Politicians oppose extreme right
THEY won't agree on much in the next couple of months but local politicians this week united to condemn the British National Party.
It's announced plans to contest the Eastwood
constituency at this year's General Election.
The move, announced on Sunday by Scottish
leader Gary Raikes has united his prospective
adversaries in disgust.
Current incumbent, Jim Murphy, said:"I didn't
think I would have to debate a fascist party. I
thought that type of politics was a thing of the past.
"They are coming here to disrupt our community.
We have really good relations between all of our faith
communities. The BNP are out to ruin that by
peddling their poison of racial hatred.
"Their politics are alien to our British way of life –
where we try to see people for who they are rather
than their skin colour, nationality or religion. The
BNP's Nazi salutes and Holocaust denials turn my
stomach".
Prospective SNP candidate Gordon Archer added:
"It's clear the targeting of East Renfrewshire by the
BNP is a provocative act designed to create
maximum offence in one of Scotland's most diverse
communities.
"We need cross party and cross community unity
to face down this threat. All of the mainstream
political parties have to agree not to share a platform
with the BNP during hustings.
"It's also vitally important community
Politicians unite to oppose extreme right
organisations don't invite the BNP to
participate in the first place.
"We as a community need to deny them
what they desire the most which is
respectability for their despicable
views".
Conservative Richard Cook, who missed
election in 2005 by 891 votes, said: "The
BNP is not welcome in East Renfrewshire,
or Scotland as a whole.
"The fight here will be about who runs
the country. It will not be about a fascist
group trying to get publicity before the
Scottish Parliament elections.
"It's not by accident we live together in
peace and harmony — it's because we're a
tolerant area with mutual respect for one
another and a loathing for the type of
politics pedalled by the BNP".
Liberal Democrat Gordon MacDonald
told: "The BNP are seeking to exploit the
concerns of local people to advance their
extreme agenda.
"I'm confident East Renfrewshire will reject their divisive
politics".
Raikes, who'll himself stand locally, said
East Ren was "a very important target for
us. This is just a step to 2011 when we'll be
in with a chance of winning a regional list
seat".
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Weather for Glasgow
Thursday 24 May 2012
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