Odds Stacking Up Against Us - Now BNP Mail Goes Missing

The Royal Mail in Burnley are launching an enquiry after letters addressed to Burnley BNP were intercepted and returned.

Two weeks ago Burnley BNP organiser, Steve Smith, received an irate phone call from a printer who had done some work for the branch. His invoice, which had been sent to the BNP's post box in Burnley, had been returned with a message saying the box had been closed down.

"I went and saw Burnley Royal Mail who promised to look into the matter. We were still getting a large post every day so I thought this must have been a 'one-off'."

But now Steve has been regularly receiving calls from people who have sent in for more information about our election campaign and have had their mail returned in a similar manner.

"I have had over two dozen calls from people saying their mail has been returned. I have made a complaint to the Royal Mail and they have promised a full investigation. It is just an intermittent problem because we have still been receiving mail."

The interference with the BNP mail hits the party very hard at this crucial time. 42,000 election addresses have been delivered in recent weeks and the "For More Information" coupons, which people cut out and return to us, play an important role in identifying our support. If two dozen people have phoned when their mail has been returned, you can guarantee that at least a similar number haven't bothered to, and these contacts have now been lost.

This serious blow to the BNP locally comes on top of the loss of the Burnley Bravepages website address. This too was on the election address and now when interested voters key in to the website address which is prominently advertised - there is nothing there.

It was Burnley Labour Party supporters who closed down our website, and there is no doubt it is Burnley Labour Party supporters, working for the Royal Mail, who are intercepting our letters.

On Saturday three different organisations opposed to the BNP were out in force in Burnley and delivered tens of thousands of leaflets attacking the party.

Despite this distribution almost certainly breaching Election Law, Burnley BNP Election Agent, Simon Bennett, admits that very little can be done about it.

"They have a budget of £50 per ward plus half-a-penny per voter if they wish to put leaflets opposing a candidate. One leaflet alone, a glossy four page newsletter, breaches that without any of the others being taken into account. I have reported the matter to the Town Hall and the Police but there's very little they can do. The damage has been done."

The democratic process in Burnley is becoming something of a farce as the campaign enters its second week.

* A BNP website has been shut down by intimidation and it's address publicised on 42,000 leaflets rendered useless.

* Letters and inquiries to the BNP have been intercepted by opponents working in the Royal Mail and vital contacts for the Party lost.

* Tens of thousands of illegal leaflets were distributed on Saturday in clear breach of election law.

One ray of hope might come in an emergency meeting called for all election agents by the Returning Officer for 4.00pm today at the Town Hall. Simon Bennett is optimistic,

"I'm hoping that this meeting might be to clearly lay down some guidelines for the campaign. At the moment this election is far from free and fair and the odds are heavily stacked against us. The antics of the opposition are an insult to the people of Burnley."

** Monday's Lancashire Evening Telegraph listed the names of the 103 candidates contesting the elections in Burnley. Three names were spelt wrong. Guess which party these three belonged to? Surprise, surprise . . all three were standing for the BNP!!!





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