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A prominent BNP councillor has escaped suspension after a disciplinary hearing was postponed at the 11th hour.
Today's hearing had been set up by City Hall and Barking and Dagenham council after Richard Barnbrook falsely claimed on YouTube that three people were murdered in three weeks in the borough.
But last night officials were forced to delay the hearing after the BNP member of the London Assembly presented a dossier of new evidence denying that he had brought the Greater London Authority and council into disrepute.
Mr Barnbrook, who was elected to Barking and Dagenham council in 2006 and is one of 12 BNP councillors in the borough, was due to face a hearing three weeks ago but claimed he was too stressed to attend.
In the YouTube clip he posted last September, he claimed the borough had seen three murders in as many weeks. There had been one killing in the neighbouring borough of Newham, and no evidence of two other attacks, despite Mr Barnbrook insisting two victims died after being placed on life support machines.
He told investigators he knew he was making inaccurate statements, and has since apologised, but said he was right to raise concerns about knife crime.
His comments led to a complaint to the council and Greater London Authority that he had brought both authorities into disrepute. The GLA's standards committee was to decide today whether to uphold an independent investigation's finding that Mr Barnbrook, who earns £52,910 as an Assembly member and £10,006 as a councillor, showed “wilful disregard for the truth”. If found guilty, he could be suspended from both authorities for up to six months.
Val Rush, Labour councillor in Barking and Dagenham, who brought the complaint, said Mr Barnbrook had undermined confidence in local authorities. Murders have fallen in Barking and Dagenham, from six in 2006/07 to three in 2007/08 and one in 2008/09.
Mr Barnbrook claims he was a victim of a political campaign and his comments about the first murder “came out wrong”. Investigators noted he made no attempt to remedy this by re-recording the video.
Reader views (23)
Do people really need reminding that that the Nazis were democratically elected? I'm sure they were all smiles and sharp suits/uniforms whilst they peddled their lies. This country's proudest moment was to stand up to and defeat the Nazis in WWII. Don't let that sacrifice be in vain. Don't let them in by the back door. The BNP needs to be exposed as liars, facists and racists at every turn. Barnbrook has admitted lying already. The rest will come!
- Veritas Noire, Purley, 13/08/2009 09:04
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There are some strange comments on here,-i suppose that's the price you pay for running an article on Barnbrook,-i do wish he would throw that bloody awful beige suit out,he's been wearing it constantly for four years.
- Jacob, Canterbury England (western Gulag ), 13/08/2009 08:30
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Ah Keith - only if it IS a dumb comment. My comment was a reasonable reflection based upon the available information. Again, based upon available information, yours was demonstrably nonsensical. Touché indeed.
- Rogan, Irving, 13/08/2009 06:54
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So, Keith Price, what is your answer to this: if the BNP candidate, which party I would not vote for - ever - has followed a democratic course and been duly elected, how does that strike you? His election is no more or less democratic than anyone else so elected.
The reason people who represent the BNP get elected is because of the vacuum created by the main parties, who no longer represent or listen to their communities.If they did so, the likes of the BNP would wither on the vine. I do not apportion blame to any one party or person but those in power, Tory or (your own party)Labour, have brought this situation on themselves.It is the height of hypocrisy for MP's of any persuasion to say it's terrible or it brings shame on us as a country - sentiments you seem to share - but it is they who have created the space in which the BNP can exist and breathe. It those very MP's who have the shame - the shame for ever allowing these people to thrive.
- Captain Black Of The Mysterons, London, England, 12/08/2009 16:43
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Lb - why don't you actually do some research into the immigration statistics before spouting ill-informed nonsense? We let in far fewer immigrants than other European countries and the vast majority who come here have to pass strict tests and are usually brought in to fill skills gaps or to do the jobs no one else wants to do. Most illegals are sent back, as are some fleeing genuine persecution in lovely places like Zimbabwe and Liberia. We're hardly the soft touch you imagine us to be. Are you really so blind and bigoted that you can't see what the BNP is trying to do? This is not about whether I'm 'New Labour' or not (change the bloody record, please - not everyone who is not screaming about immigration every 5 seconds is a loony liberal) - it's about doing what's right and learning the lessons of history (ie supporting Nazis=not just stupid but dangerous). Why not spend more time getting to know your non-white neighbours rather than venting spleen on news sites and being eaten up by bitterness and jealousy.
