Thanks to a 24 hour round trip undertaken by Barry Scott and Roy Jones the BNP ‘Truth Truck’ arrived in the North east of Scotland early Thursday morning. After a quick hand over to Scottish leader Gary Raikes the truck was off on the first leg of its Scottish tour.

Aberdeen was visited first followed by a trip up Royal Deeside through towns in the constituency. The loudspeaker was more than ably manned by Steve Thompson whose non stop patter made sure our message was clearly put across to the public. The team were pleased to see that the support including thumbs up, flashing lights and even people clapping out matched the handful of obscene gestures from the ill informed few.

In one day BNP Scotland reached more people than weeks of leafleting would of done. The tour continues through out next week as the team visit all the constituencies we are contesting in the coming election.

Never before have so few bought the message to so many.

We are happy to report the return of Mike Coyle after his recent personal tragedy. Mr Coyle will be helping new Lothian’s organiser David Orr Jnr to take up the reigns in Lothian and has been appointed Sub-Regional organiser for the Central region.

We have a great deal of support in the central region based around Falkirk which is one of our target regional seats for 2011, Mr Coyle is keen to get to work organising our many members ready for this coming election and building a team ready to strongly contest the regional seat next year.

Speaking to the Scottish leader today Mr Raikes told news team, “I have been talking with Mike and have asked him to take things easy not to throw himself back in to the fray to soon, the fact he has returned shows just how committed to our cause he is and a example of true British grit he is the kind of guy you want in the trenches with you”.

I too would like to express my admiration for a true British nationalist and wish him and his family all the best for the future.

Nick Teasdale
Scottish News Team

The following letter has been drafted by a BNP member in response to Jim Murphy MP trying to get Churches to vote Labour and turn them against the BNP, copies of this excellent letter are being posted to all Churches in Renfrewshire.

Dear Sir,

I am writing to you on behalf of the leader of the British National Party in Scotland to explain a little about our party and dispel some of the misrepresentations you may have heard about us.
British National Party Scottish leader, Gary Raikes has been selected as the prospective candidate for the East Renfrewshire seat, currently held by the Labour and RCP “ex-member” Jim Murphy. Mr. Raikes has stood in both local council and Scottish parliamentary elections and was lead candidate in the 2009 Euros. He has been our Scottish leader since 2007. Gary’s website is at http://eastrenfrewshire.blogspot.com/
Jim Murphy is known to many as an extremist who flirted with the Revolutionary Communist Party (RCP) during his student days and regarded members of Labour’s hard left Militant Tendency as TOO SOFT.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article5488742.ece?print=yes&randnum=1151003209000

The British National Party has a long history and growing support in Scotland and has recently stood in the high profile Euro Elections (June 2009) and NE Glasgow Bye-Election (November 2009) with ever – increasing votes. We now have members from all ages and walks of life and are established as a credible mainstream alternative.
We have taken part in many local initiatives from clean-ups of vandalised parks to support for Army veterans’ charities (FEBA) in Scotland to name but a few.
Increasingly, numbers of voters are expressing apathy and discontent with the endless incompetence, lies, false promises and sleaze coming from the three parties that make up the Old Gang of Lib/Lab/Con. And who can blame them? Labour’s recent record has involved illegal wars, the banking bailout scandal, the MP’s expenses scandal, the sell-off of British industry; and the handover of our sovereignty and power to unelected and unaccountable politicians in Brussels, never mind the destruction of our heritage and culture posed by uncontrolled mass immigration! We can revitalize interest in British politics. The process should be more inclusive, with more democracy, not less. We would like to put the British people first in choices for their own country – after all it’s only fair.

The British National Party is a legal, moderate, and legitimate political party which is making progress in elections and now has over 100 Councillors, one London Assembly member, and two MEPs, including our chairman, Nick Griffin.  Most of the people who attack the BNP are opposed to free debate and dislike both moral standards and Christianity, and have sought to marginalise our Christian heritage whilst paving a way for extremism from the Middle East.  What is done to the BNP now could be done to Christians later.  Christians would do well to stand up for the rights of the BNP to free debate and to seriously consider their views, which reflect up to 70% of the people of Britain, on many issues, including that of mass immigration.

