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MPs urge City Hall to stop pay of BNP aide
Paul Waugh5 May 2009
City Hall bosses were urged to withdraw taxpayer funding from a BNP official today after he suggested Ugandans threw "spears" at their enemies.
Labour MPs demanded action after the remarks by Simon Darby, the British National Party's deputy leader whose part-time job at the Greater London Authority is funded by Londoners.
Mr Darby, an aide to Assembly member Richard Barnbrook, also branded the Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu "anti-British" and suggested he "deserved to be attacked".
The remarks came after the Archbishop criticised the BNP's leader Nick Griffin for claiming that black Britons were not British.
Like all City Hall employees, Mr Darby is required under the terms of his employment contract to "promote equality of opportunity".
Now Labour MPs are demanding that GLA chiefs take disciplinary action.
Mr Darby, who tops the BNP European candidate list in the West Midlands, wrote on his blog: "If I had travelled to Africa and insulted the indigenous people in the same arrogant, conceited and insensitive way that John Sentamu had I would have deserved to be attacked.
"If I went to Uganda and told them that they were all genetic mongrels and that anyone could be Ugandan I'd still be picking spears out of myself now."
Today, Labour MP for Dagenham, Jon Cruddas, told the Standard: "The GLA has got to act. The BNP are dragging the whole system into the gutter. If Darby's vicious cocktail of thinly-veiled racism and threats aren't in breach of the GLA code of conduct then clearly the code isn't worth the paper it's written on."
It follows criticism last month, when the Standard revealed Mr Darby attended a far-Right rally in Italy.
In November, Mr Darby said he did BNP work while earning his public salary. A spokesman for campaign group Searchlight said: "[Mr Darby] is allowed to swan around peddling his messages of hate whilst being effectively subsidised by hard-working Londoners."
Reader views (35)
a reply to 'John London' about how awful it would be if these ' fascists' ran the country - seems every point he details already applies to Labour Government!By voting the BNP into power we only run the risk of replacing one group of fascists with another!
- Phil, oswestry, 26/10/2009 18:35
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I do not agree with the BNP's policies. However, they are still a legitimate political party and people should not be treated differently in the workplace for being a member of it - the government should take steps to ban the BNP if the party is considered to be too extreme.
That being said the individual clearly made bigoted remarks and should be disciplined on that basis irrespective of the political party he belongs to.
- Janine, London, 26/10/2009 17:35
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Like all City Hall employees, Mr Darby is required under the terms of his employment contract to "promote equality of opportunity.
Aye - right, even tho the BNP`S Mr Barnbrook is not told about council meetings, was unable to use council buildings /phones/fax machines etc in the early days, and had no cooperation from anyone in city hall.
Thats equality for you.
Grow up ZaNu Labour, and carry on ruining this once proud country.
- Steve Thomson, dundee, scotland, 26/10/2009 17:35
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The official Ugandan national coat of arms has spears on it. Is that 'Racist'?
- Joshua Thomas, Bath, UK, 26/10/2009 17:35
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Worring development this - do not like the BNP, but do not like the idea of baring people from public sector because of their political beleifs - the thin edge of the wedge. If we ban this man - where do we stop.
- Jeremy E, London, 26/10/2009 17:35
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Simon Darby, Richard Barnbrook et al are people who not only speak their mind, more than that they speak the mind of many British People who are heartily sick of being told by foreigners what to do and say in their own country.
If the low lifes at Searchlight quoted exactly what Simon Derby said instead of only selective bits they would have a non case on their hands and they know it.
Rather than cut Simon Darby's money, I suggest you double it for his honesty and hard work.
- Frank Forte, London U.K., 26/10/2009 17:35
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Can you imagine how awful it would be if Britain was run by these Fascists?
They'd make sure everyone carried identity papers and you'd be arrested if you failed to show your papers to a policeman, a policeman who would be armed with stun guns and two handled billy clubs and who'd beat unarmed demonstrators to the ground if they protested government policy. The police would be granted the right to intern suspects without charge for months and if anyone spoke out against the government they'd be arrested as "terrorists".
There would be constant monitoring of every citizen by CCTV on every street corner, the government would have access to your emails and phone messages, crikey, they might even do crazy stuff like implanting computer chips in your bins to monitor your rubbish!