- Lindsay, london, 12/08/2009 16:24
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" I do think that the lib/lab establishment is using this to attack the BNP !
Word to the wise, Rogan, mate - make a dumb comment next to a smart one and it DEVALUES the smart one; it lessens the impact.
Touchee
- Keith Price, Luton England, 12/08/2009 15:50
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afghanistan isn't an illegal ar and if barnbrook did say that there was amurder on the tube of his constituents doorstep, they are going to want toknow about it, lying only hinders police investigations when there are real murders
- John Reid, romford, 12/08/2009 14:58
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Keith - first you say something sensible, the guy did knowingly make a false statement for political advantage in the end analysis - and then you tack on the nonsensical, that idiocy about the number plate. Word to the wise, mate - make a dumb comment next to a smart one and it DEVALUES the smart one; it lessens the impact.
That said, I do think that the lib/lab establishment is using this to attack the BNP rather than looking for 'justice'. Politicians misinterpret, mislead and misdirect public opinion all the time to score political points. When exposed, it is more normal to expose the perpetrator for what he/she is (no matter which party they might be in) and damage his/her re-election potential. Defeat the BNP with ideas, not with political witch-trials.
- Rogan, Irving, 12/08/2009 14:50
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It is shocking the underreporting of serious crime in the borough, the police have appeared to given the streets of this borough over to the drug gangs. He is a London assembly member and it should be seem in this light. We have a far more worrying problem facing the people of London , the so called knife culture , killing innocent young men on the streets of London. The biggest mistake has been the political class silence on this issue for far too long. And their ineffectual policies in dealing with London s greatest threat.
- Kevessex, dagenham, 12/08/2009 14:24
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"The BNP witch hunt continues."
And long may it be, Dirk. Same with the klu klux klan. Exrtremists who want to kill you for your colour or your faith need to be exposed and condemned for the racist scum that they are. They denigrate the country worldwide more than ant elected politician ever did
- Keith Price, Luton England, 12/08/2009 14:18
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The BNP witch hunt continues. Ironic that the Labour party has been lieing about everything from immigration to expenses, but Mr Branbrock posts a video on youtube A YEAR AGO and there is a BIG investigation into this. Ever since Mr Barnbrock was elected into the London assembly; they have been conspiring to get him out, so much for democracy is this nation.
- Dirk Diggler, Soho, London, 12/08/2009 13:23
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The Establishment are running scared of the BNP and they show it in more ways than one,This nonsense must stop,persecuting members of a political party really is fascist and its dangerous and people do see through it,and are likely to vote for them out of sympathy.When people see Tony Blair charged and tried in court for his weapons of mass destruction lie,that dragged the UK into a pointless war and caused the death of hundreds of thousands of innocent people then the British establishment might,just might be seen as fair and just.Let him who is with out sin cast the first stone!or maybe he who lives in a glass house should not throw stones.In any case the this pales into insignificance compared with the Greatest lie by any politician this century,Saddam has weapons of mass destruction that can reach British territory in 45 minuets.
- Kev, London-UK, 12/08/2009 13:20
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False scaremongering Keith? What, like weapons of mass destruction that could reach us in 45 minutes?
- Kevin T, Beckenham, Kent, 12/08/2009 13:19
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In the grand scheme of things this is a minor fib when compared to the massive porkies we have been fed over the last 12 years. eg. Referendum on Lisbon treaty, two illegal wars, Uncontrolled immigration (just made Lindsay's day) education, crime and the biggest whopper of them all Unemployment (actually nearer 5m people not working and claiming). Lets face it the ANL and NuLabour are going to be having a field day on this which is ironic when they are the biggest liars, hypocrites and fascists this country has ever seen. Right, back to scraping my knuckles along the ground.