We have a vast and growing raft of sensible and viable policies to lay before the voting public, far transcending the mythology that we are merely a political party only concerned with immigration. Our full manifesto and policies can be found at http://bnp.org.uk/policies/. We are interested in the future and how to improve the well being of our people based on the lessons from history. At the moment it seems we are becoming second class citizens in our own country, with rising crime, plus increasing poverty and taxes, for many becoming the social norm.

I can assure you the men and women of the British National Party are well meaning and decent individuals, only motivated by a love and admiration for the traditions of our land and who wish to build a decent community based on family values. There are a significant number of active Christians within our ranks and they will be making sure that churchgoers throughout the country are made aware of what the British National Party really stands for in the run-up to the General Election. The BNP has indeed warned about the danger Britons face from the growth of Islam on our shores. The vast majority of congregations agree with our stance on this and understand the long term social and ideological threat posed to Christianity. However, we have no quarrel with individual Muslims and have no wish to divide communities. The BNP is not anti-Jewish either. In fact we have one elected Jewish councillor (Pat Richardson – Epping Forest). The BNP has members in it who are Jewish, who are secularist, who are evangelical Christians, and who are Roman Catholics.

SNP

We are opposed to SNP separatism and believe Scotland is better off as part of the Union. Far from being impoverished; as part of Britain, Scotland is allocated more funding per person than any other part of the UK. We support the devolved parliament and all local decision making in Scotland. We would also support a referendum on Scottish independence.

We oppose totalitarianism in all its forms, both Marxist and Fascist. We believe this Labour government has implemented some of the most sinister laws attacking free speech and censorship this country has ever seen.

Anti – War

Our party is determined to re-awaken Britain’s manufacturing sector, dismantle its monopolies and generate green jobs. Our party’s foreign and defence policy of armed neutrality would see British forces withdrawn from global conflict theatres in which the country has no vital interests.

Supporting Our Troops – Bring them home now!

We believe Britain has no business intruding into the affairs of the Middle East in respect either of Israel or any other territory. Nor is it our business to support American foreign policy in the Middle East as the USA’s junior partner. We disagreed with and opposed involvement in Iraq long before the war started, together with the Green Party.

Please do not simply let the powers-that-be demonise us unfairly. Give our policies a chance and you will see they
are based on common sense and with the best intentions.

Yours faithfully,

Carrick Crawford.

Scottish leader Gary Raikes and Glasgow organiser Walter Hamilton made the long trip South to attend the regional organisers training event this weekend.

Management style work shops show how the party is progressing as does the turn out of over thirty officials from around Britain under-taking training in a high class venue.

Mr. Raikes told news team, “This was a busy weekend for myself and Mr. Hamilton which started on Friday with a meeting with a Scottish journalist who has taken a real interest in our party’s growth and potential, this was followed by another meeting this time with an old friend and ex Deputy chairman of the BNP Scott McLean. I am happy to say that Mr. McLean will be back working for BNP Scotland in the near future. Scott is someone I really respect who has a life time of involvement with the nationalist movement behind him his experience will be invaluable to us”.

“After Saturdays training finished we had a chance to catch up with all the other officials to see how things are in their regions, it would seem we are all plagued by the same problems at one time or another yet all remain dedicated to the cause. Sunday we took part in a ‘how to argue’ exercise, something we are very good at here in Scotland! This was an interesting task which Hammy took to like a duck to water, the fact Paul from Essex couldn’t understand his Glaswegian accent helped somewhat, as Jim Dowson said ‘people in Glasgow make saying good morning sound like a death threat’! Cant work out if that’s racist or not”!

During the weekend the pair managed to secure the Truth truck for a weeks tour of our target seats in March, more on that later.

