Protest as BNP holds conference

Liverpool City Council leader Joe Anderson (right) talks to BNP leader and North West MEP Nick Griffin (left)
12 April 2012

Protesters have gathered outside the conference of the far-right British National Party.

Around 30 people, organised by local councillors and the Liverpool Anti-Fascists group, shouted and jeered as BNP leader and North West MEP Nick Griffin arrived at a cricket club in the outskirts of the city.

The party says around 100 delegates were attending the meeting which is discussing policy motions, mainly "matters on taxation", a spokesman said.

As the BNP members arrived for the conference, protesters shouted "fascist" and "Nazi scum" towards them. Several police officers stood at the gate of Wavertree Cricket Club to maintain order. Other officers were posted at the end of an access road to the venue.

Liverpool City Council leader Joe Anderson, who spoke to Mr Griffin in the car park as the BNP leader arrived, said afterwards: "I told him he is not welcome here, to take his cronies with him and to leave the city of Liverpool.

"They don't speak on behalf of any significant number of people in the city, every time the BNP stands here they are resoundingly beaten. Their negative, destructive policies are not wanted here."

The councillor said he will raise the matter with licensing officers: "I've told the people who operate Wavertree Cricket Club that I find it absolutely appalling that they have allowed this to happen on their site.

Inside the venue, called The Cricketers', around 70 people had gathered in a function room to hear Mr Griffin speak.

He described the protesters as "overaged students", and said: "I'm the MEP because thousands of people voted for me because they appreciate the fact that the BNP talks about issues the other parties won't talk about."

He denied that the small number of delegates signified low public support for the party, saying they represented the "hard core" of the party. "Here today are the people willing to travel, the ones willing to spend the whole weekend talking about policy," he said.

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