Barnbrookgate continues.
Cliff Dixon casts doubt on the offical version of events that Mssrs Tilbrook and Uncles put forward:
Oh dear - This post has all the fingerprints of a certain Mr S Uncles all over it.
"Following the invitation by Derek Hilling the national party secretary of The English Democrats to Richard Barnbrook" - What invitation? Derek and the rest of the NC were unaware that Barnbrook would be addressing the meeting on Saturday. I have a copy of the agenda sat in front of me now, and of the 17 points on it, not one regards a certain Richard Barnbrook addressing the NC of The English Democrats. A vote of no confidence in Uncles was proposed at the meeting, and deemed not admissable as it was not on the agenda - Barnbrook was only allowed to address the NC because it was pointed out that Item 12 (Membership applications from ex BNP members - CV?/RC?) could be used to justify it, and as he doesn't drive and had to be ferried up by another NC member, he shouldn't be left to sit in the foyer on his own (A joke was cracked that we could have a whip round for his train back if necessary)
If I attended as a guest of Roger Cooper, why was item 4 on the agenda titled "Allegations of improper conduct against Steve Uncles - CD & SU" ? Would a guest be on the agenda? Indeed, why have I been at every NC meeting in my capacity as Roger Cooper's deputy for the last 6 months, and have held his proxy vote on the previous 4?
Nigel Farage casts his net over dissaffected English Democrats supporters:
"Some weeks ago I received a message from the South East Chairman of the English Democrats, Steven Uncles. He requested a meeting with me to discuss electoral cooperation.
"At the time I was dubious and delayed answering. However, with their acceptance of Richard Barnbrook, originally elected to the GLA for the BNP, I am adamant that at no point now or in the future must the UK Independence Party be linked with the English Democrats.
"With this move, the English Democrats have put themselves beyond the pale. As a non-racist, non-sectarian party UKIP, at all levels, must have nothing to do with them.
"We urge all English Democrats who feel as we do about this to join UKIP now."
The ranting Alan England retaliates on the English Democrats' little known blog:
What is so absurd about Nigel's outburst is that it continues a long established line of UKIP hypocrisy. SEE: The hypocritical party It seems that Mr Farage would have us believe that UKIP does not actually recruit BNP members.
[...]
WE URGE ALL THOSE IN UKIP WHO WANT A REFERENDUM FOR PROPER PARLIAMENT FOR ENGLAND IN ADDITION TO A REFERENDUM ABOUT CONTINUED EU MEMBERSHIP TO JOIN THE ENGLISH DEMOCRATS ~ NOW!
And Nick Griffin casts doubt on Richard Barnbrook's suitability as a BNP candidate and alludes to an addiction to alcohol:
I have no idea whether you really intend to join the EDP, with its boasts of Muslim candidates and totally undemocratic structure. I would have thought that the fact that they were only able to gain one tenth of our vote in Oldham last week, failing even to beat the Monster Raving Looney Party, would have made even you recognise that there is no possibility of their serving as a vehicle for your ambitions and needs.
In truth, however, that is irrelevant. What matters is that you think that it is acceptable to use the threat to join them to try to blackmail the British National Party into giving you what you want.
It is not acceptable. Your letter confirms your utter selfishness and total unsuitability as a candidate on the British National Party GLA list next year. Over the last few months we have made enormous strides in London . We are building a dynamic team and developing campaigning techniques that, taken together with the likely collapse in the Tory and LibDem votes, give us a very good chance indeed of winning at least one seat.
[...]
The only thing that could make me reconsider would be if, rather than going off to another party, you went to seek the medical and support help for your alcohol problem which I have repeatedly counseled and even arranged for you, went through with it and came back to us with medical proof that you had actually accepted, confronted and conquered the disease which has stolen your dignity and decency.
Your promises and pleadings are worthless, for we have heard them all before, including when you were selected to lead our list in the first place subject to your firm undertaking to stay off alcohol and our mistaken belief that you had overcome the problem. Only real action by you to secure a sustained change can now save you from self-destruction and lead me and the British National Party to reconsider the position.
What a particularly unpleasant soap opera this is, and one from which only Cliff Dixon can emerge a winner.
