The BNP and the local press

The British National Party attempts to gain support by lobbying local newspapers with letters and opinions in order to move into local politics. By picking on popular and emotive issues, for instance by targeting sex offenders, the BNP hopes to capitalise on the feelings of local residents.

In the first half of 1999, a decision was made to move a convicted sex offender into the tranquil Rutland village of Wing Grange. Within days the BNP had moved into the town distributing "Hang Child Murderers" leaflets. Letters to the press promptly followed, with one stating in the Rutland Times that, "Yesterday a leaflet from the BNP landed on my doorstep and very refreshing it was to read. At last there is one political party out there with an ounce of common sense. I know where my cross will go come next election."

When the second letter appeared a week later, Peter Golden, a local councillor, became concerned. It became apparent that BNP members and supporters, who did not live in the area, had been writing the letters themselves. The second letter came from number 31 in a street with only two houses.

Radio also plays an important part in the BNP's media campaign. During a discussion programme on immigration, Radio Five Live was contacted by a man claiming to be black who asserted that racism was not the fault of the "indigenous British", but arose because there were too many immigrants here. The caller was later revealed to be Bill Woods, a member of the BNP's Nottingham branch.

The BNP frequently uses local papers to promote its presence. Under the front page headline, "National Party Targets Town", the Newark Advertiser declared: "The British National Party is planning to hold a members' meeting in Newark to discuss a strategy to combat crime, which could involve vigilante style groups patrolling the streets".

The Tamworth Herald also aided a BNP publicity stunt by running the front-page headline, "Nationalist Party set up in town", accompanied by the BNP's logo. On the inside pages the paper reproduced the BNP's political programme, alongside another story about job losses. Unsurprisingly, the BNP seized upon this free publicity with glee.

The BNP attempts to shape what is written about the party in the press, as it craves respectability. Behind this growing use of the media is the BNP's Media Monitoring Unit (MMU). Launched in 1998, it operates from an East Midlands base. Stuart Russell, the MMU's organiser, who calls himself Phil Edwards, has said that its aim is to monitor what was being said about the party, evaluate it, and fashion a response. The MMU also seeks opportunities to gain publicity for the BNP and its policies.

Manipulating the press is a key strategy for the BNP. Its publications regularly congratulate members for consistent letter writing to the press, and urge others to follow suit.

But apart from using the press to its advantage the BNP is not overly fond of the media. The party leader, Nick Griffin has written a pamphlet, Who are the Mindbenders?, which outlines his belief that Jews control the media. He purports to name all Jews in TV, radio, and journalism as proof that they are Zionist controlled.