Besmirching the memory

According to its website the British National Party (BNP) is to pay Birmingham a visit on Sunday, October 7th, in its guise as the “British Veterans’ Group”.

Their purpose is to lay a wreath at the Hall of Memory, then to “protest against the loss of British blood in foreign wars” outside the Tory Party conference.

The wreath will be laid by BNP vicar the “Reverend” Robert West, who stood as the BNP’s candidate at the Norwich North by-election in 2009.

West has refused to answer questions regarding his background:  Which church he was ordained in, where and by whom? (wikipedia.org)

Also prominent at the event will be Adam Walker, one of the few BNP “veterans” to have ever worn a uniform.

He caused a stir in 2010 when he visited a shrine to Japan’s war dead, along with French Front Nationale leader Jean Marie Le Pen.  (independent.co.uk)

Walker was a teacher, sacked – also in 2010 – for making internet postings that described immigrants as “savage animals” and “filth”, and but who was cleared by the General Teaching Council of racial intolerance.

Earlier this year he was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and banned from driving for 12 months. (sunderlandecho.com)

One veteran of WWII we spoke to said: “I’m appalled that fascist elements of society seek to gain publicity by using the Hall of Memory as a back-drop to their posturing.  Their actions will do nothing but besmirch the memory of those who fought against Hitler and his band of thugs”.

There’s a discussion on this at the ReStirred Forum