Changes that have to take place

(This has been forwarded to the Chairman Nick Griffin, MEP, and the Party National Organiser, Clive Jefferson for their consideration.)

I have always maintained impartial over the recent months after the elections, if not all the way through my political career with the BNP. Maybe the term impartiality should be replaced with that of professionalism.

Yes, I did stand for the leadership and yes, I did shake hands with Eddy Butler. That was before I saw what a moronic level this party and its structure has descended into, all crying out in the name of Britain and in the name of the BNP. What a fool I have been! It has now come to my attention that old friends, the first that I ever met when I joined the Party in 1999, that do not hold any status other than that of true activists, have been bullied and threatened not to work with me in any capacity. I may have resigned the whip, but for good reason. I am still a loyal member of THE PARTY. Managements come and go, as do leaders, but the stakeholders always remain the same.

I have never attacked anybody personally or made statements

to undermine the party, let alone its ability to function. While I am still a member of the GLA I will do my damndest to make sure that a member of the party that I belong to will be re-elected to the in 2012, but that is a long shot at this moment in time with these divisions and factions taking place. As I said before I will resume the whip once the perceived current problems have been tackled This is not a selfish act or reprisal, it is simply what the party has to do now in order to survive.

Clarity, Communication, Cohesion and Continuity:

It’s due to the perception of a total collapse of communication from Head Office down, along with possible improprieties in the financial governance of our party that has caused the discontent of recent months We need an overhaul. Once again, this is what I suggest:

1) Our Chairman, Nick Griffin, MEP, be made life-long president of the party, a similar position that was offered to John Tyndall.

2) That Nick Griffin, MEP, be given all necessary resources to fight to regain his seat in future European elections.

3) That all expenditures over £500 are made open to party scrutiny in addition to that of the Electoral Commission.

4) That auditing and accounting functions are carried out by a scrutiny committee of 2 independent party members as well as independent professionals who have had to tender for the contract in order to secure the most competitive rate for Party

5) That all communications and activities based in Northern Ireland be brought to the mainland immediately and downsized to fit within the Party’s realistic structural capability and budget.

6) A full explanation of why the Party has gone from being £2.3 million in credit to a deficit of £600 000 in the past year.

7) All Regional Organisers and above, including national management, to undergo a polygraph lie detector test within the next 6 months.

8) All Regional Organisers to stand down and be elected by the regional members and to be paid £1000 per month, plus travelling expenses and communications. This is based on getting our donations and membership fees up again.

9) A Cabinet should be set up to include the Chairman, and Deputy Chairman. The Treasurer and the other 3 members to be chosen by the Advisory Council from among themselves.

10) All day to day decision making should be discussed and voted on by the Cabinet.

11) Regional Organisers can only be dismissed by the members of that region, or by the Advisory Council.

GLA ELECIONS 2012: LONDON CALLING!

The internal difficulties which are dogging our party should not and cannot be allowed to affect our election chances for the Greater London Assembly here in London in 2012. It is imperative that we all start working towards this campaign now!

I realise that many of you are feeling demoralised. And the 2012 elections may seem to be a long way off. But, the one thing I do know is how to run a successful GLA campaign. And make no mistake, if we are to have any chance in getting a BNP assembly member in to the GLA in 2012, we have to start our action now!

I may have resigned the party whip, but I am still a member of the BNP and I intend to remain so. Indeed, once the issues of concern have been ironed out, I will be more than happy to return to the fold. I am also fully committed to getting a person (whoever it may be that is eventually nominated), and hopefully more than one, elected on to the Assembly. But to do this, we have to create a forceful nationalist presence in London. We have to get the message out to the voters. WE HAVE TO PUT OUT A MILLION LEAFLETS JUST TO EQUAL OUR EFFORTS IN 2008. This is a huge feat in itself. Hopefully, we can better it. BUT IF WE SIT BACK AND WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR IN THE HOPE THAT BY THEN, EVERYTHING WILL HAVE SETTLED DOWN AGAIN, IT WILL BE TOO LATE!

WE HAVE TO START NOW OR LONDON WILL BE LOST TO US!

Nick Griffin is now the London Organiser. But Nick is also MEP for the North West with an office in Brussels and a home in Wales. He can’t be everywhere at once.

All I want is the success of this Party. I will not sit back and surrender London or the South East. I, along with other longstanding activists, have the experience and the public profile to lead this campaign. But to do it, we need your help.

Forget all the gripes and the infighting. Let the party big-wigs play their power games if they want to. The future of this country is the only thing that matters.

If you can help, please contact me: richardbarnbrook2402@hotmail.co.uk

I look forward to hearing from you!

Message to Voters and Supporters

The statement posted today in my previous blog entry, (please see below) was sent to Head Office on Tuesday. I have not yet had any response which indicates to me that action will be taken on the points that I raised.

I am not prepared to stand back in silence while longstanding and hard working members and colleagues are suspended ‘pending investigation’ but without a clear explanation. And, following the leadership challenge, I’m not prepared to carry on as before while rumoured irregularities are simply swept under the carpet. We have to have integrity, fairness and clarity at all levels. If we lose sight of these principles, we are doomed.

I realise the disappointment that some people will feel, especially those party workers and activists who so generously gave of their time, money and efforts to get me elected in 2008. To them, let me say this: it would be far, far easier for me to remain silent and turn a blind eye to the current concerns in the hope that they will go away. But the situation is not improving and every day that goes by sees more good people leaving the party in disillusionment and confusion.

It’s not in my nature to do nothing. I cannot stand back when things are clearly amiss, and watch from the sidelines. This, I feel strongly, would be letting all of you down, and would not solve anything in the long term. What matters above all else is the welfare of our cause and our country. Nationalism must not be damaged simply to preserve personal interests.

I’m not pointing the finger at anyone. I’m not out to apportion blame. I’m not getting involved in factionalism, or doing deals. I am simply asking for answers, so that the problems can be rectified, and this is the only way I have of showing that I am serious about obtaining them. If I have jeopardised my own career prospects in standing up and speaking out, then so be it.

I look forward to resuming the party whip just as soon as I am satisfied that sensible action is being taken to address those issues which are worrying so many members and holding us back. Then we can hopefully move forward with renewed vigour and optimism and start to recover the ground we have lost.

