Urgent : Anti Fascists : Pull The Plug, But Get Dialling

Have a couple of days catching up to do. But in the meantime here's something you can and should all take part in.

The BNP's proposed election broadcast has been failing the technical quality threshhold for broadcast with a folky soundtrack of a song composed by Nick Griffin proving particularly ropey. They are trying to fix that and intend to have something ready for transmission TODAY.

But many people will feel that whatever the technical quality the BNP's material fails the quality threshhold for decent political life in a decent democracy.

Previous examples have seemed to incite race hatred, incite religious hatred, contain bogus facts and figures, feature convicted criminals not least Griffin himself, and of course included the disgraceful call "to vote BNP to preserve your identity".

Other parties which should know better are also flirting with this communalism. Not least Respect through George Galloway - according to Nick Cohen in the Observer last Sunday - and also the Lib Dems here in parts of the North West. Michael Howard is of course appealling to the same sort of base instincts.

Whether there is a call to vote for a party of whites and christians or vote for a party of asians and muslims this seems to me to be dangerous stuff.

Here is what you can do about the BNP. Complain to the BBC right now. Adapt the BECTU letter at the foot of this blog entry or use your own words.

UAF and BECTU Press Releases :

* Pull the Plug campaign
http://www.uaf.org.uk/
Protest against the BNP's party political broadcast and call on the BBC to pull the
plug on race hatred.

BBC1 and BBC2 are set to transmit the first party political broadcast by the BNP in
the general election campaign on Thursday 21st April.

The BBC is not obliged under the law to transmit the broadcast. There are precedents
for restrictions being put on the fascist and racist BNP - its previous broadcasts
were either stopped entirely or subject to severe restriction due to their offensive
content.

Wherever the BNP have a presence, racist attacks increase. Prominent members of the
BNP including its leader Nick Griffin have recently been charged under the section
18 of the Public Order Act which outlaws incitement to racial hatred.

A letter will be handed in, calling on the BBC to not to broadcast the BNP's message
of race hate.

You can make a complaint...
By phoning the BBC: 08700 100 222
or Textphone: 08700 100 212
or by email: Go to the BBC website complaints page http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/
and click on 'email: send your complaint'

You can also write to the BBC:
BBC Complaints, PO Box 1922, Glasgow G2 3WT

You can complain to OFCOM on the content of the broadcast by emailing:
contact@ofcom.org.uk


* BNP objectors backed by union http://www.bectu.org.uk/news/gen/ng0219.html

BECTU has confirmed that members will have union support if they refuse to service a
planned right-wing election broadcast.
In a letter to all major UK broadcasters, BECTU has promised to back members who
decline, on grounds of conscience, to help transmit a party political broadcast
(PPB) by the far-right British National Party.

The letter, sent to BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, ITN, S4C, Ulster TV, and BSkyB,
reminded broadcasters that they were under no legal obligation to transmit the PPB,
and would be accused of increasing racial tension by giving the BNP airtime.

Anti-racist campaigners, and trade unionists supporting Unite Against Fascism, plan
a demonstration outside BBC Broadcasting House in Central London from 4.30 pm on
April 21, to coincide with the scheduled transmission times of 5.55pm on BBC2, and
6.30pm on BBC1.

Other broadcasters are likely to put the BNP broadcast into their schedules, and any
members seeking advice should call BECTU Head Office on 020 7346 0900.

Letter sent by BECTU to:
BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, ITN, S4C, Ulster TV, and BSkyB
20 April 2005
BRITISH NATIONAL PARTY AND THE GENERAL ELECTION
As I am sure you are aware in past General Elections the British National Party were
granted a free election broadcast which was transmitted by most of the broadcasters.

BECTU is of the view that the only reason the BNP wish to broadcast is to increase
racial tension. The BNP is also a party whose manifesto calls for the forced
repatriation of all black people. The carrying of broadcasts for parties like the
BNP is discretionary and not a formal legal requirement placed upon the
broadcasters.
The purpose of this letter is to seek an immediate assurance from you that if you do decide to grant the BNP a free election broadcast that you will not require BECTU
members to work on this broadcast if they, as a matter of conscience, do not wish to do so. We will support any of our members who refuse to work on such broadcasts as a matter of conscience to the maximum extent within the limits of the law.
Yours
Gerry Morrissey
BECTU Assistant General Secretary