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BNP City Hall official meets neo-fascists at Euro summit
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor14 Apr 2009
A BRITISH National Party official at City Hall came under fire today after he attended a conference where European neo-fascists gave Nazi salutes.
Simon Darby, who works at the Greater London Authority at the expense of the London taxpayer, was pictured at the event in Milan last week.
He appeared alongside French National Front MEP Bruno Gollnisch and Italian far-Right MEP Roberto Fiore to discuss policies ahead of June's European Parliament elections.
Mr Gollnisch was convicted in 2007 of Holocaust denial after he questioned the existence of the gas chambers.
Mr Fiore, leader of the Forza Nuova party, was hunted by police after the Bologna station massacre in which 85 people died in 1980. Far-Right terrorists were blamed for the attack.
He was later cleared of involvement but convicted of "subversive association" and sentenced to nine years in prison.
Mr Darby, aide to BNP London Assembly member Richard Barnbrook, today insisted there was nothing wrong with him meeting the pair.
"Nelson Mandela was convicted of far worse crimes than them," he told the Evening Standard. "He was a convicted terrorist, as were Sinn Fein, who have been invited into government. So that won't wash."
When put to him that members of the conference were seen making Nazi salutes, Mr Darby replied: "I can't do anything about that. There were 500 people and three of them were caught doing that stupid behaviour."
He added: "Every time European nationalists meet up we are accused of being Nazis. I only work part-time. What I do in my spare time is up to me. I have done nothing wrong. I don't have a conviction. What have I done? Met two members of the European Parliament. Labour politicians see them a lot in the debating chamber."
When asked if he felt it was acceptable for an MEP to have denied the Holocaust, he replied: "I don't think it's right, but why don't you ask that question to these Labour and Tory MEPs who sit in the same chamber?"
Labour's leader on the London Assembly, Len Duvall, said: "People who associate with those who promote Nazi ideology and who offer simplistic solutions to some of Britain's most complex problems have no place in modern political life."
A spokesman for anti-fascist organisation Searchlight, which took the photos, said: "Darby's wages are paid by London taxpayers, and yet here he is swanning around Milan, glad-handing convicts and Holocaust deniers."
Reader views (47)
You can spot the BNP members posting here - they make ludicrous claims that Labour is 'communist'. That's the kind of brainwashing that goes on within the BNP! However, as we have all experienced, Labour is not left wing at all, but is in fact a supporter of privatisation and big business - and that's its problem.
Are the BNP Nazis or Fascist? You can find plenty of photo's of BNP members doing stiff arm Nazi salutes, or showing swastika tattoos posted on the internet. Any more proof needed?!!!
- Alfred, Lancashire, England., 15/04/2009 13:39
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I think perhaps Mr Darby was unwise to accept the invitation to this meeting, but the hysteria on this board is quite beyond belief.
The BNP are an ethnic nationalist, or communalist party, much like Respect a religious nationalist party with a few marxists, a party that actually won an MP much to the glad bleating of the media.
Mr. Darby, whose party I doubt will get my vote, has no control over the actions of a few people outside an event he was attending.
He is correct in pointing out that while "right wing" terrorists from the 80s are considered beyond the pale, left wing terrorists from the same period and even the same country are interviewed on TV and lauded by society's high and stinking.
What the BNP exposes is the remarkable and quite frankly terrifying level of political bias in the newsrooms not only of europe but the western world. The symptoms of totalitarianism are found not on the battered remains of the right in europe, but in the left and its almost complete control of information and culture.
- Jesse, London, 15/04/2009 11:24
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How amusing that the very people who accuse the BNP of being a fascist organisation, are the very people trying to curb their freedom to speak.
- Peter C. Lucas, Torquay, England, 15/04/2009 10:16
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Accusing the BNP of being Nazi's is like saying the political correct Labour as Stalinist communist and they were far far worse than the Nazi's.
- Joe, Swanley Kent, 15/04/2009 09:33
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The old national front were fascist.The bnp are a national SOCIALIST party.Fascist is right wing,socialism is left wing,the British Tory party are more inclined to fascism than the BNP.
- Kev, London-UK, 15/04/2009 09:32
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- Mick, London, England
"There would not be any freedom of speech if they were in control."
Funny I could have sworn you were talking about the current Labour Communist party. They are all about free speech and democracy.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 15/04/2009 08:59
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Facsist?? Maybe but is that any worse than the Marxists government now in place?
Maybe it is time for a real change.
