BNP supporters 'beat man who clashed with Griffin'
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Independent Minds
Supporters of the British National Party were accused last night of operating like "a private army" after they set upon a man who poured a drink on the group's leader.
David Drew MP told the House of Commons last night that a "totally upstanding" constituent was given "one hell of a hiding" by BNP supporters.
He said the attack took place as Nick Griffin, the leader of the BNP who was last month elected as a Member of the European Parliament, was visiting Painswick, Gloucestershire. "I don't know why he was wined and dined in my constituency in Painswick but he was," Mr Drew said. "It just so happens that one of my constituents took offence at this and happened to spill some beer over Mr Griffin. As a result of this he was given one hell of a hiding."
The MP for Stroud added: "I am not prepared to accept that any politician has a private army. I am not prepared to have the BNP anywhere near my constituency. But I hope that we will look at the actions of the BNP."
He told the Commons that he knew the victim, whom he said he was proud to be associated with, but that an arrest and charges were unlikely to be made because the constituent was too shocked to pursue it. "That's just indicative of what the BNP is like," the MP said.
The Deputy Commons Leader Barbara Keeley said the allegation of the attack was a "serious thing".
The attack is alleged to have taken place on 11 July at the Falcon pub in Painswick after the constituent, a teenager, waited outside and threw a pint of Guinness over the BNP leader.
A spokesman for the BNP dismissed the claims made in Parliament as, "just another MP trying to make a bit of political capital out of this".
He said that the constituent, for whom he had "no sympathy", had verbally abused Mr Griffin before throwing a drink.
"People have got to realise that they cannot go around trying to attack senior politicians in this way," he said.
"After he threw the beer, our security treated him robustly. That could've been acid for all we knew. How did he expect us to react?"
In an interview with a local newspaper the victim, named only as Ben, said he had wanted to confront Mr Griffin to give him, "a taste of people's feelings towards him". He told how he had felt intimidated by a group of BNP supporters before being put in a headlock by "one of his security people".
Gloucestershire police said in a statement: "The group restrained him and it was during this time that the man states he was assaulted and bruising caused to his face. He did not wish to make a formal complaint."
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Comments
Wake up Mr Drew, start telling the truth.
This story has a smack of porky telling around it, John Prescott smacked someone in the face and got away with it and they were "robustly" restrained at the time too.
The security team have a point, it could have been acid, it could of been petrol or a dozen other substances but lets dwell on the restraint which from where I look, would have been the same restraints used if he had done it to Gordon Brown, David Cameron or any other senior politician.
And now Drew is denying also an elected official free movement around the country with his statements, Griffin can go where he likes and not need the permission of anyone and the only reason the BNP would be in his constituency is because like the rest of them, the MP's have failed their people and now the people are looking to alternatives.
I am hoping that your comment 'democracy under attack' is somewhat ironic, because in terms of defending this mans right to free movement, how does this square if his comments about sinking boat loads of people who are trying to get asylum. Even if you dont agree with asylum, everyone has a legal right to seek it. Even mad jihadi mullahs have the right to shout there evil rubbish. I am guessing that you also feel this is okay (because after all its there democratic right!!)
Also what makes someone a 'senior' politician? Does this mean you putting him in the category as Brown/Cameron? If so why is he any diffrent then those you seem to believe have failed the people? Didnt remember you passing comments when Blair had objects thrown at him?
And who actually are these people that the MP's have failed. Because from where I am sitting I cant help thinking that you no matter how many times you polish a turd but it is still a turd!!
A dicks paradise more like it.
Alexander Baxter
retired Police Officer
The BNP are a legal party who operate within the law and are starting to enjoy electoral success. They represent an alternative to the mainstream political parties who have so clearly failed the country and, whatever the views and policies of the BNP, have a vital role to play in UK politics, just as the SNP have done in Scotland.
After the success of the SNP, it is not surprising that the BNP are causing jitters amongst the political class!
Mr. Griffin was elected in a free and fair contest, just like any other politician. His assailant was wrong to assault him, and was restrained after he did so. If he had really been beaten subsequently, then he should have made an official complaint and allowed the judicial system to run its course.
