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BNP man at England's World Cup bid launch

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Published Date: 19 May 2009
By Mike McGRATH
ENGLAND's bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup started with a public-relations embarrassment after it emerged that the British National Party politician Richard Barnbrook was among those at the campaign launch at Wembley Stadium.
David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Football Association chairman Lord Triesman all spoke at the national stadium, where the presence of Barnbrook angered some of the audience.

An England 2018 spokesman said: "All elected
members of the GLA (Greater London Authority) were invited to the launch.

"We recognise that the presence of one elected member, who is playing no part in the England 2018 bid, has caused offence and we apologise. He should not have been present at the event and will not be at any in the future."

Bid officials had been hoping for a positive start to the campaign, with chief executive Andy Anson vowing to learn from the mistakes of the failed bid for the 2006 finals in their aim to stage the world's biggest football tournament.

Triesman, meanwhile, had spoken of the "home-from-home welcome" that England would give fans and teams if the tournament was staged in the country.

"Inside and outside our grounds, we'd share with them the love of the game and our sense of fair play," he said. "And they would enjoy our diverse culture – one that means England would provide a home-from-home welcome for every fan and player."

One eyewitness said of the presence of Barnbrook: "I found it shocking and it undermined the tone of the launch and ran counter to it.

"They were making all the right sounds during the presentation, phrases like 'making England a home from home', and here was someone sitting there from the BNP. Why would you invite him?"

It is also understood that equality and inclusion campaigners Kick It Out were not invited, which puzzled some guests.

Lord Herman Ouseley, founder and chairman of Kick It Out, said: "We have had a number of complaints since this news came to light, many citing the bizarre nature of having a BNP presence at the launch.

"If the aim of the event was to send out a message of diversity and multi-representation, then this seems a strange way of going about it.

"As football's equality and inclusion campaign, we regret this very unfortunate start to a campaign of such national significance and hope we do not see a repeat."





The full article contains 415 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 18 May 2009 11:30 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: England's football team
 
1

common sense voice,

19/05/2009 05:22:58
emmmm, law and democracy.... or does democracy only count for centre and lefties....

wait for it folks the BNP will have MP's in a few years time (unless the vote is rigged, papers lost etc)

2

Media at One,

19/05/2009 07:01:27
I would like to know what the BNP has done to anger these people?
I dont know much about the BNP, but I would the following -

1. How many soldiers has the BNP sent to Iraq?
2. How many innocent Iraqi children have been killed under the banner of British collateral damage?
3. How many mother's,wives and parents have lost sons in Afghanistan because of BNP policies?
4. How many BNP members have stolen money from the general public?

We can go on and on, I find it odd that the BNP's presence can anger people when we are surrounded by war, killing, murder and blatant theft at the hands of politicians who CANNOT possibly advertise themselves as being more moral than the BNP.

What is it about the BNP that is so different to the rest of the lying, murdering, deceitful politicians we must endure?
3

Joan Walters,

Exeter 19/05/2009 07:20:16
So Triesman thinks visiting fans will "enjoy our diverse culture" does he - like being mugged or catching TB from an illegal immigrant, or being blown up on the tube by Muslim terrorists? Or how about witnessing the ugly spectacle of the great unwashed demonstrating against the BNP or picking up hiv/aids from a druggies discarded needle in a park? Richard Barnbrook is a members of the only pro British (and pro English) political party - it is entirely appropriate he should be there to support the English football team (even though so many of its members can never be English in the true sense).
4

IanW,

Somewhere 19/05/2009 07:59:13
People seem to be forgetting the fact stated in paragraph 3, namely: "All elected members of the GLA (Greater London Authority) were invited to the launch.".

This clearly implies that Mr. barnbrook was there representing the GLA and not the BNP.

It must also be pointed out that there is no inference that he tried to make any presentation at the launch or push his parties views.

Isn't this country famous for it's openness and willingness to accept others points of view? Mr. Barnbrook did nothing detrimental to the bid (as far as can be read in the article) and it is purely the negative behaviour of others that have made this an issue.

I do not know much about the BNP and am not in any way a supporter of this group. I do however support equality and freedom of speech. If the public do not like their views they can simply ignore them and vote them out of office.

If you set the rules then you have to play by them, the organisors invited him (as part of a representative group) and therefore should NOT complain about him being there.

5

Teary Ennui,

19/05/2009 08:53:55
There's a letter in this paper about the BNP using a picture of a Spitfire in their campaigns. A bit rich from a Nazi party - but the racist morons also used a picture of a Spitfire from a Polish squadron!
6

Scottish and Proud,

glasgow 19/05/2009 08:58:59
Well gordon Brown was there ,perhaps he invited the BNP guy.
They have a lot in common "british jobs for British workers"
"A Britshness day"
Another union dividend , Nazis in our midst!
7

,

19/05/2009 09:30:51
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
8

thedudeboy,

19/05/2009 10:17:44
"What is it about the BNP that is so different to the rest of the lying, murdering, deceitful politicians we must endure"

Well apart from the fact that the BNP are homophobic, racist, holocaust deniers who despise everyone who is not white, born in Britain and male then actually nothing at all.
9

Media at One,

19/05/2009 12:00:15
thedudeboy

Homophobic racist holocaust deniers - I asked about the BNP not the Catholic Church.
10

Scotsman in Dublin,

19/05/2009 14:42:48
The BNP are a despicable organisation but the fact remains that the person mentioned represents the democratic view of some Londoners and was elected to represent those people so why should he not be there?
11

,

19/05/2009 15:13:02
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
12

Boyne Bhoy,

19/05/2009 16:32:48
The early posters here underline the importance of free speech-let everyone see them for what they are.

Subsequent posters: Good work!

LOL re the Polish Spitfire by the way
13

Media at One,

19/05/2009 18:59:51
The BNP are fast becomming a more recognised option for many British people who are sick and tired of the current lies, illegal wars and nanny state tactics that are leaving the populace with less and less freedom.
I dont know much about the BNP but if the war mongering power brokers that are currently in office are telling us we should distance ourselves from their brand of politics it isnt because they care about us - it is more likely because they see a party that could offer the people what they want in terms of free speech - that can NEVER be permitted to happen.
14

Media at One,

19/05/2009 19:13:15
hail hail -

You need to begin thinking for yourself! Far too many people in Britain are scared shltless to speak their minds. You have no idea what the BNP are all about, neither do I but I can admit it.
I can also admit that until such times as I have read their manifesto I actually dont know anything other than the stuff I am led to believe by people like you. And since you see less harm in people like Blair and Bush who purposely and with reckless calculation designed a war that is still raging on, you will excuse me for not taking you seriously.
Taking advice is fine, but when it comes to me through the ideologies of a man who cannot think for himself it is not something I am eager to embrace.
Why not turn on your telly and do another dance of joy at the sight of a British missile slamming into an Afghan building that may or may not have children in it.
15

fife runner,

19/05/2009 20:24:10
so much for democracy. is the BNP some sort of illegal organisation.

16

fife runner,

19/05/2009 20:26:10
seems a minority of people have some sort of power to frighten others into banning the BNP form anywhere they have a right to be. It was not the BNP who bombed London or have been involved in other terrorist acts. It was Muslims. so why not ban them

 

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