- Caroline Carter, Weybridge UK, 15/04/2009 08:43
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The crime is trying to restrict any freedom, the article and comments impact all freedom, which must be without any preconception of views. The same people that want to restrict freedom are the same idiots who objected to the right of women to vote. Shout up.
- Jimmy, London, Uk, 15/04/2009 04:44
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Its no use denying it - the BNP have always had a core membership of neo-Nazis. This is the unpalatable truth - whatever tactical 'moderation' they sometimes use.
We already face enough problems with threats to our jobs and homes from the recession caused by the greed of the bankers and the rich. Now, to make matters worse, the BNP are trying to capitalise on this to win some MEP seats.
The BNP will only make things worse.
- Alfred, Lancashire, England, 15/04/2009 02:27
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This was not a fascist meeting. It was attended by well-known nationalist parties from across Europe, most notably the French Front National.
- Oliver, surrey, 14/04/2009 21:44
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Are these right wingers members of the same organisation that the Conservative Party wishes to align themselves with in Europe?
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex, 14/04/2009 21:43
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These people with their hands in the air could be far left stooges, placed their to make the BNP look bad.
The Indigenous people of this Country can see through this now, these lefties will try anything to stop the BNP gaining ground.
- David, Sunderland, 14/04/2009 16:52
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What democrat would hang around with these people, a collection of neo-Nazis and convicted terrorists? Nelson Mandela didn't attempt to eliminate an entire people as Hitler and his supporters did, although the BNP denies the Holocaust even happened! Simon Darby accuses other parties of hypocrisy, but I don't see Hitler salutes by party members at mainstream party conferences. Perhaps that's because activists in the mainstream are not Nazis, like they are in the BNP. I live in a town where the BNP have a presence. I've lived here most of my life, but it was only until the BNP started showing up that our quiet town begun to have problems with racist attacks, including an attack on a local synagogue. The reality of the BNP is that they are a nasty, racist party that has nothing in common with the democratic principles of this country. It is an imported extremist ideology from an era most of Europe wants to put behind them. Whatever opinion you hold about immigration, the BNP are not the answer. Those who want genuine cultural integration should not vote for a party that wants to divide people and expel them from this country on the grounds of their skin colour or religious beliefs.
- June, Loughton, Essex, 14/04/2009 16:50
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The BNP are racists and fascists. There would not be any freedom of speech if they were in control. Anyone who is not a racist or fascist and votes for the BNP is a fool.
- Mick, London, England, 14/04/2009 15:53
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At least it's better than meeting Labour MP's!
- Vince, London, West London area, 14/04/2009 15:35
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Simon Darby is quite right to highlight the hypocrisy of the Labour Party MEPs who attack him for attending a meeting where these right-wing MEPs are present whilst they (Labour MEPs) meet with the very same people on a daily basis in Brussels! It occurs to me that Labour and hypocrisy go together like bread and butter! In addition considering the criminal convictions of Labour's Searchlight gang I find it rich they making any comments about criminal convictions unless, of course, it is their own!
- C Wakley, Milton Keynes, 14/04/2009 14:50
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at least it was only Milan (easyjet fly there) most Labour MP's go to more exotic places just ask Ken - he loved travelling
- London Eye, UK, 14/04/2009 14:48
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Having had a BNP council candidate knock on my door I can confirm they look, act and talk like racists!!!
All I mentioned was cold calling and he was off about curry houses and immigrants! What I meant was the queue of useless council candidates!!!
- Not Exactly A Looney Lefty!, The real world, 14/04/2009 14:43
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How, exactly, is Mr. Darby responsible for the behaviour of a handful of yobs at an Italian political meeting at which he was a mere guest? Was Mr Darby also responsible for the L'Aquila earthquake - he was, after all, less than 100 miles from its epicentre?
- James Diggory, Worcestershire, 14/04/2009 14:39
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114 protesters pre-emptively arrested "in case they commit a crime". Nazi fascism is alive and well, and is flourishing in England.
- Neil M., london uk,, 14/04/2009 14:34
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So what? Why be so surprised?
- James Hennessy, london england, 14/04/2009 14:27
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If we are allowed to have the socialist workers party (who as it happens are allowed to comment freely and march in protests quite freely), then why are the BNP treated any differently. As we come closer and closer to a general election the BNP are bound to get lots of bad publicity, simply because the other parties are getting frightened that the the BNP and UKIP just might get quite a few seats!
