Row over BNP exploitation of Armed Forces continues

From Nothing British About the BNP:

The BNP’s controversial attempts to align themselves with the Armed Forces has been highlighted by a report in today’s Times.

The Times cites Simon Darby, deputy leader of the BNP, as saying: “Sometimes we gild the lily, but all political parties do that.”

James Bethell, director of Nothing British, told the paper how the BNP’s attempts were a “deliberate strategy”. He said: “This ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’ strategy by the BNP is working and allowing them to worm their way into the fabric of British society.”

“BNP admits exaggerating claims of donations to Forces charities” – From The Times:

The BNP has been exploiting public support for British troops by holding fundraising drives for military charities.

The far-right party has offered its help to struggling charities, claiming that it is “in the interests of the British people”, and has highlighted a series of donations to soldiers and veterans’ organisations on its website. The party intends to hijack the Poppy Appeal by calling on its members to sell poppies for the Royal British Legion. There are also plans to hold a book auction to raise money for Help for Heroes, a charity for injured soldiers.

However, The Times has learnt that the BNP has vastly exaggerated the amount of money it has given. On other occasions it has taken credit for donations given by individual members.

Nick Griffin, the party leader, claimed on its website that the BNP gave £25,000 “worth of help” to a struggling veterans’ charity in Scotland known as FEBA, an acronym for the military term, Forward Edge of Battle Area. But the organisation, which accepted support from the BNP, saying that otherwise it would have to shut down, said it had been given just £3,000 by a local party activist and some heating equipment from the party.