Swindon Against Fascism

At a meeting convened by Swindon TUC with a widely representative attendance it was agreed to set up Swindon Against Fascism to campaign against the BNP in the local election. As you may be aware, they are standing a candidate in Gorse Hill & Pinehurst.

It was agreed that Hugh Kirkbride of the TGWU would act as media spokesperson and issue a press release about the formation of the campaign.

The general consensus was that we should concentrate our efforts on leafleting electors in the ward and exposing the real nature of the BNP, as a fascist and racist organisation, with a history of thuggery, whose few elected councillors have shown not the least interest in representing those who elected them.

This is obviously a test run for the BNP and their result will to a large extent determine whether or not they stand regularly. Our task is, therefore, to try to minimise the BNP vote to such a degree that they are seriously discouraged from standing candidates, preferably demoralised.

Leafletting will take place on April 22nd and April 29th, meeting at 11.00 am at the Chapel St car park, opposite the Swiss Chalet, in Gorse Hill.

We have obtained material from the anti-fascist magazine searchlight for distribution. UNISON will provide 5,000 of its national leaflets on the BNP. We will produce 5,000 leaflets locally, which will expose the nature of the BNP and its membership and their pernicious role locally.

Expenditure will be around £740 and this will be covered by contributions by the trades unions.

The more people we have out to leaflet on the two days, the quicker we will get it done. It would be useful to know in advance how many will be leafleting. Therefore can you please let us know by next Thursday, the rough numbers of people attending from your organisations.

Can you phone Martin on 600755 or 07786 394593 or email swindontuc at btinternet.com .

Hugh can be contacted on 836480.

Thus far the BNP has not circulated any election material. They have distributed leaflets in the ward which have warned of the danger of Britain slipping down the slope towards and Islamic state governed by Sharia law! We want to know as soon as election material appears. If anybody has any information which you think we should know, please contact Hugh or myself.

Regards

Martin Wicks