- Sally, London, 14/04/2009 14:01
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".. spreading lies and fear amongst the poor and ignorant .."
- Lyn, london
Something Labour have been doing from the beginning. That is how they control stupid people; deny them proper education, keep them ignorant and manipulate as this government have.
Far left politics is OK, but far right politics is not? Interesting. The BNP have been democratically voted for, how many people voted for Brown? Answer = 0.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 14/04/2009 13:58
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Our country badly needs a party robustly of the right to tackle the problems of immigration so cynically neglected by the main, now discredited, centre parties. But when you see this sort of thing your heart sinks - they're seemingly just a bunch of adolescents playing at being Nazis. We need a new party of the right, businesslike and serious, with a charismatic leader to save England. Where is it? And where is he?
- Richard, Welling, 14/04/2009 13:29
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"while spreading lies and fear amongst the poor and ignorant and will always use any recession by pointing blame at immigrants" Says Lyn
Lyn, that comment just goes to show how ignorant and out of date you and your left wing ilk really are. BNP spread lies? As opposed to the mainstream parties that sent us to an illegal war on a pack of lies, who didn't give us a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. Lyn, the BNP have not blamed Immigrants for this recession. They have blamed the bankers and capitalist corporations and the politicians. So take your eyes of your SWP mag and actually read the BNP's policies.
- Steve, Birmingham, 14/04/2009 13:21
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Lyn, London. what on earth are you ranting on about. The BNP are a legal political party who are growing in strength and will have more say in politics in this country. i do not care about the Bush Administration and i do not care about the palestinians either. all i care about is Britain thanks.
- Jonny, London, 14/04/2009 13:14
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Gary, London..Every time there is this sort of article someone like you effectively says ..You don't live in this country and so don't have the right to comment. Pathetic. I don't live in Zimbabwe but feel that I have the right to comment. BNP members are elected..its called democracy.
- Michael, Switzerland, 14/04/2009 13:05
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Don't be so uptight these boys were only waving to be friendly.
- David., Chertsey.UK., 14/04/2009 12:35
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...and for as long as Liebour troughers keep on swilling taxpayers cash for 88p bathplugs etc and spreading sewage around in emails, we are going to take a lot of notice of faux outrage from Leo Duvall and his mates aren't we?
"Remove the mote from... etc"
- Ken, france, 14/04/2009 12:32
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Lyn, London: Muslims are not being rounded up into concentration camps, gassed and made into soap. The Jews were unnecessarily targeted. I appreciate the majority of Muslims are peaceful people, however there are Muslims in this world who are murdering people en mass and trying to take over the world with their religion. The Jews did no such thing and did not deserve what they got. Do you know the story of the Jews who were put to their hands and knees and made to cut grass with their teeth? You are violating their memory by suggesting the Muslims of this world are suffering the same fate.
- Jc, London, 14/04/2009 12:23
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Lyn, you are defending the indefensible. Your left wing views are out of date and you remind me of the 3 monkeys when it comes to left wing hypocrisy !
- Joe, Swanley Kent, 14/04/2009 12:10
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You'd better get used to it, with the Tories seemingly castrated by Cameron and his right on bunch and Labour refusing to call an election I can see many more people voting BNP in protest at the appalling levels that politics in this country have sunk to.
- Bob, Cheam, 14/04/2009 12:08
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These salutes have nothing to do with Simon Darby
- Anonymous, Coventry, 14/04/2009 12:06
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Lyn from London. it is you who have your facts wrong, I've been told on building sites in and around London," sorry we dont employ British people, we employ poles czechs Rommanians etc etc, I've even had witnesses with me when it's happened , perhaps you can put your address up and i'll get them to call in ,you can tell them they are racists, unemployment is up 835 in 12 months yet invaders arrive every day and are found jobs by agencies on cheaoer pay, perhaps you won't mind giving up your job to an invader if you love them so much, I;ll gladly give you my contact details if you are so brave.
- Carl Mason, windsor, 14/04/2009 12:04
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It would not surprise me if those three were in pay of the very people who took the photo. A nice staged image, I wouldn't trust a thing provided from that rag tag bunch of old Commies who hate our countries history, heritage and indigenous people with a passion and want open borders, whites to be bred out of existence and a one world socialist government.
