Morning:
13°c
Army generals condemn BNP for 'hijacking' military images
20.10.09
Former military heavyweights today joined forces to warn that the Armed Forces were in danger of being hijacked by far right groups.
It was reported that former Army generals had written a letter warning that political extremists had no right to share the Armed Forces' proud reputation.
The letter, signed by former heads of the Army, General Sir Mike Jackson and General Sir Richard Richard Dannatt, amongst others, said far right groups were "fundamentally at odds" with the values of the British military.
The move follows the British National Party's (BNP) tactic of using images of Winston Churchill and wartime insignia during recent European election campaigns.
The letter reads: "We call on all those who seek to hijack the good name of Britain's military for their own advantage to cease and desist.
"The values of these extremists - many of whom are essentially racist - are fundamentally at odds with the values of the modern British military, such as tolerance and fairness."
General Jackson specifically attacked the BNP for using the Army's image.
He said: "The BNP is claiming that it has a better relationship with the Armed Forces than other political parties. How dare they use the image of the Army, in particular, to promote their policies. These people are beyond the pale."
The move by the generals comes after the BBC today rejected a call from Cabinet minister Peter Hain to drop BNP leader Nick Griffin from the panel on BBC1's Question Time this Thursday.
Mr Hain, a long-standing campaigner against Apartheid, has written to BBC director general Mark Thompson warning he could face legal action if he allows Mr Griffin to take part in the flagship political show.
The Welsh Secretary argued that the BNP was currently "an unlawful body" after the party told a court last week it would amend its whites-only membership rules to meet discrimination legislation.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission had issued county court proceedings over concerns the membership criteria were restrictive to those within certain ethnic groups.
In a letter to Mr Hain, Mr Thompson responded: "According to the advice we have received, the British National Party is not prevented from continuing to operate on a day-to-day basis and its elected representatives continue to sit on councils and in the European Parliament.
"It remains the BBC's obligation to scrutinise and hold to account all elected representatives and to do so with due impartiality.
"We are also advised that if there were to be any election - local or national - tomorrow, the BNP would still be able to field candidates.
"We therefore do not agree that the developments in the Central London County Court proceedings legally inhibit the BBC from allowing Nick Griffin to participate on the Question Time programme and our position remains as set out."
Mr Griffin is due to appear on Question Time alongside Justice Secretary Jack Straw, representatives of the other main parties and black writer Bonnie Greer.
But in his letter, Mr Hain said that the invitation to the BNP leader should be suspended until he is able to agree a new constitution with his party that meets the requirements of anti-discrimination laws.
The BBC says Mr Griffin's inclusion is based on obligations resulting from the party's success in winning two seats in European Parliament elections this year.
Anti-fascist campaigners plan to stage a protest against Mr Griffin's presence on the show at the BBC's Television Centre in west London when it is filmed on Thursday.
But an opinion poll at the weekend found voters backed the BBC by 63% to 23%.
Former London mayor Ken Livingstone, chair of Unite Against Fascism (UAF), said: "When the BNP is given a major media platform for its message of bigotry, race and religious hatred, hate attacks by thugs on the streets increase.
"The public do not pay licence fees to have them abused by the BBC to help people spread hatred and intolerance."
Reader views (11)
Quote: "When the BNP is given a major media platform for its message of bigotry, race and religious hatred, hate attacks by thugs on the streets increase.
Does Red Ken have proof of this? Is Red Ken talking about the thugs on the new leaked list of members of the BNP; such as Doctors, University grads, professors, armed forces members and other professionals? People are not falling for the old leftist lables Mr Livingston hence why they want to hear Mr Griffin on Question time. Ironically the real thugs are the UAF who use violence and intimidation to get THEIR point of view across and stop people deciding for themselves; the real facsists in the UK.
- Democracy Please, Northolt, London
Ken Livingstone’s comment "The public do not pay licence fees to have them abused by the BBC to help people spread hatred and intolerance." is incorrect.
This programme is likely to be one of the most viewed programmes on television this month and will in political terms be the most controversial. I would not seek to condemn this programme before it is aired.
I would suggest that WW2 was principally a battle about the right of freedom of thought and expression, something the current government is successfully curtailing.
- June, London
Alex C,
Good points although you fail to understand that despite Churchill's greatness in leading Britain through it's darkest hour his views, both verbal and written, on Johnny Foreigner are a lot closer to the BNP's views on the subject!
Oh as regards the Polish pilot claim, not all Germans were fascists and this particularly true of most Luftwaffe pilots.
- Mark, South-East London
Churchill imprisoned Griffin's predecessor, Oswold Mosley. The spitfire they use is piloted by a Polish airman, whose job in life was to kill fascists. Another indicator of severe ignorance in the BNP.
- Alex C, London
Is the UK a democracy or not? I personally do not agree with Gordon Brown and his parties policies, but would not suggest that he or his colleagues be excluded from a public forum. Neither do I agree with Mt Griffin and his ideas, but as an elected public representative why should he be treated any differently from any MP or MEP.
- J R J, Glen Vine
The BNP really is causing a lot of worry aren't they. It is about time for main stream politicians to start asking some serious questions...and no doubt make some dubious promises to the electorate.
- Mark H, London, England
I find it very strange and also very disturbing that "THE MILITARY" have only just stared to complain just before the B.N.P's appearance on QUESTION TIME.
Right wing groups have been using images of Churchill and military images from day one.
I smell the backdoor hand of number 10 at work here.
Make no bones about it , i do not support the B.N.P in any wa shape or form( i am jewish), however i do support FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND DEMOCRACY,and these have sadly been eroded by NEW LIEBOUR over the last 11 painful years.
I think the government are terrified of the B.N.P's appearance on QUESTION TIME , as the B.N.P will not be frightened to highlight the goverments multiple failures over the past 11 years and the gradual rotting of our society from within .
MR(FREEDOM OF SPEECH) PASTRY
- Mr Pastry, LONDON
It should be against the Law for anyone standing for public office to use in anyway national flags or emblems.
How come if the polices of the BNP are slightly to the left of Mr Hain, Mr Brown and the Labour Party, and given that most of its supporters appear to be disaffected Socialists – the media and more precisely the BBC keep calling them a far right party?
How come Bonnie Greer, someone with her own extremist views but with no electoral support is allowed to appear on question time?
Is this all not a publicity stunt by the BBC to gain viewers for what is a very contrived program at best that has lost its way?
- Ian, Reading, England
Peter Hain, what a laugh and out of touch you are. No doubt you will waste more of our money try the courts. You are in a party with a leader who was not elected by the people so who is the dictator. Your party has robbed this country blind, it is you who should be taken to court for what you have done. Soon and very soon we are going to show you and your greedy party were to go, back in the gutter or if the police get off their back side hopefully you all will be in prison.
- Lee, middlesex
What are they all afraid of? It's amazing how they all use the BNP to draw attention away from their own failings. Maybe, they should be reminded that this is still a democracy even if the leader is un-elected.
- Fred, London
Who was it who has presided over the current disgusting state of armed forces homes? Was it the BNP or was it instead a bunch of pontificating, Nu Labour boot licking, ex-army Generals who didn't even manage to get our troops enough helecoptors to go to war in?
- Derrick, Nottingham
