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Churchill's family denounces BNP election broadcast
26 May 2009The family of Sir Winston Churchill today described as "offensive and disgusting" a decision by the BNP to use his image in a party election broadcast.
Pictures of Britain's wartime leader feature alongside archive footage from the Second World War in the British National Party's broadcast, to be aired tonight.
BNP chairman Nick Griffin can be seen adopting part of Churchill's famous "blood, toil, tears and sweat" speech to promote his own manifesto.
Conservative MP for Mid-Sussex, Nicholas Soames, hit out at the appropriation of his grandfather's image and said he had tried to get the Electoral Commission to ban its use by the BNP.
Mr Soames said: "My views are that they have behaved in a disgusting manner. They should not take my grandfather's name in vain. He would have been appalled by their views and the way they claim to represent the wartime generation. It's nonsense. Were it possible to take action, we would.
"We find it offensive and disgusting."
In a magazine called The Rune published in 1995 and edited by Mr Griffin an article appears to praise the exploits of the SS during the Second World War.
It says: "The tales of Waffen SS courage and sacrifices are almost limitless."
It adds: "In an unbiased assessment of war crimes, however, the Waffen SS were undoubtedly no worse than the troops of other nations - countless Allied war crimes are simply not publicised."
A year later, Mr Griffin picketed Coventry Cathedral to hand out leaflets referring to the "mass murder" during the Allied bombing of Dresden.
A spokesman for Searchlight, which campaigns against racism and fascism, said: "Nick Griffin's hypocrisy is sickening. This is a man who has heaped praise on Hitler's SS and accused RAF pilots of mass murder.
"For him to evoke the memory of Churchill and our Second World War servicemen is a disgrace."
BNP deputy chairman Simon Darby today refuted suggestions Mr Griffin supported the actions of the Waffen SS.
Referring to his party's election broadcast, he said: "There is a substantial amount of Churchillian rhetoric in it."
He added: "It is very relevant to what is happening today. I am extremely upset at what is happening to the country. What was the point of fighting the Second World War if this is where we are going to end up?"
Reader views (9)
A family that charged the nation for "Churchill's" papers written on the public purse on the public's time and on public paper has absolutely no place to speak about decency. They don't own Churchill, we do, bought and paid for by £25million of our lottery money wasn't it!? The BNP along with any British party is quite free to use his image as they paid for it.
- John, Aberdeen, UK, 27/05/2009 08:25
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"I'm going to vote for them. Not least of the reasons being just to get up the nose of the gatekeepers in the media."
Good to see the universal sufferage has not been wasted. Nice to see that people consider all of the important things before casting their votes.
It's people like this (I was going to say 'idiots like this', but that would be too inflammatory perhaps - oops, too late) that encourage the Hitlers, Stalins, Husseins and Mugabes of the world to believe they can get elected.
- Rogan, Irving, 27/05/2009 02:38
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i love it when people who no nothing spout off their ignorant rants.we fought the last war so that we were not ruled by europe. yet mr soames is in a party that wants us to be ruled by europe .then to top it all he sold winstons memoirs to the highest bidder. what a hypocrite
- Scatman, WITLEY, 27/05/2009 01:28
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The BNP fortunately does not have a chance of becoming the party in power, however, I think Sir Winston Churchill would be horrified at the lies and deciet perpetrated against the British people by LINLABCON. I urge people to vote for Independents, UKIP and yes BNP tyo warn these parties that consider it their right that we vote for one of them.
- Peter, Camberley UK, 26/05/2009 17:43
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I'm going to vote for them. Not least of the reasons being just to get up the nose of the gatekeepers in the media.
- Londoner, London, 26/05/2009 17:14
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So the Deputy chairman of the BNP, Simon Darby, asks what was the point of fighting WWII? It was to stop the advances of neo-Nazis like him.
A vote for the BNP is an insult to the memory of our countrymen who fought to defeat fascism and tyranny.
- Leanne, London, UK, 26/05/2009 17:11
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You dismiss this lot at your peril. The electorate are looking for ways to exact revenge on their fraudulent MPs. The BNP will never have a better chance. Take them seriously and discredit them where a sympathetic public can see it. Like on Britain's got (no) talent or Big Brother up the Jungle.
- Bj, London, 26/05/2009 16:58
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I completely agree with you Barry - trouble is, try telling that to the ignorant, illiterate members of our society, and (if they can string two words together), they'll still argue that the BNP are good for England, or words to that effect. Sadly, ignorance in this case is a big threat to all of us.
- Napoleon Blownaparte, London, 26/05/2009 16:26
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Oh come, let's be fair - if these cretins were to use their real role model we would be looking at Himmler or Hitler tonight.
Just laugh at them and remember to ignore them at the ballot box. They are ignorant dross that should be consigned to the dustbin of history.
What say you Mr Griffin?
- Barry, Stockport England, 26/05/2009 14:57
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