BNP Leadership election

So now four people have put themselves forward for the role of leader of the BNP.

As well as Nick Griffin there are Derek Adams, Richard Barnbrook and Eddy Butler.

Eddy Butler is the one we've all been hearing about. His statement is

I believe we need a complete re-launch in order to survive as a Party.I seek a year’s term as Chairman in order to bring in the necessary changes and hold free elections next year than will result in a fresh face.I will bring in measures to ensure financial transparency to restore confidence in the Party’s finances.I will bring in constitutional changes to make the Party more democratically accountable and have a separation of powers between the political Chairman and the administration.I would bring all functions such as the call centre back to the mainland and close the Belfast office.I would terminate the contract of our fundraising consultant and we would become self sufficient.I would ensure that our resources are focussed on the front line and not wasted on bureaucracy.I would ensure that the Party stays together with no recriminations after this leadership election.

Derek Adams? Leading activist and publican from Manchester. Strongly opposed to the smoking ban. That alone would stop me from voting for him but also because his statement on the party website does nothing more than condemn Eddy Butler.

Unlike Mr. Butler I don't seek to be a disposable chairman or a stalking horse for undeclared and shadowy third parties. I seek election for a full-term. I love this Party and despise those who seek to sow dissent and demoralise our activists. They have provided propaganda for our enemies to throw at our candidates on the doorstep. Real grievances must be dealt with by people with true hearts, not those whose main purpose is to seek position or jobs.Our vote increased at the General Election and we have more enquiries and a larger membership than ever. But some people still think it’s time for a change. If you feel that change is indeed needed, then nominate me, a clean-hands candidate who will be a fresh face but who, unlike Mr. Butler, has not sought to advance my candidacy by working with supporters who spread lies and black propaganda.

Then there's Richard Barnbrook. Member of the GLA and previously engaged to a woman with a mixed race child.

Famed as ‘the man in the beige suit’, dyslexic and partial to the occasional drink, I know my limitations! But I have never wavered from the strength of my convictions and I’ve always spoken direct from the heart.Nick has achieved miracles in modernising the Party; Eddy has electioneering, strategic experience, - but the Party is divided. There’s a real desire for change but we also need time to take stock, and plan how to move forward together with renewed energy. If we act in haste we risk losing all we have built.Our success and unity is more important than the ambitions of any individual. I offer integrity, impartiality and lack of self-interest that will command the loyalty and solidarity of all the membership. I will act as a caretaker leader till elections and end the strife caused by this destructive, divisive and bitter campaign. Choose stability and unity.

And then, of course, there's Nick Griffin

Our tremendous record speaks for itself, which is why our enemies try every trick in their grubby book to smear me and key members of my winning team.To break contracts, sack our young team in the highly popular and successful call centre, and go back to amateurism, would be organisational and financial suicide. The experience and technology we’ve acquired must be used to modernise our election-fighting machine, not thrown away out of spite and personal ambition.We’ve spent time and money modernising our central administration, now we’re going to professionalise our regional and local organisation.In ten years, our activists and I have turned this party from a bad political joke into a major factor in British politics. There is still much to be done, and it is best done under proven, principled and visionary leadership, without futile, time-wasting elections. We’ve come this far, let us go forward together!

So which one to vote for.

Clearly none of them will answer 'yes' to the questions I put to Eddy Butler in my last post.

Adams is an also ran so it's between the other three.

If Nick wants my vote he'll need to explain the party finances a bit better.

According to the party website " in exchange for fees of £165,000 over two years, Midas has generated a fundraising income for the BNP of £2.3 million — and saved us over £156,000 through their procurement techniques and expertise."

Sounds good so why is the party virtually bankrupt now?

I've been told about companies and the tax office threatening court action due to unpaid bills, party staff being paid late, printers refusing to print items for the party because of late payments and money being borrowed from the regions.

So where have they been spending this £2.3 million? Well apparently some of it's gone on Plasma screen TV's for training purposes.

How about paying the bills first and if there's anything left then buying plasma screen TV's?

I also don't like the way Nick has moved the party towards becoming a Christian party. That's not what I joined. Politics and religion should be seperate and any white person should feel at home in the BNP, their religion is irrelevant.

Nominations close on the 10th August so I've some time to decide, which is good as none of them really appeal at the moment.