THE TELEGRAPH: Nick Griffin, the BNP leader, has accused the police of refusing to discuss security arrangements for his visit to the BBC on Thursday.
Anti-fascist campaigners plan to stage a protest against Mr Griffin's presence on Question Time when it is filmed at the BBC's Television Centre in west London.
Mr Griffin said the party has formally requested that the Metropolitan Police appoint a liaison officer so he could discuss police arrangements for his entrance to the studio.
He said a "middle ranking" officer told him, "It's your problem, not ours."
Mr Griffin added: "I merely wanted to arrange a meeting to discuss the situation and for the police to appoint a liaison officer so that I can actually get into the building safely.
“In such a situation, this is standard procedure and a perfectly responsible thing to do but they refused outright. It was explained that the reason for the request was to ensure there would be a minimum of public disruption outside the BBC studios on Thursday.
“I can only deduce that the police will simply stand and watch if, as is quite likely, there is disruption when I arrive at the studio. I asked the police to put this in writing but they refused.
"This is an outrageous dereliction of police duty and I am minded to seek a judicial review in view of this action, or rather in-action." >>> Duncan Gardham, Security Correspondent | Tuesday, October 20, 2009
TIMES ONLINE: The British National Party came under attack from two fronts today as a group of retired generals accused it of hijacking the Armed Forces and its entire membership list was again leaked onto the internet.
The party said that it was the victim of an orchestrated campaign timed to coincide with the scheduled appearance of its leader, Nick Griffin, on BBC's Question Time this week.
The generals, including the past two heads of the Army, accused the BNP of tarnishing the Armed Forces' reputation by associating itself with the sacrifices of servicemen.
In a letter seen by The Times, they wrote: "We call on all those who seek to hijack the good name of Britain’s military for their own advantage to cease and desist. The values of these extremists — many of whom are essentially racist — are fundamentally at odds with the values of the modern British military, such as tolerance and fairness."
The broadside reflected widespread frustration within the Forces at the fact that the BNP is allowed to portray itself as the party of patriots in its literature, borrowing military images and pictures of Winston Churchill.
But Mr Griffin quickly launched a counter-attack, saying that his party shared the values of the "old" British military, not the new "PC British defence establishment". With video >>> Philippe Naughton and Aled Thomas | Tuesday, October 20, 2009
DAILY MAIL: 'Members' include military figures, doctors, academics / BNP denounces document as 'malicious forgery' / BBC Trust review Griffin's involvement after Hain letter
Former senior military figures are among members of the British National Party, according to a new list published today.
The leaked document of those affiliated to the far-right party, which was posted on the web, includes several majors, scores of doctors and some professors.
It purports to show the membership as of April 15 this year and lists names, street addresses, post codes, mainline telephone and mobile phone numbers.
But the BNP denounced the list as a 'malicious forgery', insisting it is 'unequivocally' not genuine and many of the names had never been in touch with the party.
This is the third time in recent years that such a list has been published and comes days before leader Nick Griffin is due to appear on BBC's Question Time. >>> | Tuesday, October 20, 2009
