The BNP sink to a new low

Two days ago, Hope Not Hate used the image and words of Normandy Tank veteran Kenneth Riley to encourage people to combat the danger of the far right, by voting against them wherever possible.

Dear Friend,

When I enlisted in the army 66 years ago, I did it for Britain.

Now I need you to do something for me.

The BNP is trying to strangle our great nation with the same extremist and fascist agenda that Hitler’s Nazis threatened us with decades ago. Today, the war isn’t being fought on the battlefield – but in the ballot box.

Hope Not Hate is on the front lines of our fight. They’re organising to make sure modern-day Nazis aren’t elected on 6 May and to preserve the Britain for which I fought so hard. If I had my health I would be out there with them. But I can’t – so I’m writing to ask you to volunteer for me.

Please join Hope Not Hate’s Day of Action this weekend – the campaign has laid on transport to help you get to the areas in which you are needed the most:

http://action.hopenothate.org.uk/fightthenazis
I was barely in my twenties when I went to fight for Britain. I left home with friends – all young lads like myself – and many never returned.

Today, the BNP salute and say “Heil Hitler” – and they support the same all-white Britain. They’re proud of what the Nazis did to my friends, and what they did to millions of innocent people throughout Europe.

We didn’t fight with our lives on the line years ago just to be right back here today.

We need to do everything we can to stop the BNP from being elected to local councils and to Parliament. Those boys lost to the war would proudly go door-to-door with Hope Not Hate to fight against the fascist BNP today.

There are no tanks and no guns in this fight – but we still need your courage to speak out.

Attend a Hope Not Hate event this weekend and join the fight against fascism:

http://action.hopenothate.org.uk/fightthenazis
The elections on 6 May are personal to me – and I hope they will be to you. I’d like to thank you in advance for your service.

Yours,

Kenneth Riley
Normandy Veteran – Tank Division

Amazingly, the BNP stole his words and used them in their own twisted version of his appeal:

Dear Fellow Patriot,

When I enlisted in the army in 1942, aged 18, I did it for Britain.

Now I need you to do something for me.

The old-gang parties and their fellow cohorts in the media are dismantling and destroying the Britain we fought so hard to defend and preserve. Today, the war isn’t being fought on the battlefield — but in the ballot box.

The British National Party is on the front lines of our fight. Our party and our courageous activists are working around the clock to save the country that our war heroes fought and died for. If I had my health I would be out there with them. But I can’t — so I’m writing to ask you to volunteer for me.

I was 18 when I went to fight for Britain. At just 20 years old I was involved in the Normandy invasion, and spent the last year of the war fighting with my fellow heroes through northern France, Belgium and into Germany.

I was attached to the 51st Highland Division under the command of the legendary General Bernard Montgomery (‘Monty’ as he was affectionately known). I also took part in the Battle of the Bulge in late 1944 and Operation Market Garden.

Today, look at the terrible state of our country! Many cities and towns resemble third-world slums; crime is out of control; pensioners are freezing to death in winter; we are ruled by the EU; our politicians are greedy and corrupt, and our British national identity is being dismantled and abolished!

We didn’t fight with our lives on the line years ago just to be right back here today. Our war heroes have been betrayed!

We need to do everything we can to help the BNP get elected to local councils and to Parliament. Those heroes lost to the war would proudly go door-to-door with the British National Party to fight against the destruction of our beloved Britain.

There are no tanks and no guns in this fight — but we still need your courage to propel the British National Party to its goals. Get active: leafleting, canvassing, speaking to people; get the word out!

Could you spare £20 towards our election campaign? £20 is not much, but it could be crucial to the BNP’s chances of winning:

If you are not a member, then don’t you think now is the time to join? We veterans fought for this country; now it’s your turn:

The elections on 6 May are personal to me — and I hope they will be to you. I’d like to thank you in advance for your service.

Yours sincerely,

Bob Head

Normandy Veteran

51st Highland Division

One thing which makes this unlikely is his surname “Head” which is common in Norfolk and Berkshire, but very uncommon in Scotland (he claims to have been with the 51st Highlanders Division). Also, search as you might on Normandy Veteran websites, there seems to be no mention of a “Bob Head”. Furthermore, the 51st Highlanders were stationed at Arnhem during the Normandy campaign (thanks to 1 million united’s blog for pointing this out).

I hope that this will backfire on the far right and that people will begin to see through their lies.

So how can we best fight against the lies and propaganda of the far-right BNP?

I think we need to support a new workers’ party – people have had enough of all three main parties and are looking for an alternative. A genuine alternative for ordinary workers is standing in 42 constituencies across the country – vote TUSC (Trade Union and Socialist Coalition). If they are not standing, then vote for any left candidate that is. In any case, it is important that we use our votes against the lies and racism of the BNP.