The state run media would be intimidated into parroting government spin and lies and everyone from doctors and nurses to teachers and neighbours would be expected to report to the government any behaviour which was deemed to be outside government decreed standards.
Who knows they might even go crazy and start invading other countries.
- John, London, 26/10/2009 17:35
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"Labour MP for Dagenham ... The BNP are dragging the whole system into the gutter."
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! Those Labour clowns really know how to come out with those one liners!
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 26/10/2009 17:35
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Cruddas 'working class with two homes' and snout in the trough idiot.
- Nick Holland, glasgow, 26/10/2009 17:35
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"The BNP are dragging the whole system into the gutter" Says John Cruddas. I doubt that is the case Mr Cruddas, i think the Labour party has done well in that field since 1997. The European elections are coming up, and all the Labour party has done is talk and talk and give the BNP the oxygen of publicity.
- Steven, Birmingham, UK, 26/10/2009 17:35
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In the recent complaints against Roger Evans and his "climate change Taliban" remarks against residents - The GLA found that as he made the remarks in a personal capacity on his own personal blog he was not in breach of GLA guidelines.
While the remarks are offensive - they are made in a personal capacity as was the case with Roger Evans.Is it one rule for one?
- Darren, Newham, 26/10/2009 17:35
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These Labour politicans (con men) do come out with some rubbish, if anyone has dragged the whole system into the gutter it's nu-labour!!!!
- Mick, London, 26/10/2009 17:35
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Mr Darby should sue his critics. I have lived in South Africa and have visited Kenya and Uganda. I have often seen the inhabitants carrying spears. They do not clean their finger nails with them.
- Fred, Horsham, 26/10/2009 17:35
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The system is already in the gutter.
A gutter designed and built by Nulabour, and currently full of them.
Your going down big time Labour and I will party the day you are dumped as any kind of political party.
- Roger, Surey, 26/10/2009 17:35
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Val, Spain, you'd better return ASAP dear, your party needs all the help it can get whilst canvassing for the election(s) next month.
Jon Cruddas knows he is one of the most likely MP's to be outed by the BNP at the next General Election. As for "dragging the whole system into the gutter" Pot, kettle, black - does that ring any bells!
- Mrs, London UK, 26/10/2009 17:35
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If Ken livingstone can get away with callinga Jewish journalist a nazi concentraion camp guard without ever apologising then Simon Darby should be allowed to blog about what he feels the consequences of a visit by him to africa would be. Labour have messed the country up, have bred racism and intolernace by opening our borders to all and sundry and bankrupting us at the same time.
- Crowlander, London England, 26/10/2009 17:35
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I would just have ignored the remarks. The Labour dimwits have just given Mr Darby's West Midlands election campaign a lot of free publicity.
To think that Cruddas nearly made it as Deputy Prime Minister!!!
- Brian, London, 26/10/2009 17:35
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It would appear many Standard readers are happy to pay for the BNP city hall worker through their taxes, no doubt they will all vote for them in the next elections - It's a logical step after Boris - but its surprising how many can't spell.
- Steve S, London, 26/10/2009 17:35
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So Jon Cruddas reckons that the BNP are dragging the whole system into the gutter. Yeah right, i think NuLabour have done a pretty good job of that themselves without the help from the BNP.
Mr Cruddas would be better thinking of what he'll be doing for a job next year when Labour are thrashed at the elections........
- Jonny, London, 26/10/2009 17:35
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labour panicking continues,if they get voted out they will lose all the perks, don't let them shut everyone body else up
- Peter Woods, UK, 26/10/2009 17:35
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Cruddas should keep his daft views to himself,-nobody is the slightest bit interested in Zanulabour or its supporters,-they have lost all credibilty and will cease to exist after the next General Election,-if they are very lucky they may still have thirty MPs left to cheat more money from the Taxpayer-freedom of speech must be protected by all citizens,-ZanuLabour want to remove it, but that will never happen in this Country.
- Jacob, Canterbury Kent, 26/10/2009 17:35
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John, London - are you being sarcastic?
Is sounds like you are talking about the LABOUR PARTY?
Thats hilarious by the way!
