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Tuesday, 11 January 2011

When was free speech outlawed in this country?


The above is video of the Police removing the BNP candidate, Derek Adams, from a hustings in Delph during campaigning for the recent Oldham East and Saddleworth by-election. It seems that the organisers of the hustings invited some but not all of the candidates; five were not invited, Derek Adams being one. Here is a full list of the candidates for Thursday's by-election:
  • Debbie Abrahams (Labour)
  • Derek Adams (British National Party)
  • Kashif Ali (Conservative)
  • Peter Allen (Green Party)
  • David Bishop (Bus-Pass Elvis Party)
  • The Flying Brick (Monster Raving Loony Party)
  • Loz Kaye (Pirate Party of the United Kingdom)
  • Stephen Morris (English Democrats)
  • Paul Nuttall MEP (UK Independence Party)
  • Elwyn Watkins (Liberal Democrats)
I assume that the Labour, LibDem and Conservative candidates were invited as they are the main political parties in the country, but which of the minor parties were invited and which were not? I would be interested to see if those invited are the five highest polling candidates or not on Thursday.

The interests of democracy are not served by muzzling the BNP. However vile one finds some of their opinions they are a legitimate political party with views no worse than some parties on the far left of British politics who are never denied a platform.


Thanks to EU Referendum and The Saddleworth News for the spots.

2 comments:

Mike Cunningham said...

In the run-up to the General election, I attended, and subsequentlu posted on, a Hustings which took place in Durham Town Hall, itself a place of considerable history ansd splendour.

As I had noticed that, although a candidate, the BNP man was not seated or listed, I asked the Dean of Durham Cathedral why the legal and lawfully-nominated candidate of a Party was not invited or present, he replied, "It wasn't considered appropriate!"

Grant said...

Mr. Goat,
Quite agree with you and posted on B-BBC.
Was the police action lawful, I wonder ?