Why I resigned the Party Whip: The inescapable issues that must be addressed

The leadership challenge gave Nick Griffin a clear and decisive mandate; hopefully the Party will be able to move forward. But in order for this to happen, concerns that came to light in the course of the campaign must be addressed. We cannot progress as a party if things are simply swept under the proverbial carpet.

I have spent over a decade working the streets of London and across the nation, to support the principles and ideals of this Party, while at the same time, working tirelessly as most of you know, getting our members elected to local and regional levels of government. I am a nationalist, heart and soul, and always will remain so. I have not made the decision to resign the Party whip lightly. Nor have I produced this document with the intention of having a go at head office, the leadership or indeed, any individual. Any retribution is for the membership to determine and not me.

I honour my membership and respect the position that I was elected to. I deeply appreciate the work of those members of this party whose tireless efforts enabled my election, and am grateful to every individual that voted for me. It is only because of this that I feel that I have a duty to now speak out and hope that the wisdom and good sense of the Party’s management will be able to rectify these problems within the next two months. I am not prepared to allow things to drag on any longer than that because the damage could be irreversible. Those who have been active members for as long as I have will recognise that this cannot be allowed to happen.

We have gone, apparently, from £2.3 million in the black to owing something in the region £600 000. Nick himself admitted publicly on the night of the leadership challenge that the Party is £500 000 in the red. The Party’s books, therefore, need to be looked into by a small group to see what has gone wrong and where and how this can be remedied. I would suggest no more than 4 individuals- two from within the Party hierarchy who can offer explanations and two members with an accounting/investigative background, who can be relied on to be totally independent and fair. I would therefore suggest Clive Jefferson and Dave Hannam on behalf of the Party, with John Savage and Michael Barnbrook and Tim Rait acting as the independent scrutinisers. The findings need to be published.

Leading on from this, we were late again submitting the books to the Electoral Commission and the Party was fined as a result. This should not have happened as it could have been avoided and has cost the Party money. It is another indication that the accounting side of things needs scrutiny and overhaul.

The large scale sackings and suspensions have to stop. In particular, the individuals sacked from the Advisory Council should at least be given reasons for their dismissal. Those members suspended over the past few weeks ‘pending investigation’ should be re-admitted if there is no good reason for their exclusion. The investigation itself should be made by independent assessors and not by party officers. We cannot afford to lose good people. The effect on morale of these unexplained exclusions is devastating. If individuals need to be disciplined then so be it. But the procedure needs to be clear, transparent, and above all fair.

Once affairs are back on the straight and narrow and in order to ensure that matters do not regress, I would like consideration to be given to implementing the following measures:

Polygraph tests for anyone at Regional Organiser level or above, which includes non members These tests are expensive but very effective at rooting out infiltrators and they have to be prioritised. We cannot afford to let in any more moles into positions of authority from which they can wreck our Party’s future. The tests should be undertaken compulsorily, from the Leader downwards.

A new internal party structure needs to be set up to protect employment rights of BNP staff members. This committee would be required to check and authorise suspensions before they are issued.

This would ensure that sackings are fair and lawful and the Party is not left open to defending expensive legal proceedings.

Regional Organisers should be elected by the members of that region eligible to vote and should only be dismissed from office by the voting regional members, or by their peers on the Advisory Council.

The whole communications mechanism and accountancy and recruiting departments must be removed from Northern Ireland and brought back to the mainland. The present location is inaccessible and therefore not cost effective or practical.

As I have said, these issues have to be addressed within the next two months, before the political scene hots up again at the end of September. We cannot allow them fester any longer, because they are pulling this Party apart from top to bottom. When they have been resolved, I will resume my position as a BNP representative of the GLA. Until that time, my position will technically remain as independent, but rest assured that my political views have not changed.

Richard Barnbrook, BNP Member

London Assembly Member

PERCEPTION, PERCEPTION, PERCEPTION

Official Statement From Richard Barnbrook AM.

Statement Begins ;

Over the last few months allegations of serious wrong doing concerning senior British National Party officials have been spread both within and outside the British National Party.

I do not know the truth or otherwise of these allegations.

These allegations have the potential to cause major political damage to the parties future electoral prospects unless they are investigated and revealed to be false.

I was elected as a London Wide Member to serve the constituencies of Londoners who feel that the establishment political parties do not represent them or their interests.

I have a duty to put their interests and the interests of the British National Party first.

For over a decade I have been a loyal member of the British National Party.

I still am one of the most loyal and dedicated members of the British National Party.

This is why I have decided to take this course of action.

The serious nature of these allegations are such that they must be the subject of an internal independent and transparent BNP investigation to ascertain the truth or otherwise of the allegations.

I have decided therefore that until these allegations are investigated fully by an independent panel of British National Party officers and members and are revealed as either true or false, that I cannot continue to represent the BNP in the Greater London Assembly.

I am therefore resigning the BNP whip with immediate effect and will now sit as an independent member of the London Assembly.

I am not resigning my British National Party membership.

I remain a loyal British National Party member and continue to serve the party and its members that I hold so dear to my heart.

Once this internal and independent British National Party investigation reports back its findings, and I can go back to my constituents and fellow party members and report that the allegations are not true, then I will immediately recommence representing the British National Party on the GLA.

I will not be making any public comment on the nature of these allegations to the media as they relate to legal issues that must remain confidential in order not to compromise the investigation.

I will not be making any further comments to the media on this issue, or any issues related to the investigation, until the independent and fully transparent internal BNP investigation has reported back its findings.


Richard Barnbrook AM.

Independent member of the Great London Authority.

No Clear Picture!

The Leadership challenge is now over, and yet there are issues that have not been resolved.

I am left in a quondam of what can be done……….!

RB

TFL cutting station staff despite “SEVERE” terrorism threat!

According to information from the Home Office issued today, the terrorism threat we face is ‘severe.’ This means that ‘a terrorist attack is highly likely.’ There are 5 different levels of threat which indicate the likelihood of an attack in the near future. The highest possible level is ‘critical.’ ‘Severe’ is only one level down from that.

The official advice is to remain alert and to look out for suspicious bags on public transport or ‘any other potential signs of terrorist activity you many encounter.’

In the light of this, you may think that it’s not the best time for TFL to be cutting staff and closing down ticket offces! But that’s just what they are doing! Which means of course, that there will be fewer people around to keep an eye out for suspicious articles or behaviour.

I’ve spoken to a member of staff at an outer East London station, who was very concerned that he would be stretched in having to watch platforms and concourse if the ticket office is closed, because the monitors are located in the ticket office and it’s impossible for one person to be everywhere on the station at once.