People should be careful who they vote for, otherwise the counrty might go bankrupt!
- Ray Charles, London, 26/10/2009 17:35
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The 'hard-working' people of London voted Richard Barnbrook in - many born and bred Londoners agree totally with Simon Darby. I'm sick of being told what to think by Left wingers and people who've only been in this country for five minutes
- Rhory Fraser, London UK, 26/10/2009 17:35
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"The BNP dragging the whole system into the gutter" Even they cannot match the Labour rabble who are currently deep in the gutter, their greed, incompetence, theft of public money, the dishonesty of a con man PM and his puppet chancellor, the home secretary fiddling her expenses whilst she is in charge of the police, the dirty tricks and smeargate, the spin and lies and cover-up's. Cruddas is obviously so blind to his own party's gutter mentality or perhaps he's too busy troughing to notice. The BNP would be a breath of fresh air in comparison to the scum who now occupy power in this destroyed country. Sadly under Cameron and his millionaires nothing will change, they don't even have the balls to say what their policies will be when they win the next election, and they will win it because people have had enough of the Liebour party. Will the Tories reduce fuel duty, will they make the rip-off energy co's drop their prices, will they end the persecution of motorists and stop the immigration fiasco, I doubt it. Bottom line is they're all the same, most MP's are in for the power trip and the money.
- Ed, Hants, 26/10/2009 17:35
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Says Two Homes Cruddarse, how ironic
- Beowulf, England, 26/10/2009 17:35
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The BNP are now perceived as a very real threat by Labour, and the Tories; the decades of utter disregard by those parties for the people who voted for them, is now coming home to roost.
- Hugh, Birmingham, UK, 26/10/2009 17:35
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Does anyone actually believe what they write anymore or what mainstream politicians say?
A line from Jon Cruddas "The BNP are dragging the whole system into the gutter". You just couldn't make it up! He is a MP and just doesn't know whats happening around him.
- Adam, UK, 26/10/2009 17:35
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Darby is paid to speak his mind and he's doing this. It's a free country (supposedly) and he hasn't broken any laws so what's the problem?
And what has Cruddas ever done to "promote equality of opportunity" specifically for White people?
- Roy, London, 26/10/2009 17:35
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The PC buffoons of New Liebour are getting desperate!
This from an MP of a party that has allowed uncontrolled
mass immigration and bent over backwards to appease
Islamic fundamentalists.
- Lb, Bromley, 26/10/2009 17:35
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Cruddas is a fool. What was said is no worse - perhaps even milder - than comments made by HRH Duke of Edinburgh.
- Felicity, london, 26/10/2009 17:35
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It's just a case of failing Labour politicians being jealous of the BNP because they are obviously going to do in the June European elections. It seems that freedom of speech is okay with Labour as long as you spout leftish/liberal cliches.
- Richard, Welling, 26/10/2009 17:35
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Steeve S, London - I have three words for you 'Educaton, Educaton, Educaton'...
Labour have been responsable for dumbing down the education system over the last 12 years, so I must agree that we cant spell.
LABOUR ARE TO BLAME!
One more point, if the tax payer is happy to pay for J smith's naughty films, and second home allowance, we cannot be v fussy about paying someone their wage to do a job
- Ray Charles, london, 26/10/2009 17:35
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Ironically this is reminiscent of the EU's re running of the Irish vote on the Lisbon treaty, i.e "no wrong answer try again". Sorry but the people have elected him as per our democracy so let him get on with it.
- Steve, Hereford, 26/10/2009 17:35
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When some one says "deserved to be attacked" I think the newspaper concerned ought to make it clear we are talking about a verbal attack over Sentamu's attack on the BNP.
Sentamu I belive is a good man and along with Ali the only CofE senior minister willing to stand up to Islam.
The probably find it easier to say what they say because they are not white.They cannot as easily be accused of racism or Xenphobia like anyone white saying the same things.
That apart however if Sentamu attacks the BNP or any political party he is going to be met with a verbal riposte from representatives of that party.
- Ex Pontefract Miner., Pontefract, 26/10/2009 17:35
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cruddas and his facist-minded pals are a lot scarier than the bnp who will all but disappear from UK politics after the next election.
- Jules_London, london, 26/10/2009 17:35
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