'Ban BNP festival' say firemen

The British National Party "festival" at Denby in Derbyshire should be banned, according to the Fire Brigades Union.

The FBU East Midlands executive member, Dave Green, has appealed to Amber Valley Borough Council to reverse its decision to allow a drink and entertainments license for the event.

The 'Red, White and Blue' event is planned for the weekend of August 4 and 5, on land owned by BNP member and Denby parish councillor Alan Warner. Other Denby residents have protested, and so has the local MP, Judy Mallaber.

Mr Green said today: "The Fire Brigades Union is very concerned about the proposal to hold such an event in Derbyshire.

"We, along with many others, have tried hard in recent years to promote good relations between people of different races. That work could be undermined by the holding of a festival celebrating racist ideology.

"I hope Amber Valley Borough Council will think again and consider the impact on the local community."

Amber Valley Council chief executive of the council, Peter Carney said: "This was a finely balanced decision, made following thorough and careful consideration of all the issues involved.

"The Licensing Panel considered the representations from all interested parties, including the police, local residents and the applicant, to ensure that the application was dealt with in a fair and objective way, in accordance with all appropriate legislation."

The BNP's press officer, Dr Phil Edwards, said that the festival was held as "a celebration of the culture of white Europeans".

He said: "Because the BNP are so disliked we have to be squeaky clean with events like this or the media will come down on us like a ton of bricks."

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