The extremist right-wing group is targeting the north west region at the European Parliament elections on June 4. It needs 8 per cent of the vote to win one of the eight seats in Brussels.
BNP - the truth
Churchill family denounces BNP
If the party manages to get enough votes its leader, Nick Griffin - who was given a suspended sentence in 1998 for distributing material likely to incite racial hatred - will get taxpayers' money to represent the people of this region.
Ian Brown
I would urge everybody not to vote for these racist losers
Yesterday the MEN published details of the extremist right-wing group's hateful policies - which include calling for all non-white British people to leave the country. The party's policies are regarded as so extreme and divisive police officers in Greater Manchester are banned by the chief constable from being members.
Today celebrities from the region added their voices to the leaders of all the major religions to speak out against the BNP.
Stone Roses legend Ian Brown sounded the rallying call: "I would urge everybody not to vote for these racist losers," he said.
"We are Manchester and they have no place here!"
Former Coronation Street and Shameless actor Chris Bisson also spoke out - recalling a chilling episode from his days on the famous cobbles.
He explained: "When two of my co-stars Shobna Gulati and Julie Hesmondhalgh gave an interview trying to stop people voting for them in Oldham they came down to the set the next day in a van with a big speaker. They were trying to disrupt filming and harass people as they came to work. What kind of party is that?
"I was absolutely disgusted with them. They don't have any credence."
Former Corrie favourite and Waterloo Road actress Denise Welch pledged her support.
She said: "Absolutely no good can come of the BNP winning seats. They preach division and hatred and we need to show them that they are not welcome."
Shameless star Tina Malone, who plays Mimi Maguire, said: "I just think that any person would have to be pretty ignorant to vote for them and lacking in any moral fibre. There's nothing more to say."
Former Smiths drummer and radio DJ Mike Joyce said "I wouldn't even give the BNP the time of day. They are a party that just tries to cash in on misery. They only concentrate on one aspect of the political spectrum.
"They flag ridiculous things and try and make them inflammatory. I try not to even think about them but I suppose it's dangerous to ignore them."
BNP - the truth
Churchill family denounces BNP
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Bejjy ex Salford now Malta, Malta (27/05/2009 at 08:26)
In addition, rather than the MEN being accused of being biased, is the newspaper going to do an equal hatchet job on the other political parties.
As for the so called "stars" collaborating with the MEN; is it only them and the people or organisations that they agree with who can have free speech but others who don't agree can't; very democratic.
Laura Norder, Didsbury (27/05/2009 at 08:53)
Why? Because a large number of people eligible to vote are too stupid to be allowed to exercise their mandate, and will be taken in by the 'we're just like you', and 'we speak for the ordinary people' rhetoric of the BNP.
Oh, voters will deny their intentions (openly), but, come election day, I am sure the BNP share of the vote will increase,in some areas, substantially.
I hope I am wrong.
Maxie Fergie (27/05/2009 at 08:56)
Bejjy ex Salford now Malta, Malta (27/05/2009 at 09:05)
Black Flag (27/05/2009 at 09:08)
What utter rubbish.
smittyh, Blackley, Manchester (27/05/2009 at 09:14)
Laura, I actually have more faith in people and hope that they will see the BNP for what they are.
Bejjy, can't you see the irony of waxing lyrical about an organisation which, if it were in power where you live would want to have you "voluntarily repatriated" (a chilling phrase if ever there was one) because you're not a native? The paper shouldn't do a hatchet job of other political parties - the BNP is different. It revels in hatred and is in the bloodline of Hitler. And I haven't read anything in the MEN which says that their reporters are going to march people into polling stations and force them to vote against the BNP - all they're doing is setting out their stall, and fair play to them for doing it.
If we elect Griffin it will make the North West of England a beacon of hate. Do we really want that here? Is it not better for us to be known for our football, music, culture, history and literature?
We're all hacked off with the political classes right now, but to respond to that by voting in these thugs would make us worse than the lowest MP.
citycentre, manchester (27/05/2009 at 09:18)
your "too stupid to vote" comment is just what the BNP need; i suspect many poor, working class families in salford may not be too stupd to realise that someone accused of tax evasion, after speculating on and profiting from a property bubble (using tax payers money) which may well have priced them out of the housing market, who can simply write a cheque out for 13 thousand pounds, wave it in the air and say, its ok i will pay it back, may not be the person representing their best interests.
how many people in salford work and take home less then 13 thousand pounds a year?
maybe if labour supporters such as yourself had addressed such abuses rather than calling desperate peopele seeking an alternative too stupid to vote the problem would not have arisen?