Nick Teasdale

Paul Golding whipped up a frenzy on Tuesday night at the Aberdeen Branch Monthly meeting.
Local Activists and Members were left buzzing with enthusiasm after Paul gave an enthralling and motivating speech.

The evening kicked off with an branch update from Organiser, Barry Scott, who explained the progress that Aberdeen was making in terms Party Awareness, “this is a direct result of our increased weekly street Campaigning” he reported.
“and more and more Aberdonians are coming round to our way of thinking”.

After Paul’s passionate speech, the considerable sum of over £300 was raised in donations that will go towards the Branch’s General Election Campaign costs.
“Considering we had an admirable total of 32 attendees at the meeting, it was a fantastic top-up to our Branch funds”
Candidate, Susan Ross said.

At the interval, a superb buffet was served and allowed new potential members to chat with Paul Golding and Scottish Leader, Gary Raikes which resulted in two membership applications that will be processed after the ban has been lifted.
Members old and new had a chance to catch up and discuss what Aberdeen should do to spread the word of the BNP presence in the City.

The evening ended with a Question and Answer Session where activists quizzed Paul on his ‘Recipe for Success’ Campaigning techniques that led to his Election as Councillor in Swanley, Kent.
Paul emphasised the importance of Canvassing and face to face communication with Voters.
“The advice gained from Paul will be utilised to great effect in Aberdeen, Gordon and Banff & Buchan Districts where four Candidates in total will stand. We aim to Campaign vigorously to show the electorate that there is a party out there worthy of their vote”. Gary Raikes reported.

British National Party Scottish leader Gary Raikes has been selected as the prospective candidate for the East Renfrewshire seat, currently held by the Revolutionary Communist Party “ex-member” Jim Murphy.

Mr Raikes has stood in both local council and Scottish parliamentary elections and was lead candidate in the 2009 Euros. He has been our Scottish leader since 2007.

“I am pleased to be standing against the Labour Scottish Secretary who has appointed himself as the anti-BNP spokesman here in Scotland,” Mr Raikes said.

“I very much look forward to sharing a platform with Mr Murphy during the campaign and enlightening him to the truth about today’s BNP as well as getting answers to questions about his dalliance with the Revolutionary Communist party (RCP) during his student days.

“If a politician is discovered to have been a supporter of any so-called far right party during their youth then they are forever attacked by the likes of Murphy,” Mr Raikes continued.

“Yet those like Mr Murphy who dallied with the vile politics of the extreme left during their formative years are allowed to pretend this is of no concern.

“I will remind the voters that Mr Murphy allied himself with the murderous creed which killed more people than fascism and enslaved and killed many millions after the war had ended.

Mr Raikes also pointed out that it was “no surprise” that this “ex-Communist” did not bother to turn up for nearly a third of all the votes taken at the House of Commons during the last term.

“Mr Murphy voted for the Iraq war and then voted against appointing an investigation into that war. Of course, Mr Murphy might not relish the thought of a BNP candidate pointing these facts out in public and he may choose to hide behind the ‘no platform policy’ of Scottish Labour. I somehow don’t think that will help him,” Mr Raikes said.

I hope the following will give all BNP members and officials inspiration for coming campaigns. I recently read the life story of Abraham Lincoln it shows the failures he went through yet he never lost hope. For 32 years he fought with his destiny before achieving his pinacle – his presidency. Read on

1832 Lost job. Defeated for state legislature

1833 Failed in business.

1835 Wife died

1836 Had nervous breakdown

1838 Defeated for speaker

1843 Defeated for nomination of congress

1848 Lost renomination

1849 Rejected for land officer

1854 Defeated US Senate

1856 Defeated for nomination for vice president

1858 Again defeated for US Senate

AND HERE GOES THE LAST AND PERHAPS THE BEST ONE :

1860 Elected as President.

I was amazed by the number of failures and number of years he fought before achieving what he wanted. We usually lose our hopes, say that I cant take it anymore, it’s enough for me etc etc long before 32 years!
Like Lincoln we have to keep on and we will get our just rewards, of that I am certain, 2010 could well be the best year yet for the BNP!