- Jon, Northumberland, 14/04/2009 11:41
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The 'BNP' is a racist organisation. Their members hide behind their respectable suits, while spreading lies and fear amongst the poor and ignorant and will always use any recession by pointing blame at immigrants. Joe from Kent, you do not know what you are talking about when you state 'racist left wing and muslims'. They are protesting because Palestinians were kicked out of their own country and put basically into refugee camps 60 years ago, and they are still fighting for their right to exist with the world just looking on. With the ILLEGAL INVASION of Iraq , you say that they are as racist as the Nazis.Muslims have become the new Jews of our era, I think you have your facts wrong, the closest we have come to the Nazis has been the Bush Administration.
- Lyn, london, 14/04/2009 11:30
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It's simple, Simon Darby merely has to disassociate himself from the Nazi idiots.
He should also condemn any party with whom they belong and pledge not to deal with them until they condemn the antics.
If he does that then no one can complain.
- Harry, London, 14/04/2009 11:28
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Fascism originated in Italy, the word is based upon the Italian term for a bunch of sticks (bonded for strength) and the fascist salute is uniquely Italian, originating with the Romans. That it is still popular in Italy is not surprising but it has nothing to do with the BNP. As Searchlight is a self styled "anti fascist" organisation it should have no interest in the BNP, which is not a fascist party.
- Joan Walters, Exeter, 14/04/2009 11:27
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Well I am an old timer; and I often wonder why the younger people of today call Nazis, fascists etc.
The German Nazi party was a National Socialist Party; not a National Conservative Party etc.
You can’t be Fascist if you are a Socialist; Socialists are left wing; Fascists are right wing etc.
The Romans saluted each other much the same; and even solders salute each other; as do the lower ranks of police officers, salute their leaders etc.
What are the BNP; left wing, or right wing?
What are the Labour Party; left wing, or right wing?
And for the treble; What are the Conservative Party; Right wing, or left wing?
One thing is for sure; the Nazis were not Fascists.
- Mickyinlondon, london, 14/04/2009 11:21
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And how does anybody "know" the idiots giving the Roman or fascist salute were even fascists? Mr Darby rightly took no notice of it.
- Frank Mcgill, England, 14/04/2009 11:18
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It's the usual "nazi" smears just before election time in yet another attempt by searchlight agent provocateurs to set up the BNP in the hope it will affect their chances of election in June.....searchlight is funded by Labour and we all know what their dirty tricks department are capable of.
- Stephen Williams, Norfolk, 14/04/2009 11:08
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My view is the same as Ian of Alicante and I do live here. And I was born in London (how many residents of London these days can say that???) and can trace my ancestry in London on both sides of my family back to the 18th century.
Therefore - My understanding is that the BNP is a legal political party, while it remains legal anyone has the freedom to support it. (Regardless of occupation). Whether one agrees with them or not they have the right to free speech as does every other party. I am concerned that there seem to be those in power trying to remove this freedom.
- Ew, London, 14/04/2009 11:07
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Unlike the Labour Party-funded Searchlight organisation, Richard Barnbrook is an elected representative (of the people of London), as are Bruno Gollnisch and Roberto Fiore of their respective electorates. The idiots giving Nazi salutes are a disgrace but their behaviour is their concern and is no reflection on Simon Darby.
All this is a smokescreen devised by the Labour Party smear-machine to deflect attention away form their disastrous policies on immigration and security, which threaten everyone in this country.
- Rhory Fraser, London, 14/04/2009 10:35
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Before we all get excited about Nazi's. Let's remember the views of the Left wings regarding Isreal and the Gaza protest. I have never witnessed such vile racism on London streets and the hatred that spewed out by radical muslims and thier left wing friends. It's a well known fact that the hard Left are as racist as the Nazi's. Searchlight seems blind to this obvious fact!
Then we have MP's fiddling with expenses and ripping off the Tax payer and it's voters.
- Joe, Swanley Kent, 14/04/2009 10:31
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Most of our leaders attended meetings in Europe which included the attendance of the Zimbabwi despot. None of them have been sacked or their tax payer wages stopped. What's the difference?
- Nellie Jones, chester uk, 14/04/2009 10:29
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And I think anyone who lives in Alicante has as much right to witter on about "our" freedom as someone on the moon. You don't live here !
- Gary, London, 14/04/2009 10:25
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My understanding is that the BNP is a legal political party, while it remains legal anyone has the freedom to support it. (Regardless of occupation). Whether one agrees with them or not they have the right to free speech as does every other party. I am concerned that there seem to be those in power trying to remove this freedom. I feel the fact that there were no comments here reflects the fear people have to speak out.
- Ian, Alicante, 14/04/2009 10:12
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