SPLITS EMERGE IN WEST MIDS BNP

21-01-2008

Cracks have started to appear in the West Midlands BNP – which until now has been a stronghold of under-pressure leader Nick Griffin.  A blog purporting to be written by a veteran member of the far-right party’s East Birmingham branch has been created to lobby for change at the top.

The author, who uses the pseudonym Brummie76 says, “This blog is designed to put the case for the replacement of Nick Griffin as Chairman of the BNP.”

A thorough demolition of Griffin’s tactics concludes that his is leadership, “has been bereft of any kind of imagination or innovation and marked by a casual lethargy” (http://bhx76.blogspot.com/).

Over recent weeks, the Searchlight organisation (and others) have highlighted the party’s internal rifts. 

In December, two senior officers - Sadie Graham and Kenny Smith - were expelled amid claims of computer theft, spying and other skulduggery, prompting a strike of more than 60 organisers and officials around the country (http://tinyurl.com/2el5tc).

The main dissenting factions are in the East Midlands and Yorkshire, but the West Midlands has been seen as a loyalist region – until now.

Brummie 76’s true identity remains unclear, although the writer claims to have been involved in five elections and by-elections for the party.

Former Birmingham BNP organiser Rob Purcell has contacted The Stirrer to insist that he isn’t behind the blog – and along the way, he delivered a broadside at the party’s West Midlands organiser Simon Darby, one of Griffin’s staunchest allies.