governor and former PPC. Sean Allan, the BNP’s 15 year-old supporter has also voiced his concerns on Facebook.

Debra Kent responding to the concerns of a BNP supporter

When the rumours first started about Griffin’s leadership I thought he might ride them out. But this concerted on-line campaign may create enough dissent that will make it almost impossible for him to survive. Matthew Goodwin, an expert in the far-right politics from Manchester University, believes the BNP looks set to “implode”. He adds:

“Griffin may hang on but, if he does, it will only be because there is no easy way to oust him and no obvious successor. He had plans to expand his reach. Now he is fighting to survive.”

Screen grab taken from Sean Allan’s Facebook page

From Nothing British

Eddy Butler the former British National Party (BNP) Elections Organiser before he was replaced by Clive Jefferson shortly after the ‘palace coup’ attempt in which Mark Collett had supposedly threatened to kill the BNP Leader Nick Griffin and the parties fund raiser Jim Dowson has issued a statement via a number of Nationalist forums, which includes DemocracyForum.co.uk where I found it.

In the letter Eddy Butler clearly without spelling things out is suggesting a change of leadership at the top of the British National Party as well as saying the party needs to modernise and become more open and transparent in its accounting, which has been a long standing bone of contention withing the party ranks.

For a long time many former members have openly said that the BNP runs under a veil of secrecy where its financial dealings are involved, as is well documented with the BNP 2008 accounts being currently under investigation by the Electoral Commission. Here is the letter as it appeared on the above website:

Dear Colleague

We are in troubled times and many members are feeling disillusioned. I know some of you are thinking of quitting. This would be a fatal mistake. In times such as these it is essential that all members stay at their post. If the Party experiences a set-back it is vital that we face up to it and move on to achieve greater success in the future. It would be a tragic waste were any member to feel they had to quit, still worse if anyone felt they should set up or join a rival organisation.

I will not insult your intelligence by claiming that we just had a good election. In most places (with the notable exception of Barking) our Parliamentary election results improved marginally but at the same time we lost over half of our ‘proper’ council seats (that is excluding Town, Parish and Community councillors who however valuable they might be to us are not counted towards totals for comparative purposes).

After five years work, the simple truth is that we must do much better than marginally increase our vote since the last General Election. When faced by such a set-back it is vital that we re-group, re-evaluate and re-new. Doing nothing or at best tinkering with things around the edges is not an option. We have too few years in which to secure our country‘s and our people’s future. The stakes are too high.

It is essential that the Party goes ahead united. There must be:

· Financial transparency – so we can see how much money comes in and where it goes.

· Financial competence – so that our accounts are available and presented in an orderly and clear manner

· Administrative competence – so the best staff are able to work efficiently and without fear of offending others in the hierarchy and where proper documentation and legal employment processes are followed.

· Political competence – so that we are not being forced into costly and unnecessary legal battles all the time, so that leaflets are produced on time and so that internal bulletins are delivered on time.

· We must have our resources channelled into worthwhile avenues – to support electioneering and the work of our elected officials.

· We must have a leadership which is a bonus and a credit to our Party in the eyes of the public and not a downward drag on our vote.

· We need a modern public image that befits a Party that wishes to take power.

We must move out of stagnant waters and make another leap forward. The times are right – our policies are pretty much right. We must join together to build a new future for the Party. Pretty much everyone in the Party agrees with this. So please everyone stick in there and help build a new future.

Eddy Butler

As you can see for yourself from reading the above, without going into an all out attack aimed directly at Nick Griffin, Eddy Butler is clearly showing where his flag is firmly flying, Eddy Butler has also been named clearly by many of the Nationalist websites as a person many members would like to see as a prospective new leader of the BNP, so is this his opening gambit designed to gauge his levels of support throughout the ranks of ordinary BNP members? because after all he will need as much support as possible if he is intending to make a serious run at the leadership of the BNP.