Violence greets BNP in Burnley
British National Party councillors were bombarded with flour and eggs last night when they held their first meeting at Burnley council since the election victory on May 1.
Seven people were arrested in the affray between members of the Anti-Nazi League and the BNP outside the town hall.
According to reports, 70 to 80 ANL members protested the councillors’ arrival.
ANL supporters carried banners saying ‘Smash the BNP’ and ‘The BNP is a Nazi Party.’
They were met by about 30 BNP supporters who held placards declaring ‘Defend Free Speech’ and ‘Defend Our Democracy.’
The BNP has eight seats on the council, rendering the party the second major force in local politics.
BNP councillors hold 15 of the 88 committee positions, but none have been elected to the council’s executive committee.
Several BNP councillors tried for vice-chair posts on council sub-committees, but failed after they received no votes from opposing parties.
Labour leader Stuart Caddy declined to shake hands with the BNP councillors, led by Len Starr.
He said: ‘The BNP is a fascist party and an organisation that is racist, whatever they say.’
But Burnley’s mayor, councillor Lillian Clarke welcomed the BNP, saying the party was democratically elected and had a right to join the other councillors: ‘These members of the council have been democratically elected and will be treated as equals. They have the same rights no matter what their political persuasions are.’