As for talk of a private 'army', david Drew should remember that British troop are fighting and dying in Afghanistan and any attempt to apply the word to the security staff of nick Griffin is contemptible!
Watch, listen, then consider sharing with those you care about.
Regards,
Errol.
the patronising of the MP to his silly friend Ben just emphasis's the hypocrisy served to us from the political estabishment
If I through beer over anyone irrespective of their political views I would expect a beating.
Why is it right for John Prescott to punch the lights out of a protester as he did in the West Country but wrong for Griffen's minders to give the protester a pasting?
The sheer hypocrisy of this article tempts me to vote BNP out of sympathy
Watch, listen, then consider sharing with those you care about.
Regards,
Errol.
You Talk of intelligence, perhaps we should all put our IQ rating's here (mine is 153).
I support the BNP, because they support me. As already mentioned here. the other parties have totally betrayed the Indigenous people of Britain. There is a wholesale invasion and take over occurring, and bleeding heart idiots like you, support it. You really are like a turkeys voting for Christmas !
Immigration is like many things OK in moderation, but moderation is something that is but a very distant memory. There are now so many non whites & foreigners in Britain that it's very ethnic and cultural identity is disintegrating. Along with increasing levels of violence crime and disharmony.
As far as Asylum goes, if it were still used as it was intended, it would be fine, but it has long since become a 'RACKET' for any old global scum to bypass any restrictions of entry into Britain.
Do you even know that in recent years the number of people seeking asylum increased thousands to one compared with it's earlier years.
I estimate that perhaps fewer than 1 person in 100 is genuine... the rest fall into various other categories.
You are a down right nitwit ! just like most of the people currently leading Britain.
Asylum should be reorganised as follows:
Countries Near By, to the person 'in peril' should be sponsored from a central global fund.
Thereby protecting them, but also putting them in a more appropriate environment in every way, from culture, religion to climate etc. this is fair, efficient and appropriate. The current 'system', to to be very generous, SIMPLY NO LONGER WORKS !
Well if that tradition were reinstated I think that most of the people currently in Parliament would be outside it, well their heads anyway, but would there be enough spikes ???
And as for the BNP being demoncratically elected..I for one am not quick to defend the politics of someone who if in power were to smash democracy. Hitler was also elected..so was Mugabe..so was Mussolini...
And the hypocrisy of those who whole heartedly defend the rights of the BNP to voice their opinions but do not extend such gratuities to Muslim fanatics is a disgrace.
And no labour has NOT let down the White working class. Labour has let down the WORKING CLASS. Black working class people suffer the same. Except they are less likely to be taken on in recruitment-inspite of these 'diversity' schemes-which most by the way, do not exclude white people, they just put a greater emphasis on poor people and actively encourage ethnic minority.
It is baffling how those who call themselves civilised are quick defend white supremecists who kill blacks but condemn the minority of Muslim or non white terrorists. I personally do not uphold the views of anyone with such double standards. People are so quick to believe the daily whingings of the Mail and Express which have a clear, unhidden right agenda. Its true that the guardian and independent have their own agenda but at least most of the people who read it are intelligent enough to work that out. The BNP recently condoned sinking boats full of migrants. And used to support (but secretly still does) sterilising non whites, defending rape, and banning interracial marriage. Is this really a party of democracy? i guess the BNP posters would support that too right?
One assumes you have a viable alternative? please, tell us all more.
Humans are and have always been 'tribal" it is a well understood psychological trait. An extension of the feeling of protectiveness we feel toward our immediate families.
At it's most fundamental is simply a reaction to threat from outsiders.
A civilised person filters this initial response, and then responds in an appropriate measured manor.
A stupid person denies or perverts it and ends up causing far grater social problems later.
problems we are now seeing.
Interesting point, Tim, for example, as an intelligent person saying "Tim, you are expressing the opinions of a stupid person, please don't come anywhere near me" I would merely be excercising my tribal-ness and reacting to the 'threat' of someone of a different tribe, in this case a stupid person...?
Probably because there are lots of different strains of communism globally, many of which have nothing much in common after the name, and banning non-violent UK communists would be pointless compared to banning a violent racist organisation like the BNP...it's easy when you think about it!