Top Orangeman will contest poll for fascist British National Party (BNP)
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Sunday March 28, 2010 12:08
by Barry McCaffrey - The Irish News
Irish Klu Klux Klan type organisation leader joins with British fascists
Top Orangeman will contest poll for BNP
Irish News, 26 March 2010
by Barry McCaffrey
The Orange Order has refused to disassociate itself from a leading member who is due to stand as a BNP candidate in the Westminster election.
Yesterday the order was widely criticised after calling on members to protest against Pope Benedict's visit to England in September.
Last night it emerged that Nick Blake, a district master of the Orange Order in Devon, had been selected to stand for the far-right British National Party.
The order's leaderships in Northern Ireland and in England yesterday rejected calls from Alliance MLA Anna Lo to disassociate itself from Mr Blake, who will contest the poll in the constituency of Torridge and West Devon.
"I don't believe that the Orange Order can allow itself to have people within its ranks who belong to a political party with such overtly racist views," Ms Lo said.
"The order must show leadership by making it clear that it won't tolerate racist or sectarian views.
"For the order not to disassociate itself from this individual would send out a very disturbing message to people in the ethnic minority communities in Northern Ireland."
A Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland spokesman refused to comment on Mr Blake.
"It's a matter for the grand lodge of England and not a matter for the grand lodge of Ireland," he said.
"People stand for all sorts of political parties."
English grand master Ron Bather also refused to condemn or condone the BNP candidate's political views.
"We're not dictators," he said.
"As an institution we try not to interfere with the political views of any of our members.
"We're not a far-right organisation. We have members from all over the world but our members are entitled to stand for whatever political organisation they so wish.
"It doesn't mean that the institution supports those views in any way."
The organisation's refusal to distance itself from the BNP candidate, less than 24 hours after it called for protests against the papal visit, is likely to raise further concerns about British and Irish government funding for the loyal orders.
Earlier this month it emerged that BNP leader Nick Griffin's daughter Jennifer had moved to Co Down to promote the party in Northern Ireland.