This seems to be another example of false economy on the part of TFL, and is not good news for the public.

Video Diary: Speech in NW Leicestershire Nov 2008

Video Diary: Speech in NW Leicestershire Nov 2008

I made this passionate speech shortly after the shocking release of the BNP membership lists. The pain of those dark days is reminiscent of the turmoil going on inside the party today. My message is still the same: Come what may, we shall prevail!

Knife Crime and the Murder of Ben Kinsella

BNP - Ben Kinsella Murder
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Knife Crime and the Murder of Ben Kinsella

Here is a brief update I gave outside the GLA, having raised the issue of knife crime with Boris Johnson at Mayor’s Question Time. You can watch me questioning Boris and see what he says in response in my video ‘Knife Crime, a Question for Boris.’

Video Diary: Knife Crime- a Question for Boris

Video Diary: Knife Crime- a Question for Boris

Following the murder of Ben Kinsella, I raised the problem of Knife Crime as a Question for the Mayor. You can see from his response that Boris doesn’t want to know about lobbying the government to impose tough prison sentences for those caught carrying a knives. As I keep saying, the only way to dissuade all those youngsters from carrying knives for protection is an automatic sentence of imprisonment. Unfortunately, now the fear of being attacked is just so great that we need to take this no-nonsense approach to tackle the problem. Boris’s pathetic measures to stem the tide, such as knife arches and ‘Operation Blunt’ have been proved to be ineffective as we can see from the tragedies that continue to occur on the streets of London. This year, there have been 14 knife murders of minors already. Last year in the full 12 months, there were 13.

Video Diary: GLA Victory Speech

Video Diary: GLA Victory Speech

When I made this, I was extremely exhausted, having worked virtually non stop for the last 72 hours prior to the results being announced. I still remember the euphoria I felt on being elected. Shame that the other candidates didn’t have the decency or good manners to stay put.

Video Diary: Labour’s Renaissance Myth Exposed

Video Diary: Labour’s Renaissance Myth Exposed

So much for Labour’s propaganda trumpeting a New-Labour Renaissance! In this speech, I highlight the crime problem plaguing London and focus on a shocking knife-point burglary.

This clip was made before I was elected to the GLA. Since then, nothing has changed in Boris’s brave new London and the new Con-Lib coalition doesn’t appear to have any ideas to tackle the problem by introducing tough prison sentences. What’s more, there are plans afoot to make cuts in policing. Unfortunately, as usual, it’s the longsuffering public that have to pay the price for politicians’ inability to grasp the nettle.

Leadership Challenge - My plans for taking the Party Forward, From Unity to Victory!

My plans for taking the Party forward, from Unity to Victory!

My intention is to be a ‘care-taker leader’ for one year in order to unite the Party and create an atmosphere of reconciliation together with much needed reform. There has been so much bitterness and fragmentation that we have all but lost our sense of direction. A good many valuable nationalists are feeling hurt and disillusioned. It’s vital that we restore morale and begin building ourselves up again- fast!

The problems that have led to all this strife have arisen from what are perceived as poor management decisions, unnecessary and confrontational law suits, and lack of democratic consultation. I would address these issues by bringing in the following measures:

Enlarging the Advisory Council, which would consist of 3 serving councillors elected to by their fellow councillors, all Regional Organisers and leading employed Party Officers.

The Advisory Council would democratically select 6 of its members to sit in a Cabinet, consisting of these 6 members as well as the Chairman. The Chairman would have the casting vote. The Cabinet would decide on policy, in close consultation with the Advisory Council. This would mean in practice that the Chairman could not act without the approval of the Cabinet. The Cabinet needs to be small, no more than 7 members in total order to make quick and effective decisions. Each Cabinet member would only be eligible to stand for a year at a time and for no more than a total of 4 years continuously. This would make Cabinet members individually and practically accountable to the Advisory Council. The Chairman would not have the power to sack the Cabinet. Only the Advisory Council could de-select a Cabinet member by a majority vote with good reason. The Chairman could not be dismissed by either the Cabinet or the Advisory Council, but only by the membership of the party through a democratic leadership election process.

The Chairman would have the right to choose their Deputy Chairman who would be one of the 6 Cabinet members.

Regional Organisers would have to be elected by the voting members of their region. All Regional Organisers and Sub-Regional Organisers would be given a salary and expenses.

Finance:

A body of 3 or 4 independent auditors, not connected with the Advisory Council or the Cabinet, or any other paid post within the Party, would have full scrutiny of the accounts down to all expenditure in the sum of £500 or more.

The management centre in Northern Ireland should be relocated to the mainland, along with the staff.

The Party Fundraiser would be on a fixed salary, with a productivity based commission.

Also, every key officer from Sub-Regional Organisers upwards, would need to take a polygraph test to weed out infiltrators.

Recently, the emphasis has been on making money for simply for making money, rather than raising money for the use in our prime purpose, ie winning elections. If we get the number of members up, the money will automatically follow. So our overriding priority needs to be to get back on the streets.

If you think all these measures would fundamentally improve our Party- then I’m the man for the job!

Leadership Challenge - Setting out my stall

Setting out my stall:-

As I’m sure you all know by now, my former blog site, richardbarnbrook.com was suddenly hijacked when I put my name forward for the leadership challenge, so sadly, all my earlier reports have been lost. As I’m not in the business of asking for unnecessary donations, I don’t have the advantage of a specially designed swish leadership challenge site! What I am doing though is using this blog in order to put forward some of my ideas.

So please take a look at my entries to see what I stand for. I also will be posting some of my earlier videos, which give an insight into the work I have been doing at the GLA, as well as one or two speeches that I’ve made in the past. Hopefully these will give those of you who haven’t met me an idea of what I am like in person.

This is a campaign that is being fought largely on management issues. However, setting aside the name-calling, which is absolutely unnecessary and unworthy, the personality, or rather the character and the strengths of the candidates is of fundamental importance. The question is, what sort of person would make a good leader for our Party?

Intellectual ability is not enough. You only need to look at some of our establishment big-wigs to see that! Having what many would see as all the right answers is not enough. Simply promising change as an instant ‘fix-all’ is not enough. Because I don’t believe it’s possible to be a truly successful leader unless you can really take people with you, heart and soul. Being in the right is only half the battle.