Gary Raikes

The following letter was published in the Daily Mail and is of special interest as it was written by someone who spent time on the campaign trail recently.

“I’m not racist, but…” that’s what I heard on the streets of Glasgow North East, time and time again. As the dust settles, activists in the main parties should consider the wider implications.
The BNP came within a few dozen votes of pushing the Tories into forth place and became the new home for angry and disillusioned voters rather than Solidarity, the Scottish Socialist Party and the Liberal Democrats’
Many voters were disillusioned with mainstream politicians. “Politicians? There all the same,” they all told me.
I found an increasing number of traditional non-voters were going to vote BNP. ” Someone needs to grab this country by the scruff of the neck,” was a common feeling.
If the main parties continue to be seen as indifferent or ineffective, then the BNP will continue making inroads in Scotland.
When voters ask why their children can’t get a council or housing association tenancy, the answer “they aren’t priority status” is remembered.
When gangs roam the streets and drug dealers ply their trade with little, if any, interference from the police, voters know who really calls the shots. People have had enough.
Alex Salmond has made much of Westminster dancing to a Scottish tune after next’s years General Election.
If I were him, I would be more concerned about the BNP holding the balance of power in Holyrood after the next Scottish Parliamentary elections in 2011.

MEV BROWN, Independent candidate in the Glasgow North east by-election, Currie, Midlothian.

All I will say is I promise that I will work night and day to make this a reality! We will deliver a BNP MSP in 2011 and nothing will stand in our way.

Gary Raikes

Officials from across Scotland attended a Remembrance Service conducted by Reverend Robert West in Morayshire this Sunday.
Representatives from Inverness down to Glasgow travelled to the private service to remember our fallen.

A wreath was laid in glorious sunshine followed by the two minutes silence that was very poignant in the countryside surrounding us.

The group then crossed over the road to take a seat for the second part of the service. This was followed by hot soup and rolls and a chance to catch up.

As Rev West had to travel so far to conduct this service it had been arranged to hold a baptism as well. I would like to thank John and Vikki for becoming my daughters God parents and Hammy, Joe and Denise for their kind present.

Gary Raikes

The British National Party will support the right of Scotland to have a referendum on independence, even though the party is opposed to independence per se, said Nick Griffin MEP.

Speaking after a packed out meeting to officially launch the BNP’s by-election campaign in Glasgow, Mr Griffin said that he supported the call for an independence referendum.

“We will oppose (independence) because we think overall it will be bad for Scotland and the United Kingdom. But if the Scots choose it then they are entitled to have it,” Mr Griffin said.

It was standing room only at a packed meeting for the official launch of the Glasgow by-election campaign at a plush hotel in Glasgow City centre on Tuesday night, reports our Scottish correspondent.

More than 80 members and supporters filled the room with members of the press in attendance to hear Mr Griffin, BNP Scottish leader Gary Raikes and candidate Charles Baillie speak.

Mr Raikes talked about election strategy in Scotland and of how important it was for supporters to take an active part in the campaign.

Mr Baillie provided a round-up of the campaign’s progress. Mr Griffin then spoke and a collection afterwards raised £890 for the campaign.

Mr Griffin then went live on a local radio station for nearly two hours the next morning, and conducted numerous media interviews.

Mr Griffin told the radio show that the BNP hoped to gain ground in Scotland and the main aim of contesting the Glasgow North East by-election was to build on the party’s profile before the next Holyrood elections in 2011.

“We were 4.4 percent in Glasgow North East in the European elections,” Mr Griffin said. “We are going to be running a better campaign and there is a lot of public interest and sympathy for us so I think it is realistic.

“In Glasgow there is a [Holyrood] seat to be taken with probably about 6.5 percent of the vote and we believe that is a do-able thing.”

