'No place for politics of hate and division'
LLANELLI politicians have roundly condemned a leaflet circulated by the British National Party (BNP) in the town as motivated by hatred.
The leaflet, under the banner Llanelli Patriot, bears the BNP logo and states "billions given away to foreigners, while child poverty eats at the heart of Britain".
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But Jeff Hopkins, chairman of the Polish Welsh Mutual Association, said: "The BNP leaflet, circulating in Llanelli, preys on the fears and anxieties of workers who are having to face the deepest financial recession in our country's living memory.
"The attack is aimed at destabilising our political system, and is reminiscent of the attacks perpetrated by National Socialism in Germany during the years before the Second World War.
"Many of us in the UK have supported the European Union as a means to a lasting peace in Europe. Our parties will have to meet the challenges the recession will thrust upon them, particularly with regard to social cohesion."
As well as the BNP logo, the leaflet also features logos of newspapers, including the Evening Post and the Daily Mail, although there is no connection between the newspapers and the leaflet's production.
Llanelli councillor John Jenkins said: "We are lucky the BNP are completely irrelevant in Llanelli.
"Every five years at the European elections the BNP send two of their goons to Llanelli to hand out leaflets.
"It did them no good in 2004, and it won't do them any good ahead of the next elections. It is politics of the worst kind. The best we can do is ignore it."
Plaid AM for Llanelli, Helen Mary Jones, said: "I'm disappointed to hear that there's anybody who wants to put this kind of poisonous stuff out in Llanelli. There's no place for politics of hate and division.
"It is unspeakable that they are trying to take advantage of people who have genuine worries about their jobs and their future to peddle their loathsome politics. But I'm confident the vast majority of people in Llanelli will take no notice."
Huw Richards, chairman of Carmarthenshire Council, disputed claims by the BNP that there were 8,000 Poles in the area.
He said: "The figure is totally out of synch — we reckon there's about 2,000. We have to condemn anything that takes this sort of attitude.
"It's certainly not good news as far as we are concerned. The world has problems, but it's by working together that we solve them."
Kevin Edwards, who stood as a BNP candidate in Penygroes in the Carmarthenshire Council elections and polled 25 per cent of the vote, said leaflets were handed out in the centre of Llanelli.
"Not only were leaflets handed out, but we ran out of our supply of Voice of Freedom newspapers, as well as selling a few mugs and Wales BNP badges."
The BNP website declared: "Residents described how they were disgusted with the way Plaid and Labour treated them as second-class citizens.
"Without exception, locals treated us like a conquering army stating they would never vote for traitors again, and that we had their vote."
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by Joan, Llanelli
Wednesday, April 01 2009, 7:38PM
“I've never heard so much bull in all my life the politicians are scared stiff of the BNP. Why? Because none of them listen to the British people and they all spout lies while the BNP are a party supporting what the majority of the British people think..”
by Joshua Wren, Swansea
Thursday, January 08 2009, 1:45AM
“Great to see the BNP are still getting on the goverments nerves by speaking the truth!!! I always vote them every time,and i believe they will do very well in this years euro election. (Not that i agree with a euro election,but if you don't say your opinion then you can't stop it) I think it's just a few years before they are in number 10... Can't wait for that day either!!!”
by Roger Phillips, llanelli
Friday, January 02 2009, 8:16PM
“was it really that hard to get any anti BNP comments that you have to give one of the few anti several insertions ha ha it looks like the tide has deffinatly turned in uk”
by Thomas, Caernarfon
Thursday, January 01 2009, 2:27PM
“Just ask yourself why is there 'no platform' for the B.N.P? Why did we not read in the newspapers that they got 40% and 30% of the vote in two by elections just a few weeks before Christmas,
These were obtained in two 'white' Labour strongholds in the North of England.
Why did they arrest B.N.P supporters in Liverpool for handing out perfectly legal pamphlets and then release them without any charges.
Why was the same thing done in Swansea/Abertawe not so long ago?
If the party and its members is so insignificant why are these things happening?
Quite simply they have touched a chord and the establishment and its cronies are quite simpley terrified.”
by Greg, Swansea
Thursday, January 01 2009, 2:04PM
“Nick, British Nationalists totally respect the identity and uniqueness of all constituent countries, and we are only going to save our respective identities by uniting and staying together. Do you seriously think that the colonisation of England is not going to affect Wales (or Scotland)? Look around you, it's already happening.”
by Nick Jones, Llanelli
Thursday, January 01 2009, 12:39PM
“"It's the increasing groundswell of popular support I'm referring to, and remember.. that's in spite of the concerted media/establishment campaign of smears, insults and 'no platform'. Imagine when the tide really does turn Nick."
Greg, I disagree with you. There isn't a groundswell of popular support for the BNP in Wales. There may be in parts of England but I am not that familiar with them. My analysis is that the BNP are seen as a colonising party in Wales, a British party, indeed I wouldn't be surprised if many of their members and supporters consider Wales a region rather than a nation, and i'm sure they want to abolish the Assembly, which would cripple Llanelli because many of the indigenous companies in this area have been supported financially by the Assembly Govt.
Ranting about immigration is all well and good but to place things into perspective, the BNP has never won a single county council seat in Wales. Compared to Plaid who have hundreds.”
by Mike, wolverhampton
Thursday, January 01 2009, 12:22PM
“Yes it's true the BNP are a small party, but my oh my look how things are changing. Just imagine what would happen if the BNP had a level playing field to play on. The main political parties are petrified of the BNP why else would they insist on a no platform policy. If the BNP were so bad and really were nuckle dragging skinheads then it wouldn't be too hard to beat the likes of Mr Griffin or Mr Darby in a televised debate. The truth of the matter is the BNP do tell it like it is and as every one knows the truth can hurt sometimes. The big parties are no longer going to be able to bury their heads in the sand. The raping and pilaging of our once great nation must be stopped. Labour used to stand for the working man. Now it stands for any man as long as he isn't British. God bless you all in the BNP for at least trying to sort out this mess that we are living in.”
by John Evans, neath
Thursday, January 01 2009, 11:59AM
“the thing is I'm not british I'm Welsh. Why on earth would i want to vote for a party with the word "british" in it.”
by Charlotte, London
Wednesday, December 31 2008, 7:38PM
“If you want Wales, Scotland & England to be colonised by third world invaders - then vote for the 'main' parties. If you want Britain to remain civilised - then vote BNP. I bloody know what I'm talking about - I'm an ethnic minority where I live, even though I'm an indiginous Brit.”
by Alan, West Midlands
Wednesday, December 31 2008, 6:57PM
“In reply to Ben, Wandsworth, London,
All this is so obvious, yet so many have been brainwashed and too many others like ourselves have remained silent.
The fact is that the BNP policies are just an fair policies. All this reference to knuckle-dragging, racism, and so forth is just a subversive attempt to undermine traditional views and values (which ultimately revolve around letting people have a fair go). These left-wing loonies cannot comprehend that people 50, 100, 200 years ago may have actually understood better than they what a decent society really is.
P.S Why doesn¿t the Queen speak out about what the country has become? I¿d say that is her duty now, seeing as how she has presided over the whole period of decline¿does she want to be remembered as the Monarch who was too afraid to speak out? The Monarch who sat silently while everything British was eroded away? The Monarch who inherited a great Nation in the 50¿s and left it a sorry mess?”