Some of the greatest victories in history occurred when battles were waged against such odds that they looked downright impossible to win. What was it that carried those foot soldiers and sailors over the edge to defy their very reason? Discipline played its part certainly, but rules and regulations, without an exhilarated, ‘can-do’ spirit can’t work these sorts of miracles. I believe it was the inspiration of valiant leadership which encouraged the individual rank and file to reach for the moon with both hands- and attain it!

True leadership, in my book, means you have to be able to take people with you, not just by winning the argument, but by winning hearts as well as minds. And that is why I am the leader I firmly believe our Party needs to bring us together right now!

Leadership Challenge - Clarity, Communication, Cohesion and Continuity

Clarity, Communication, Cohesion and Continuity

The 4 Cs- this is what is needed to turn our party around!

Clarity- we need a clear statement of intention of what we are about. We need to specify our objectives, principles and approach. in order to motivate, inspire and galvanise our membership.

Communication- we need a clear and regular channel of communication from the top down, and indeed we need to encourage feedback from the bottom up! The right hand needs to know what the left hand is doing.

Cohesion- We need to make sure that everyone is on board and singing from the same song sheet. Democracy is vital in achieving this. When decisions are made properly accountable, everyone can present a united front.

Continuity- We need to make sure that groups and individuals are supporting each other and working to one overall objective with a commonality of purpose. For this to work out, policy needs to be rolled out and adhered to nationwide. This would avoid individuals and groups being isolated and left out unsupported on a limb because they have not been included in the plan of action.

If these elements are not adhered to the result is a state of organised chaos which results in frustration and de-motivation.

I, Richard Barnbrook, am the only person who can create a sense of stability, clarity and inclusiveness in our Party!

Video Diary: Flowers for Hodge!

Video Diary: Flowers for Hodge!

Margaret Hodge scored an ‘own goal’ by recognising that the white working class had been put to the back of the housing queue, in favour of immigrant migrants and asylum seekers. I delivered a bouquet to her office by way of a ‘thank you’ – tongue in cheek, of course!

Video Diary: Putting Boris on the spot

Video Diary: Putting Boris on the spot

In so far as it shows Mayor Boris making strenuous efforts to avoid answering the question, this clip could be seen as amusing; but the subject matter is very serious. I raised the subject of the indigenous white population in London fast becoming a minority ethnic group and asked Boris what measures were being taken to protect our interests? You can see for yourself the nil response. Predictable, yes, but it goes to show just how far the political elite have already sold us out.

Video Diary: GLA Update 21 10 08

Video Diary: GLA Update 21 10 08

You can see from this clip the range of issues that arise in the course of my GLA work. From health issues like the rise in the number of cases of TB, the controversial ban on police BNP membership, to the benefits of using home produced coal as a future energy source. There’s a whole range of issues affecting Londoners that need a nationalist input.

Video Diary: Barnbrook baffles Boris

Video Diary: Barnbrook baffles Boris

It’s clear that Boris doesn’t know the answer to my specific question about interest rates. Just watch this!

Video Diary: We want our country back!

Video Diary: We want our country back!

I made this speech outside the Houses of Parliament. In fact this was the second speech I made from beside the inspiring statue of Boadiccea. I still feel moved when looking at this one! Ken Livingstone in no longer Mayor of London, but the issues that I raise are still just as topical.

Video Diary: RWB

Video Diary: RWB

This was filmed in Derbyshire at the RWB in 2008. It made a change of scene from London, but I didn’t miss the chance to collect some more signatures for my London Mothers against Knives Petition. I met a lot of people and found that I was well recognised, despite being mainly London based.

Video Diary March 2008: Another Knife Murder

BNP - Just Another knife murder in London
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Video Diary March 2008: Another Knife Murder

This clip was made following the murder of Robert Knox.

Another victim of knife crime.

Another senseless and unnecessary tragedy.

And here we are now, over two years later. Still the authorities refuse to take the firm steps that are needed to stamp on this scourge which is a blight on face of London.

I am continuing to promote my London Mothers Against Knives Petition to try and bring pressure to bear on the government. Have you signed it yet?

Video Diary: Red Arrows’ 90th Anniversary Fly-Past

Video Diary: Red Arrows’ 90^th Anniversary Fly-Past

This is a rousing speech I gave just before the Red Arrows flew over central London to celebrate the 90^th anniversary of the RAF. Apparently, the Red Arrows will not be permitted to do the honours over the Olympic Games in 2012 because they are deemed to be too British!

GLA update: August 2008

GLA update: August 2008

A quick peek inside the assembly hall, combined with another update, explaining how I managed to save some council tax payers’ money!

Video Diary: Richard Barnbrook joins the Police Parade

Video Diary: Richard Barnbrook joins the Police Parade

In this clip, I joined a march of 25, 000 police officers and PCSOs in January 2008. This was part of a national campaign, because the government had refused to backdate their pay increase.

All those who attended were either on annual leave or rest day. The atmosphere was very good natured and cordial, and was a fine opportunity for me to show the Party’s support for the excellent work that the police do. They are clearly undervalued. As you can see, I managed to get myself right at the front of the line!

Video Diary: Notting Hill Riot!

Video Diary: Notting Hill Riot!

This clip was taken at the GLA shortly after the Notting Hill Carnival in 2008. I’ve posted it because we’re coming up for another Carnival at the end of the month, and I doubt whether the usual difficulties of lawlessness and drug taking will have improved. No doubt the authorities will continue to turn a blind eye, despite the fact that it costs £6 000 000 to police. And yet the budget for celebrating St George’s day is less than a million.

You can see that I’m wearing one of my ‘London Mothers against Knives’ tee-shirts! I had a job lot of these made up to promote my ‘London Mothers against Knives’ petition in order to try and highlight the problem of knife crime in London. How many more young lives have been lost or ruined through knife attacks since this film was made?

14 minors have been killed this year alone so far, and last year, 13 young people lost their lives.

Video Diary: Oxford Street Knife Murder

BNP - Oxford Street Knife Murder
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Video Diary: Oxford Street Knife Murder

Yet another fatal knife attack. And still the government refuse to act!

I shall keep banging the drum.

Video Diary: GLA Update 13 8 08

Video Diary: GLA Update 13 8 08

Again, I’m keeping up the pressure for action on knife-crime.

Video Diary: A Trip to Borough Market

Video Diary: A Trip to Borough Market

Here I’m out to support local markets and food production, with a few words about healthy eating thrown in!

