British war heroes condemn the BNP

Because Britain is a democracy, all lawful parties have the right to put forward their views. Even the British National Party. By the same token, those who disagree with the British National Party, or any other, have the right to explain why or campaign against them.

Today a number of heroes of Britain's armed forces, and some prominent generals, exercised that right and called on the BNP to "Cease and Desist" from seeking to hijack the good name of the Royal Navy, the Army, and the Royal Air Force in support of their own political ends.

The veterans who launched the campaign included:-

Andy McNab DCM MM. Ex-SAS commando and Iraq War veteran.
Colonel Tim Collins OBE. Ex-SAS commando and Iraq War veteran.
Simon Weston OBE. Falklands War veteran.
Nicholas Soames MP. Veteran cavalryman and grandson of Sir Winston Churchill.


They were supported by a number of senior officers who signed a signed a letter of which condemns the BNP's attempts to exploit the armed forces: these included

General The Lord Guthrie GCB, LVO, OBE, DL.
General Sir Mike Jackson GCB, CBE, DSO, DL.
General Sir Richard Dannatt GBC, CBE, MC.
Major-General Patrick Cordingley DSO.


If you want proof that the BNP is completely out of sympathy with our armed forces, the BNP Chairman, who I am ashamed to have as one of my Euro-MPs, provided it today with an extraordinary attack on the generals concerned, comparing them to nazi war criminals. This was published on the BNP Website.

Griffin wrote: “Those Tory generals who today attacked the British National Party should remember that at the Nuremberg Trials, the politicians and generals accused of waging illegal aggressive wars were all charged — and hanged — together.

He added: “Sir Richard and Sir Mike fall squarely into this bracket, and they must not think that they will escape culpability for pursuing the illegal wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

I can think of no clearer proof than such a statement that it is total hypocrisy for Mr Griffin or the BNP to hi-jack images of Britain's armed forces in their campaign.

And that's even before we start on the fact that the Spitfire shown in BNP propaganda was the sort flown by Poles as well as Brits (the pilots who defended this country during the Battle of Britain also included Kiwis, Aussies, Canadians, Americans, and South Africans to name but five of the countries whose young men came to oppose Hitler's nazis.

And as for the BNP's absurd suggestion that Sir Winston Churchill might have voted for Nick Griffin, Winnie would have been more likely to have him locked up as a potential traitor as he did Sir Oswald Mosley! (In the special circumstance of wartime of course - only Jacqui Smith has her political opponents arrested in peacetime.)

There is an excellent editorial in today's Sun on the subject which you can read here.

I was going to give a link to the "There is nothing British about the BNP" website which has more details about the campaign against the BNP by armed forces heroes but the website appears to be down. However, you can see a 75 second commercial produced by the site on Youtube here.

Comments

Jane said…
Edmund Burke “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing”.

Today good men did something to prevent our armed forces being exploited by the BNP for their own cynical political ends. The leaders of the armed forces are to be commended in Britain in that they rarely intervene in political debate. This was an acceptable exception to the rules.

The BNP insult all those who have given their lives fighting fascism and to identify with Sir Winston Churchill is ridiculous. If anyone had the foresight to see the dangers of fascism and the threat to British democracy, way ahead of his contemporaries, it was Churchill.

The BNP are hypocrites. They procrastinated over giving the Gurkhas their well-earned citizenship, suggesting that they were mercenaries, would get priority on the housing list etc. Evidently they have problems recognising the heroism and bravery of a black soldier!

Gurkhas have been part of the British Army for nearly two centuries, in the front line of active service during two World Wars, the Gulf and the Falklands. Since their formation in 1815 over 45,000 Gurkhas have made the ultimate sacrifice, in giving their lives for this country.

Nor do they recognise that many black, Polish, and various nationals fought bravely against the forces of tyranny and evil, for democracy and freedom. As correctly pointed Polish airmen, whom the BNP vilify, flew the spitfire that Nick Griffin stands in front of. Thank you to all the veterans that have come forward to reclaim the spitfire from the fascists.
Churchill was related to Diana Mosley, when Oswald and Diana Mosley were in HMP Holloway during part of the war Lord Bob Boothby used to visit them and inform Churchill about their health etc Churchill really wanted them released and placed under house arrest which happened after two years jailed
Anonymous said…
I think there is a case to answer. It could consider:-

1: Deceit and conspiracy for war, and providing false news to incite passions for war, causing in the order of one million deaths, 4 million refugees, countless maimings and traumas.

2: Employing radioactive ammunition causing long-term destruction of the planetary habitat.

3: Causing the breakdown of civil administration, with consequent lawlessness, especially looting, kidnapping, and violence, and consequent breakdown of womens’ rights, of religious freedom, and child and adult education.

4: Failing to maintain the medical needs of the populace.

5: Despoliation of the cultural heritage of the country.

6: Supporting an ally that employs ‘waterboarding’ and other tortures.

7: Seizing the assets of Iraq.

8: Using inhumane restraints on prisoners, including dogs, hoods, and cable ties.

9: Using Aggressive Patrolling indiscriminately, traumatising women and children and wrecking homes and property.

10: Marking bodies of prisoners with numbers, writing, faeces and other degrading treatment.

11: The use of cluster bombs and other indiscriminate weapons including white phosphorous on “shake and bake” missions.

12: Supporting indiscriminate rocket attacks from F16 fighter planes on women and children in Fallujah in Nov 2004

13: Supporting the shooting up of ambulances and medical personnel in Fallujah in Nov 2004

14: Supporting the expulsion of the entire population of Fallujah save for young men of military age, for a reprisal attack on that city in Nov 2004.
Jane said…
I would appreciate it if anonymous, would identify him/herself.

These points are relevant. The Government may have a case to answer, but not the military, which are not involved in politics. This country has not yet gone that far down the road to totalitarianism.

Can anon or any of his/her associates provide any proof that the military commanders in question, wilfully and intentionally intended the listed atrocities to occur.

I agree these actions if proved true are shocking, but I have yet to be convinced that active soldiers and their officers on the ground collectively intended these atrocities to occur.

The war was politically mismanaged. Please take care not to make scapegoats of soldiers, as the BNP is manoeuvring.
Jane said…
The Government should answer the charges not the military leaders who did their duty.

This is not yet a Nazi regime.

Winston Churchill could no more choose his relatives as you or I Mr Richard Hope-Hawkins. I hope you have been fortunate in your relatives.
Chris Whiteside said…
Quite. In those cases where there has been any evidence that members of our armed forces have been responsible for atrocities they have been put on trial.

But in the absence of such evidence it is quite wrong to blame the soldiers who are stuck with trying to carry out the policies of the government with the blame for the errors of that government.

Popular posts from this blog

Nick Herbert on his visit to flood hit areas of Cumbria

Quotes of the day 19th August 2020

Quote of the day 24th July 2020