- Jimbob, Kensington, 12/08/2009 12:16
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I am afraid you guys are all wrong and pulling the blanket over your heads won't disguise the fact that he lied knowingly so as to gain politicak advantage, and nobody can possibly condone this false scaremongering whatever additional motives he had such as stressing the dangers of knife crime. This is the sort of unbelievable rubbish you get if you ever elect a BNP candidate to office. Their excuses for having Nazi number plated on their cars won't wash either. BNP as a party brings our country into disrepute worldwide s
- Keith Price, Luton England, 12/08/2009 12:14
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Lindsay, london
Your comments are so 1990's, new labour - things can only get better, 'isnt multiculturalism sooooo cool'.
People are thankfully waking up to the disaster of mass immgration and highlighting issues like this are not going to change anything.
And as for
'Not as stressed as the poor black and Asian citizens of Barking and Dagenham, whose lives will have been made more dangerous by the poisonous vitriol and lies spread by this evil party'
That is nothing compared to watching our communities utterly destroyed my this liberal dream of mass immigration
- Lb, London, 12/08/2009 12:08
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'His comments led to a complaint to the council and Greater London Authority that he had brought both authorities into disrepute'
The Council chambers of the nation are going to be empty, echoing places if this sort of thing catches on: does this mean that we can now take Councillors back to the shop if they fail to match the description on the box?
- Mdj E10, london uk, 12/08/2009 11:52
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The loony lefties will all be out on this one, he was a democratic elected candidate thats what happens in a democratic elections if you do not like it go live in china? so who says he has not got a crystal ball i will bet he is spot on by the end of the year.
- Steve, England, 12/08/2009 11:45
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Aahh, so he was too stressed to attend, was he? Not as stressed as the poor black and Asian citizens of Barking and Dagenham, whose lives will have been made more dangerous by the poisonous vitriol and lies spread by this evil party. Cue numerous ungrammatical postings about 'uncontrolled immigration' and 'Londinistan' no doubt - but the fact he was prepared to knowingly lie about crime stats says it all.
- Lindsay, london, 12/08/2009 11:13
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I thought they fought this one out in the letters page of the local press???
I would be delighted to see Barnbrook off the political scene, he doesn't bring anything worthwhile, but when it comes to the Labour councillors of B&D, stones, glass houses, pots and kettles are flying around all over.
I'm sure Val Rush is one of the councillors in B&D that insists that 95% of residents want wheelie bins in their front garden, when around 95% of residents haven't actually been asked.
And she has been deselected for the next elections.
- Escobar-Alop-Lop, Camden County, 12/08/2009 11:02
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Only a technical postponement. He'll still have to expalin his remarks and be suspended, but I hope the Standards committee the the courage to disqualify him expel him alogether. The man is a shower.
- Dhan Raj, Basildon, 12/08/2009 10:46
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He showed “wilful disregard for the truth”? Good heavens. A politician telling lies? Next they'll be saying he's fiddled his expenses and had an affair with his assistant.
- Kevin T, Beckenham, Kent, 12/08/2009 10:35
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More fuss on this from Labour than when a Labour party manifesto (written by the PM Gordon Clown and the Machiavellian Lord Meddlesome) promised us in writing a referendum on the EU Constitution.
A written promise that they then broke then went to court and their QC proved that a written promise from Nu Liebour is not worth the paper it's printed on. Intentional deceit from Labour.
So excuse me if I can't share this Labour Harridan -Val Rush's indignation when Labour have a proven track record of lies, deceit and starting wars.
Hypocrisy - thy name is Labour.
OK Keith and Mijas Val - now defend why Labour lies are truth, black is white and spin is truth. Tell your lies often enough they may become a truth you never know.
We ALL know your Labour party is a group of unprincipled scheming dishonest liars but take your best shot.
- Ethan, UK, 12/08/2009 09:14
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