We
are not a party of Holocaust deniers. Mr Griffin
has acknowledged that what happened during World
War Two, and consequently in many countries, has
been a very sad event for everybody concerned.
It's a time of remembrance. People died and
suffered, they should be remembered by
all."
Barking
and Dagenham Recorder -
Thursday, January 31, 2008BNP
told: 'Don't come to Holocaust
service'
by Zjan Shirinian
A ROW has erupted after two
BNP councillors were asked not to attend a
Holocaust memorial service.
Cllr
Robert Bailey (right) says he was
asked to stay away from the service, marking
National Holocaust Memorial Day, at the Peace
and Memorial Garden, Rainham Road North,
Dagenham, on Monday.
But Barking and Dagenham Council leader Cllr
Charles Fairbrass (below) said
Cllr Bailey had no reason to attend when the
national leader of his party denies the
Holocaust ever happened.
Cllr Bailey, who said he attended the service
with party colleague Cllr Lawrence
Rustem, despite the apparent ban, said he
"expected an invite" as he was an elected
councillor.
But
Cllr Fairbrass, referring to BNP party leader
Nick Griffin, said: "To quote his words,
'I have come to the conclusion that the
extermination tale is a mixture of allied
wartime propaganda, extremely profitable lie and
latter day witch hysteria'."
Cllr Fairbrass said: "In addition, on a
recent TV programme, a member of the BNP
commented that they had never thought much about
the Holocaust, but does query the number of
deaths.
"Cllr Bailey is a member of the BNP. Why
would he want to attend an event that remembers
the Holocaust, when the leader of the BNP said
it didn't happen?"
But Cllr Bailey, who says he received a
letter on Friday explaining Cllr Fairbrass
thought it would be "inappropriate" for him to
attend, said he did not support Mr Griffin's
views.
"What Mr Griffin speaks is for himself. He
doesn't speak for the party. If he said those
things in the past, that's up to him. We have no
policy on the Holocaust.
"We are not a party of Holocaust deniers. Mr
Griffin has acknowledged that what happened
during World War Two, and consequently in many
countries, has been a very sad event for
everybody concerned. It's a time of remembrance.
People died and suffered, they should be
remembered by all."