Video Diary: Book of Remembrance

Video Diary: Book of Remembrance

This is a moving piece filmed in the foyer of the GLA. The contrast is stark- the sacrifice and memory of those killed defending this country- and the political correctness of the new world order, highlighted in particular by the anti-slavery propaganda promoted by Ken Livingstone and Boris Johnson.

Video Diary: Strategy Meeting for Mayoral Elections 2008

Video Diary: Strategy Meeting for Mayoral Elections 2008

This film was taken inside my home with the key members of my mayoral campaign group. You can see that Eddy is very much part of the team! A fine example of nationalists pulling together- to victory!

Video Diary: Speech supporting Adam Walker in Birmingham

Video Diary: Speech supporting Adam Walker in Birmingham

Adam, a teacher, eventually won his case for wrongful dismissal. He found himself the subject of persecution because of his membership of the BNP. This clip includes my heartfelt address in defence of freedom of speech, taken after one of the several hearings of his case, which the Solidarity union vigorously contested on his behalf.

Video Diary: Another good day at the GLA

Video Diary: Another good day at the GLA

Simon Darby shot this film, taken in front of the GLA, in which I relate how I challenged Boris to donate a day’s wages to help the the elderly. Needless to say, he was not amused!

The plight of the elderly in London is an issue that is very close to my heart. As a member of the Health Committee on the GLA, I will continue to look into ways of assisting them during the coming year, as well as doing all that I can to promote my sub-charity affiliated to Help the Aged- ‘Heat or Eat.’

I think that many elderly folk in this country, who have paid into the system all their lives, get a pretty rough deal. There’s plenty of money left to send abroad though- apparently, the overseas aid budget is one ring fenced area of government spending that is not likely to be cut!

Video Diary: Clash with Boris over the Notting Hill Carnival

Video Diary: Clash with Boris over the Notting Hill Carnival

“The Carnival is a wonderful thing!” says Mayor Boris. Really?

Figures for the 2008 Notting Hill Carnival:

£6 million to police

488 arrests

11 000 officers deployed

300 people injured

75 hospitalised.

The facts speak for themselves. Unfortunately, Boris didn’t think so!

Video Diary: Spotlight on London’s Cabbies

The authorities have been turning their backs on the difficulties faced by London taxi-drivers. In this clip, I’m out on the streets with my aides supporting our cabbies.

Video Diary: Interview with Stephen Tyler

Video Diary: Interview with Stephen Tyler

Viewers might be interested to see this video which I made a year after having been elected as the leader of the opposition in Barking and Dagenham Council. The issues that I raised are still relevant today and for our future. We need to keep the pressure up on the Government because the BNP is the only party that can take this country forward.

Housing and jobs are still of huge concern to the electorate and I intend to keep these high on the political agenda. The Party needs to keep plugging these issues right from the top down,to ensure our future success.

What it means to me to be a nationalist!

To me, nationalism is far more than a mere political ideology. It goes even deeper than simply working for the success in an election or a campaign. Nationalism is something that springs from inside. It’s part of ones very reason for being. Because is encapsulates a longing all that is worthy and right.

Most politicians are in politics for what they can get. They crave power, money, fame and esteem. The MPs’ expense scandal is a symptom, and not a cause. What’s more, when they’ve got where they think they want to be, they’ve always have their eye on the next prize in their illusive struggle for personal gain.

Unlike the rest of them, true nationalists aren’t in politics for what they think they can get out of it. Because as we all know, they have to put up with persecution and social exclusion.

A true nationalist will always put his conscience first. And his country’s interests before his own. That is why, despite the present unrest, I still have faith in this Party. Because during my career in the BNP I have had the pleasure of working with some of the most dedicated, selfless and sincere people that one could ever wish to meet.

We in the BNP are one family of nationalists. All of us have our country’s welfare at heart. Whichever side of this bitter leadership campaign you are coming from, many of you will have given up a lot for your beliefs. Remember that there is only one true cause that should and must unite us. And we will only survive if we put aside our own personal perspective and try to grasp the wider picture. A broader view opens new horizons. We need to see ourselves as part of the grand unified whole. Then we need to be selfless enough to look beyond the immediate confines of our specific concerns and visualise what it really means to be inspired!

Only inspiration will lead to victory! There’s far more to being a leader than simply doing a re-jig of the rule book. You have to reach people deep down inside. You have to lift them up to aspire what may seem to be impossible. And then you have to show them how to make the impossible a glorious reality.

That’s what happened in 2006 in Barking and Dagenham. And that’s what I want to happen again. Only this time, I want to ignite such a feeling of hope and renewal that we, the BNP will set this country alight!

There’s a place for everyone in this glorious vision. This is an aspiration that comes from the heart. And this is why I am standing in the leadership campaign. Because as a sincere nationalist, I feel inspired. And I know now that it’s my task to inspire you!

Smart car rakes in £660 000 in Barking and Dagenham!!

In the ‘brave new world’ of Labour monopolised Barking and Dagenham, motorists are having to cough up. The CCTV-equipped Smart car has been taking its toll on longsuffering drivers, and has copped 14 851 motorists in Barking and Dagenham in a single year, pulling in £660 000!

This dreaded Smart car, which is a blatant fund raising machine for the Council, makes the lives of local drivers a misery, as its sole purpose is to film motorists who park illegally or break motoring law. In the old days of traffic wardens only, there was a sense of discretion and give and take. Now we have to put up with a robot policing us, patrolling the streets in order to exact money for its council taskmasters, and spying and prying on our every move.

Unfortunately, there’s no longer any opposing voice in the Council Chamber. Our totalitarian Labour Council has carte blanche to do just what it wants. Labour say and we pay, as usual!

It won’t be long now before the good people of Barking and Dagenham realise how important it is to have an effective opposition. Make no mistake, the BNP will be soon be back!

My plans for taking the Party forward, from Unity to Victory!

My intention is to be a ‘care-taker leader’ for one year in order to unite the Party and create an atmosphere of reconciliation together with much needed reform. There has been so much bitterness and fragmentation that we have all but lost our sense of direction. A good many valuable nationalists are feeling hurt and disillusioned. It’s vital that we restore morale and begin building ourselves up again- fast!

The problems that have led to all this strife have arisen from what are perceived as poor management decisions, unnecessary and confrontational law suits, and lack of democratic consultation. I would address these issues by bringing in the following measures:

Enlarging the Advisory Council, which would consist of 3 serving councillors elected to by their fellow councillors, all Regional Organisers and leading employed Party Officers.