Bejjy ex Salford now Malta, Malta (27/05/2009 at 09:21)
Obviously, another who doesn't believe in freedom of speech unless, of course, it colludes with his or her opinions or thoughts. Anything else is "utter rubbish" which is part of the terminology of those with less than adequate debating skills.
johnnyboy, Ashton-u-Lyne, Lancashire (27/05/2009 at 09:25)
uss midway, Holstein Ostsee. (27/05/2009 at 09:26)
luvpump, mars (27/05/2009 at 09:28)
flo, Manchester (27/05/2009 at 09:37)
Bejjy ex Salford now Malta, Malta (27/05/2009 at 09:47)
In response to your comment:
There are already elements within Maltese political circles who would happily like to have me and all the other legal immigrants living on the Island "voluntarily repatriated", With the recent influx of illegal immigrants from mainly Africa, immigrants, both legal and illegal, are seen as the cause of all the ills that Maltese society is facing and we are seen by many as being a corrupting influence on Maltese values and culture. Sounds very familiar to what is happening in many countries around the world including the UK. The difference between Malta and the UK is that the Maltese can make comments in their local paper in opposition to immigration that wouldn't see the light of day in any British newspaper. It wasn't until I left the UK that I realised how far the notion of free speech had been suppressed in the UK.
and
Secondly, Malta is experiencing a massive problem with illegal immigration of, mainly, Africans arriving by boat.
Andy., Bury (27/05/2009 at 09:50)
Munkey Boy, Audenshaw (27/05/2009 at 09:56)
This is free speech in action, and those with something to hide always get scared by that.
readersdigest (27/05/2009 at 09:59)
The Evening News should interview the residents of East Manchester (Openshaw, Abbey Hey, Gorton, Bradford, Beswick, Clayton, Ardwick and Ancoats)and ask their opinions especially with regards to the number of immigrants and the impact it as had in the area their answers would shock the Evening News. This is what draws people to the BNP their own personal experiences in a run down area of Manchester.
The council would rather turn a deaf ear to questions relating to the subject but one day may have to face facts when members of the council will be BNP.
Instead of condemning one party lets look at all aspects of the problem and have an honest debate on the subject, you may not like the BNP but if the problems in Manchester cannot be resolved people wil flock to them.
zarquon, bramhall (27/05/2009 at 10:00)
Funny that, since the band he was in, did just that.
Black Flag (27/05/2009 at 10:03)
Do you not see that that is exactly the position you're in. A newspaper uses it's freedom to criticise a political party and you imply that those involved are doing something wrong by expressing their opinions. Your attitude is laughable.
Laura Norder, Didsbury (27/05/2009 at 10:04)
your "too stupid to vote" comment is just what the BNP need; i suspect many poor, working class families in salford may not be too stupd to realise that someone accused of tax evasion, after speculating on and profiting from a property bubble (using tax payers money) which may well have priced them out of the housing market, who can simply write a cheque out for 13 thousand pounds, wave it in the air and say, its ok i will pay it back, may not be the person representing their best interests.
how many people in salford work and take home less then 13 thousand pounds a year?
maybe if labour supporters such as yourself had addressed such abuses rather than calling desperate peopele seeking an alternative too stupid to vote the problem would not have arisen?" -
citycentre, manchester
No prizes for guessing where your cross is going then... Jawohl?
What about the voters in Congleton and Macclesfield then, their elected Tory MPs have certainly done them proud, eh?
Are you tee-d off because you have placed yourself - with your rant - as one of the 'stupid' ones. You are, aren't you?
Stacey Harriet (27/05/2009 at 10:10)
I definitely won't be voting BNP but telling people they can't vote for a party whose policies they agree with is subverting democracy and extremely immorale!
We have this absurd social directive at the moment only to vote for extreme-centre parties. As a result, for the past 30+ years all major political parties have been virtually identical except for very minor technicalities at the edges. Whenever a party comes along with policies which are actually different (e.g. BNP, Communists etc), we are then told we "shouldn't" vote for them and call them "extremists" and such nonsense.
It's like a self-imposed dictatorship! If you want to vote BNP, you should vote BNP. Millions have died for our right to choose who we vote for, don't let these PC goons take that away!
anglegrinder, rawtenstall (27/05/2009 at 10:10)
Doobydoo, Worsley (27/05/2009 at 10:15)
British Jobs For British People etc.
This is untrue. The British National Party do not want what is best for Britain, they want a white nation. That is very different. Unfortunately a lot of people do not put any time or effort into finding out what the parties really say and mean but assume that the large headings on leaflets posted through our letter boxes or handed out on street corners are actually telling the truth.
I only hope that before anybody votes for the BNP they do their homework on this and of course the other political parties out there.
Grey Flag, manchester (27/05/2009 at 10:30)
gimme a break
John- still Sheikhin' all over (27/05/2009 at 11:19)
" celebrity" told me how to think, and who to and who not to vote for.
neither the MEN, Billy Bragg, Ginger Spice or Bob Dylan. has a hand in my vote.
Most of us know that extreme views exist all over the world in all cultures and countries, and have always been around. Human beings do feel safer living in a cave with their own kind, and to make themselves feel superior, they throw fear up against " that other lot" from across the way, and are not in our gang. it's world wide and somtimes that view gets louder.
so if you fear your neighbour and get angry when a foreign voice is heard on the street, vote for the party which reflects your views.
then the BNP supporters will find that a lot less than 8% support their ideas of division and fear. with the vast majority of us living in the university of life, and are a bit more chilled out about the other cave inhabitants. I'd rather share a meal with em than a snarl.
use your vote, people died for it.
zarquon, bramhall (27/05/2009 at 11:36)