BNP booked black DJ for Xmas party

international | miscellaneous | other press Thursday December 09, 2004 12:02 by pat c

BNP MAN'S AMAZING ADMISSION

"IT WAS A BIT OF A COCK-UP ..HE SOUNDED WHITE OVER THE PHONE "

BNP members who mistakenly hired a black DJ for their Christmas party proved yesterday they were not just racist but STUPID. Official Bob Garner said: "There was a bit of a cock-up. The chap who booked him didn't realise. The DJ sounded white on the phone."

Labour MP Martin Salter said last night: "This just shows they'll never be a legitimate political party. They're just poisonous bigots who think they can tell the colour of someone's skin from the other end of a phone line."

Some members of the far right group were so outraged by the blunder they walked out of the hotel where their party was staged. And those that stayed had to keep their bigoted beliefs secret instead of parading them in end of year speeches.

Garner, branch organiser for Croydon, South London, admitted: "Everyone was a bit alarmed when the DJ turned up. A lot of people weren't happy - I wasn't, really - and one or two walked out. But some younger members thought it was a bit ironic and danced away the night. Traditionally someone stands and says what's happened in the year or in the elections. But it was a bit difficult to say we were even the BNP. We even had to be careful what we said when we did the raffle so we didn't offend this guy. What are you supposed to do? Tell him to clear off? It was very, very embarrassing."

The Christmas party was held by the BNP's Central London branch at a hotel in the centre of the capital.

Guests included BNP London mayoral candidate Julian Leppert and Euro spokesman Chris Roberts. BNP leader Nick Griffin was not present. Party spokesman Dr Phill Edwards said: "What's the problem? No one expressed any ill-feeling towards the DJ. They didn't insult him or pick on him. Some walked out - but so what? It's a free country. If we want a white DJ, that's our choice. Other ethnic groups help each other, so why shouldn't we?"

Another BNP member said: "A DJ came in and, yes, he was of African origin. But as a party we don't have any animosity towards particular individuals. Our gripe is that the indigenous people feel our city is being overtaken by internationalism."

The BNP's constitution stipulates that all members must be of "British or closely kindred native European stock".

In this year's local and European elections the racist group won 900,000 votes. But despite fielding a record number of candidates, the party is thought to be in disarray. White supremacist members are dismayed at attempts by Griffin to make the BNP appear respectable. They are also shaken by suggestions to allow members of ethnic minorities to join.

Such a move would split the BNP and possibly result in a challenge to Griffin. The issue arose last year when an Asian man threatened to sue the BNP after being barred.

The Government is considering banning BNP members from joining the civil service.