The next stop on his tour was to visit the FEBA centre for ex-veterans. Some BNP members been involved with helping that organisation and Mr Griffin was able to speak to a number of veterans. He later described their accounts as “harrowing.”

Mr Griffin also spent some time with FEBA founder Mr Tommy Moffat. Many ideas for helping FEBA further were discussed which will likely come to fruition within the next few months.

Mr Griffin said he planned to continue supporting veterans. “If the generals want to be involved in politics for the British Isles, then all they have to do is come out openly and say that how the Government treats our ex-servicemen is a disgrace,” he said.

He also pledged to set up a support network for FEBA if it did not find the £100,000-a-year funding it needed over the next five years. “They are doing wonderful, important work here and they need recognition from the Scottish government,” he said.

Mr Moffat stressed that he was not a BNP member and said that FEBA was a non-political organisation.

The Sunday Mail editorial , 25 October 2009, tries to smear the BNP by attempting to associate us with something called the “Scottish Defence League”.

The BNP in Scotland has made our position on this group very clear in the statement which was issued by BNP Scottish leader Gary Raikes, in our Scottish newsletter, The Bugle, sent to every member in Scotland on the 9th October.

The statement is worth repeating once again:

ADVISORY regarding “SDL” March

Finally, it has been brought to my attention in a report in The Sunday Post (20 Sept) that something called “the Scottish Defence League” is wanting to hold an anti-Islam rally in the centre of Glasgow on 14 November.

This group has absolutely nothing to do with the BNP. While we would not expect any of our members to be anywhere near this march, it must nevertheless be made clear to every member of the BNP in Scotland, via the pages of this newsletter, that any member of the BNP seen at this march, or anywhere near this march on that day, will be subject immediately to disciplinary proceedings.

Labour: “BNP members should not be allowed to teach in Scotland”

From ‘The Journal’ newspaper.

BNP claim it is a breach of their human rights to withhold employment based on political beliefs

The General Teaching Council’s (GTC) code of conduct is strong enough to prevent BNP members from becoming teachers in Scotland, according to Scottish Labour.

The comments come following a speech by schools secretary Ed Balls to the Labour conference in Brighton last week, in which he ordered a review in England and Wales to “keep racism and BNP activity out of all our schools”.

Rhona Brankin, Scottish Labour’s education spokesperson, said: “We all condemn the idea of having racists teaching in our classrooms. No one would want their children educated by a neo-Nazi. Here, the General Teaching Council for Scotland has much stronger powers to ensure that anyone in the classroom is a fit and proper person to be a teacher.”

A Scottish Labour spokesperson added: “The BNP are not a normal political party. They are a violent bunch of fascists who stand against everything the vast majority of Scots hold dear.”

The review ordered by Mr Balls will consider whether or not to ban BNP members from becoming teachers in England and Wales, but will not effect the Scottish education system as it falls under the jurisdiction of the Scottish Parliament.

Regarding a similar review in Scotland, a Scottish government spokesman said: “Teachers must adhere to the General Teaching Council for Scotland’s Code of Professionalism and Conduct, which states that teachers must not be prejudiced by views about a pupil’s lifestyle, culture, disability, beliefs, colour, gender, language, sexuality or age. Membership of a specific political party in itself is not a breach of the Code.”

Speaking to The Journal, Gary Raikes, leader of the Scottish BNP, defended his party, saying that it is wrong to deny a teacher the right to employment based on political beliefs:

“The BNP are not neo-Nazis or violent fascists. Those that level these insults at us do so due to their ignorance. I would suggest that by trying to deny teachers employment because of their political beliefs is in itself a fascist act and a breach of our members’ human rights.”

GTC Scotland would not comment specifically on the situation, highlighting instead the stability of the system and the strict measures in place.

GTC Scotland Chief Executive Anthony Finn said: “We are content that our Code of Professionalism and Conduct offers a robust and fair measure by which to ensure that teachers registered in Scotland are fit to teach in our Schools.”