The Advisory Council would democratically select 6 of its members to sit in a Cabinet, consisting of these 6 members as well as the Chairman. The Chairman would have the casting vote. The Cabinet would decide on policy, in close consultation with the Advisory Council. This would mean in practice that the Chairman could not act without the approval of the Cabinet. The Cabinet needs to be small, no more than 7 members in total order to make quick and effective decisions. Each Cabinet member would only be eligible to stand for a year at a time and for no more than a total of 4 years continuously. This would make Cabinet members individually and practically accountable to the Advisory Council. The Chairman would not have the power to sack the Cabinet. Only the Advisory Council could de-select a Cabinet member by a majority vote with good reason. The Chairman could not be dismissed by either the Cabinet or the Advisory Council, but only by the membership of the party through a democratic leadership election process.

The Chairman would have the right to choose their Deputy Chairman who would be one of the 6 Cabinet members.

Regional Organisers would have to be elected by the voting members of their region. All Regional Organisers and Sub-Regional Organisers would be given a salary and expenses.

Finance:
A body of 3 or 4 independent auditors, not connected with the Advisory Council or the Cabinet, or any other paid post within the Party, would have full scrutiny of the accounts down to all expenditure in the sum of £500 or more.

The management centre in Northern Ireland should be relocated to the mainland, along with the staff.

The Party Fundraiser would be on a fixed salary, with a productivity based commission.

Also, every key officer from Sub-Regional Organisers upwards, would need to take a polygraph test to weed out infiltrators.

Recently, the emphasis has been on making money for simply for making money, rather than raising money for the use in our prime purpose, ie winning elections. If we get the number of members up, the money will automatically follow. So our overriding priority needs to be to get back on the streets.

If you think all these measures would fundamentally improve our Party- then I’m the man for the job!

Clarity, Communication, Cohesion and Continuity

The 4 Cs- this is what is needed to turn our party around!

Clarity- we need a clear statement of intention of what we are about. We need to specify our objectives, principles and approach. in order to motivate, inspire and galvanise our membership.

Communication- we need a clear and regular channel of communication from the top down, and indeed we need to encourage feedback from the bottom up! The right hand needs to know what the left hand is doing.

Cohesion- We need to make sure that everyone is on board and singing from the same song sheet. Democracy is vital in achieving this. When decisions are made properly accountable, everyone can present a united front.

Continuity- We need to make sure that groups and individuals are supporting each other and working to one overall objective with a commonality of purpose. For this to work out, policy needs to be rolled out and adhered to nationwide. This would avoid individuals and groups being isolated and left out unsupported on a limb because they have not been included in the plan of action.

If these elements are not adhered to the result is a state of organised chaos which results in frustration and de-motivation.

I, Richard Barnbrook, am the only person who can create a sense of stability, clarity and inclusiveness in our Party!

Principle wins over Promise

It is true that about two months a go I was concerned about being reselected as the primary candidate on the GLA list in 2012. This wasn’t simply a matter of wanting to secure a well-paid post. As far as my circumstances are concerned, if not re-selected it will be catastrophic for my career- in effect I won’t have one! I am fully aware that because of my high political profile I will never see a teaching job again, and will never be able to sell my artwork, save from a market stall. My best employment prospects would be a labouring job with fellow nationalists if at all. However, since standing for the leadership, I have resigned myself to the fact that my reselection is not as important as my conscience. I am content with knowing that I am doing the right thing for the right reasons, and if not reselected, then I will cheerfully recreate myself as a nationalist in whatever capacity circumstances demand, in the knowledge that at least I will have been true to myself and the principles I believe in.

In my remaining time at the GLA, I will continue to work on the following issues:
1 Expanding and extending my London Mothers against Knives petition in order to draw attention to the evil of knife crime and its effects on young people.
2 Assisting our elderly communities, by publicising the sub-charity ‘Heat or Eat’ and emphasise issues and concerns that affect them. 3 I will also I will push on to highlight the plight of our homeless servicemen on the streets of London.
4 As a serving member of the Health Committee at the GLA, I will continue to work on health issues affecting Londoners, with particular emphasis on youth obesity, rape crisis centres, and the increase in cases of Tuberculosis and Measles.

Speech in Kirklees

On the way back down from Spennymore, I met some fellow nationalists from Wakefield and they suggested that I get in touch with Dave Exley, the branch organiser for Kirklees, albeit with short notice, to arrange a meeting so I could give a speech about the leadership challenge. This is not to say that Dave and his colleagues were intending to nominate me but they wanted to give a fair hearing to all the candidates. My speech went down very well and they were pleased that I answered all their questions.

For all nationalists reading this, I would like to ask if you would kindly invite me to your branch and regional meetings so that I can explain in further detail where I stand in this leadership challenge. You can telephone me directly on 07869 243129 or email me on richardbarnbrook2402@hotmail.com

No way am I a ‘stooge candidate’!

I would like to make it quite clear that I am standing as my own man, whatever others may say.

I only allowed my name to go forward at the last minute because people said to me that a third candidate was needed with sufficient weight to offer a credible alternative to both Nick and Eddy.

It’s clear that there is dissatisfaction amongst the grass-roots about the way that the party has been managed. It’s also clear that both sides have been resorting backbiting and general negative comments that have damaged the Party’s morale.

I am essentially and primarily a nationalist, and I don’t hold with personal attacks on other nationalists. Because we are all fighting for and defending the same core set of values. So I am not going to lower the tone by replying specifically to negative comments that are being made about me. What I want to do is to emphasise the positive aspects and help the Party to move forward from there.

You, the membership are not stupid. You can see for yourself how the campaigns of the other candidates have been conducted and judge for yourselves. Yes, I think the way the Party has been managed needs looking into. But, ask yourself if it really is in the Party’s interest to wash the Party’s dirty linen in public quite to the extent it has been? Also the negative personal comments that have been made against me are unfair and unfounded and quite unworthy. However, for the sake of the Party unity, I shall leave it at that.

I have said that I am standing in order to be elected as a caretaker leader for one year. Apparently, Eddy Butler has also made a similar indication. If this his honest intention, I don’t quite see why he feels the need for a running mate? Why he is building up a support mechanism that appears to have been created for the purposes of wielding long term control? Why is he already offering key positions to his loyal supporters? It would seem to me that he is not quite what he seems! Maybe he is preparing to dig himself in for a long haul, surrounded by his own yes-men. By voting in Eddy, we will have ousted one Powerhead and simply replaced him with another!