The British National Party in Scotland continues to expand and has appointed yet another new organiser and deputy leader, Scottish leader Gary Raikes has announced. “I am pleased to announce that Joe Finnie will be the new organiser for Renfrewshire and Walter Hamilton will take up the role of Scottish deputy leader,” Mr Raikes told a regional meeting of BNP Scotland over the weekend.
“The meeting opened with encouraging reports from Local Authority organisers on the activities which have already taken place in preparation for elections,” Mr Raikes told BNP News. “I told the meeting about the BNP’s ethos of authority and responsibility and why we have to adhere to a disciplined structure if we are to gain success,” he said. “The BNP Scotland is currently at an all-time record with the highest number of active members ever and we are building on our growing vote tallies.”
The meeting was given a roundup of articles from the Scottish press which had featured the BNP. These included many front page items which proved how newsworthy the party had become in Scotland. “Even though they were written with a negative slant, they were on average favourable to our cause,” Mr Raikes said.
Also on the agenda was the upcoming Glasgow by-election which provoked much lively discussion. Invaluable advice was provided by England’s North West regional organiser Clive Jefferson. “We all know Mr Jefferson ran the successful campaign which led to the BNP victory in his region in the European elections and we’re grateful for Mr Jefferson’s help,” Mr Raikes said. Also attending the meeting was BNP deputy leader Simon Darby who fielded a number of questions concerning the proposed changes to the BNP constitution and the importance of the coming appearance of the Chairman on Question Time.
“All organisers were given info packs and copies of Voice of Freedom to take away to help in promoting the party in their regions,” Mr Raikes continued. “In addition, BNP Scotland’s 23 seat electoral strategy was presented by one of our think tank members. This let everyone know the goal towards which we are working in the elections.”
“It was a pleasure to meet up with all our newly appointed local authority area organisers and to hear how keen they all are to get things moving in their regions,” Mr Raikes said. “All agreed this meeting was one of the best attended, most productive, and professionally run we have had so far. Thanks go to secretary Ian Wilson for preparing all relevant paperwork and meetings chairman Robert Bonnar for keeping proceedings running smoothly.”

British National Party Aberdeen City ——————————————————————————– Hello Folks, As I am sure you are all aware, support for the BNP in Scotland is ever increasing and as a result; Gary Raikes has recently appointed five new Local Authority Organisers (LAO) for Scotland. I am your LAO for Aberdeen City and hope to begin contacting you all soon for a quick chat (please let me know if you prefer to phoned or emailed) and to invite you all to attend an informal Aberdeen BNP meeting! I am aiming to set up the meeting in about a months time, simply so we can all meet each other and talk about what we can do to increase support for the BNP in the City. If you are happy just being a quiet supporter, that is ok with me, I understand. Does anybody have any ideas for a potential venue? I am new to this role so any suggestions / ideas / concerns / problems please get in touch, I am here to help.  email AberdeenBNP@yahoo.co.uk Looking forward to meeting you all. Regards, Barry Scott

The British National Party presence in Scotland has been ratcheted up another gear with the appointment of five additional new organisers, Scottish leader Gary Raikes has announced.

Speaking after a meeting to appoint the new organisers in Aberdeen last Friday, Mr Raikes said the new officials were the result of a recent push to recruit officials in Scotland.

“We are proud to report that the latest batch of officials means that over half of all area authorities in Scotland now have an official BNP presence,” he said.

“Each official has received a copy of the BNP in Scotland Local Area organisers’ pack which has ensured that they understand how the party works, what they need to do to hold meetings, contest elections and what needs to be done to promote the BNP in their regions,” Mr Raikes continued.

“I have enjoyed meeting members from across Scotland over recent weeks and have been impressed with their enthusiasm and commitment. I would like to thank them all for standing up and taking on these demanding roles to insure our continuing growth. There is now a real feeling that success is within our grasp,” Mr Raikes concluded.

This site has been closed for the last few months but will be back up and running very soon.

Gary Raikes.