If either Nick or Eddy are returned as leader, make no bones about it, there are going to be casualties. Members of the opposing camp will leave or fall away and others will be purged. The Party simply cannot afford to lose good nationalists. We have see sense and put our differences behind us. This is plain common sense and the only way to take the Party forward. Because what we rely on to make real progress is good morale and inspired leadership to encourage each and everyone to go that extra mile.

As I have said, I am the only candidate with the real ability and who is not motivated by mere personal ambition to both reform and unify the Party. Yes, we desperately need reform. But we also need to settle our differences. Our country’s future depends on it.

Spennymore Campaign

I am now back in London after spending a rewarding week campaigning for Adam Walker in the Spennymore by-election. The leadership challenge has had to necessarily take a back-seat, and justifiably so. We need all hands to the pump on this one, because we can’t allow this one to slip through our hands like we did Goresbrook. There’s still plenty of campaigning still to do, so please, if you can spare any time at all, get in touch with Adam Walker and do your bit. I hope to be back there again myself towards the end of the month

THE TRUTH ABOUT MY SACKING

Let us put to bed the stories about my sacking/dismissal of my position as Barking and Dagenham Organiser. 5 minuets before going into Mayor's Question at the GLA, I was told that I had been replaced as the Organiser!!! In most people's eyes that means you have been sacked.

Now if it was Nick that requested it, or Eddy had had a word to people in his camp, and the London Organiser, to have me removed, who is to know. One thing is for sure that I and a few other activists in Barking and Dageham have returned for the last five years the highest returns for the British National Party, with myself still holding the highest Parliamentary percentage return.

It is for you to make your own minds up who would be best to take this party forward, who has the ability to get the party back on to the election wins which is the sole purpose of any political Party?

THE PURPOSE OF A POLITICAL PARTY IS...

I have to laugh, or I would 'Cry'.... So fare today 3 people turned out to canvas in Spennymoor!
The purpose of any Political Party is to be elected to represent the People! Yes or No? If so we all should be up here helping out rather than gazing at your navels, and following foolish blogs ( I would go as far as to say 'you' would better to be up here than reading this).

At what cost will we loose this election! Leaders come and go. Opportunities like this do not. I sometimes hang my head i shame. If this is not palatable then may be we have to consider what we are doing and the purpose of the Party

Thank you

RB

WHILE THE CATS AWAY THE MICE WILL PLAY!

It is quite ludicrous, still certain peoples involved with the leadership challenge, are attacking my sites: my blogger, Facebook sites and now attacking my utube site. Why?

I have no intent to pull out. I am nobody's stooge. And I am certainly not entering into the race no longer relating to keeping my GLA job, though I am the only person that knows the job back to front.

Why did we lose the by-election in Goresbrook, Barking and Dagenham. And at what expense? Is the same to happen in a winnable seat in Spennymoor, Co Durham! All those spouting change and growth of our Cllrs should be up here. Like myself. Where are Eddy and the others??

It was agreed that this childish bickering would stop in a meeting over a month ago....... No change. If this continues, the Party will collapse and implode. What we need now are open debates from all parts of the challenge, in an open forum.

If you are unable to see my sites clearly then you must ask yourself who is able and competent to run/caretake this Party.

Richard Barnbrook (the real one)

Whilst Up North

Sorry for not keeping you as updated as much as I'd like, but this is because of what was mentioned in my previous posting. After all, this party is about winning representation on local councils as well as in national elections, otherwise why are we here?

From tomorrow I will be publishing the policies I'll be standing on for the leadership challenge. I'd like to make it quite clear that I am no body's stooge (poodle) and I don't enter this challenge light heartily. In fact, if it was not for the grassroots member's frustration and anger over the bitterness and aggressive manner in which this leadership challenge was brought about then there would be no reason for me to have been asked by numerous members to stand.

One thing I'd like to bring to your attention is for the last 5 years every positive development has come from myself i.e. Councillor's Liaison Officer, initial Councillor's Handbook layout and the A5 summary manifesto.

I will provide more information tomorrow about two main constitutional issues. First, all Regional Organiser regardless of their existing income will be given numerations plus expenses. Secondly, all councillors will be provided with communications and IT equipment along with a Regional Support Officer to assist them in their role.

Great Up North

I've been out today in the Spennymoor ward in County Durham canvassing on behalf of Adam Walker.

Adam Walker is the local candidate and he needs your support. If you know adam then you will know his commitment to our cause. He has probably been to help you out with your election, so it is time for you to repay his help by getting to Spennymoor.

Whilst I've been working hard spreading the good word, I came back to see that a couple of groups and pages have been established on Facebook to trick people into thinking they are mine. They are not mine and I have reported those groups and pages to Facebook.

Barking And Dagenham Council In Turmoil

The One party state in Barking & Dagenham is running into considerable difficulties, which were evident when I attended the full assembly meeting yesterday as a public observer.

The fact that Labour now has total control, with no opposition, means that there is no sensible debate and is also influencing the quality at the motions and questions raised by councillors. In fact no motions were moved at all!

I will continue to monitor the situation from the public gallery and use what ever influence I have to put forward the views of the larger number of BNP voters in Barking & Dagenham who now find themselves unrepresented.

It's A Family Affair ......

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

If any one would like to ask me any questions of which amendments I would look into with regards to changing out Constitution, just ask away.

You can follow me on my facebook page http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Richard-Barnbrook/117341611647587?ref=sgm

GLA PLENARY

Wednesday 21st today, and off the work at the GLA (Plenary day). For the first time a Minister is to scrutanised..... Bob Neil MP (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Communitiess and Local Government. It is all about the Devolution of London Boroughs..... Ye right! How about hands off of Barking and Dagenham.

It all should be fun.... But No Borris!!!

I have been fielding phone calls all day after it was announced that I was standing for nomination in the BNP Leadership Elections. Yellow forms have been dropping through the boxes of those eligible to nominate since yesterday. The forms are an improvement on previous years with a number of security features to ensure that forgeries can be detected. This is very important as Red Fascist groups like the misnamed 'UAF' have indicated that they will seek to submit fake forms based on the leaked membership lists. Eddy Butler who has design his own signature nomination paper and make it available for download on the web! No wonder that Head Office has rightly said that only nominations made on the secure, official form will be accepted as valid.

Anyway, back to the phone calls! I've been asked by people who signed the unofficial forms produced by Eddy if they can nominate me instead. Members who want reform in the Party have said that they did not know at the time that I would be putting my name forward and prefer me to the other candidates. The answer is simple. The forms produced by Mr Butler are invalid. They will not be counted. There is therefore no reason you cannot change your mind now that you have the full facts and nominate me by writing in my names on the official, valid yellow form.

I hope that you will consider nominating me as I will ensure that there is fairness and transparency in the Party and end the back-biting and disunity.

Richard Barnbrook: Leadership Challenge-

We are one family of nationalists. As in all families, individual members have their differences. But what I don’t like to see is nasty, relentless, targeted and often unsubstantiated personal criticism waged in full public view.

I’m not here to score points or to pick holes in individuals. You can judge each of us by what we have said and indeed, what we don’t say.

We need someone we can all rally around and who can take the party forward. Not just one faction, or group. We need to move forward together as a reconciled and unified whole. Because that’s the only way we are ever going to win elections.

If you live in London or another of the big cities of this once green and pleasant land, look around you!. You know, and I know, there’s no other party out there that has either the means or the will to do anything about the massive problems which we continue to face as a nation. It’s down to us in the BNP, or it’s down to no-one. Because there is no one else!

So that’s why I’m standing. Because I’ve always had a vision for this country. Because I am not and never will be prepared to stand back and see this country wrecked. I believe that there is no one else at the present time who can effectively pull the warring factions in the Party together. I know that I have the status, the proven track record and the ability to motivate everyone to get back into the family fold and pull together, for the sake of all that binds us as fellow nationalists. That’s why I have said that if elected leader, I will hold the post as a caretaker, to allow the Party time to take stock and regroup.

Let’s just put personalities to one side in this contest and think about what’s best for the Party and our cause. Above all, we have to get everyone back on board. It’s simple common sense. By voting for me as leader, I believe the Party will have taken its first step on the road to restoration and renewal.

Re: SABOTAGE OF MY BLOG

For those of you who think I might be pulling a fast one, just go to richardbarnbrook.com and see for yourself where it takes you!

Barking and Dagenham- the new One Party State-

The headline piece in the week’s local free newspaper, the Yellow Advertiser is very different in tone to its usual pro-Labour stance. Why should this be, I wonder? Perhaps they have seen, with misgiving, that a total monopoly by one political party of both the parliamentary seats and the council isn’t really a good idea for democracy. They have covered the reason for the local council by-election in a refreshingly fair and sensible way in my view:
“Tax payers made to pay after local Labour Party blunder….”

The cost of re-running the by-election because lollipop lady Louise Couling should not have stood came to about £10 000. Apparently, this could have paid for…….
A teaching assistant for a year
Three lollipop ladies for a year
55 dog waste bins
Free swimming for 5000 pensioners
10 000 free parking hours for shoppers in the borough
20 000 cups of tea for pensioners
2000 books for the borough’s libraries

Well done at last to the Yellow Advertiser! But it’s a case of too little, too late! If they had given the BNP even half the coverage they gave to Labour, maybe there would be at least someone elected to the council who could at least challenge the crack-pot ideas that Labour want to implement.

As it is, we are all the losers, every one of us, Labour and non-Labour as well as BNP Because the way that democracy is supposed to work is that ideas are raised, debated and then voted on. But how can you have a debate when all the participants are on the same side? It’s like having a football match with only one team playing.

The BNP still have a presence in Barking and Dagenham. Now we need to look forward. Because this totalitarian set up isn’t fair. And that means that the voters will soon get fed up with it.

A new White Elephant rises at the Elephant and Castle

London’s tallest residential tower block, Strata SE1, has now been completed. At 43 storeys, the 485 foot monolith with its crazy zebra striped window pattern and circular turbine top stands out for miles. Like a sore thumb.

310 of the apartments will be privately owned, with a further 98 on the lower floors set aside for shared ownership for local people. It’s envisaged that many of these will be occupied by residents from the nearby Heygate Estate, another post-war, brutal, barrack-like architectural disaster, which has been beset with problems. As for being hailed as an innovation in the ‘green’ sense, in that the wind turbines are expected to supply 8% of the tower’s total energy requirement, I would interested to know how much of this will be expended in working the lifts.

As an artist, I can’t help feeling affronted by what I see as the total lack of sensitivity and proportion that is inherent in most modern architecture. Relativity of scale, together with personalised expression of artistic detail are sadly lacking. I see brash, modern glass-monopolised constructions like this as hugely reflective of the malign forces at work in society: the state, and big business, not to mention globalisation riding rough-shod over the interests and preferences of the individual.

Contemporary architecture, indeed like most forms of modern art, is the product of the ‘emperor’s new clothes’ syndrome. We’re told it has merit. We’re told to appreciate it- like it or lump it. Because the artistic elite have got us exactly where they want us: only they know best. It’s an almost exact parallel to the current political situation isn’t it?

Eleven years inside the BNP

I joined the party at the end of 1999 and before I even got my membership card, I was asked to become the Lewisham and Bromley Group Organiser.

Then in 2004, I was awarded the George Flaxton Memorial Award for Activist of the Year and was made the London Regional Organiser. In the same year I moved across to Barking and Dagenham to become the Barking and Dagenham Branch Organiser and fought 3 by-elections, of which we came second in two and first in one with a staggering 52%.

In 2005 I stood in Barking and achieved the highest parliamentary vote for the Party to date, of 19%.

In 2006, I was presented with awards for both the best campaign organiser, and most new councillors. This is when we got an unprecedented 12 councillors elected out of 13 candidates in Barking and Dagenham’s local elections.

In 2007, I was given a Certificate of Appreciation by the Party for the work that I did as official Leader of the Opposition on Barking and Dagenham Council.

In 2008 I was the Mayoral Candidate for the GLA and beat UKIP and was elected with 130 000 plus votes to the GLA as a London-wide member.

In 2009, with the BNP councillors and myself, we returned the highest vote for a borough/local area and won the highest percentage of votes nationally in the European elections.

Now how do you think all this was achieved? The answer is very simple, like most things in life: hard work, walking the streets, backed up by a dedicated and motivated team of supporters, talking to the electorate and experiencing the same grievances and concerns. None of this has been brought about by sitting in an ivory tower. But by actually connecting with people, and responding to their daily needs and concerns in a practical way.