Sandwell Metropolitan Borough have cancelled 2009′s annual St Georges Day parade because of concerns about it being infiltrated by the BNP and other troublemakers.
The CEP’s co-ordinator for the West Midlands area, John Stanhope, has helped out at many of the Sandwell St Georges Day parades and is well aware of the BNP’s attendance at the parade. Sadly, there is also an element that causes trouble at the parades which spoils the fun for most of the attendees.
However, this is not a valid reason for cancelling the parade. The police know who the troublemakers are and they have the power to prevent them from attending so that leaves the BNP attendance as the only sticking point.
Sandwell has a BNP councillor, something that doesn’t sit well with the Labour councillors that make up the majority of Sandwell MBC. There is also quite a strong following for the BNP in Sandwell, a common occurance for areas that have such a large black and asian population.
The CEP doesn’t support any political party and certainly doesn’t agree with the racial agenda of the BNP or support their version of an English Parliament which would exclude those English people who aren’t of anglo-saxon descent. However, we are in the democracy business and the idea that a very popular St Georges Day parade should be cancelled because members of the BNP attend it is quite disturbing. When did you last hear of a Rammadan or Eid festival being cancelled because some of the attendees might be Islamic fundamentalists? Or a St Patricks Day parade being cancelled because republicans use them to stir up trouble?
Update:
Sandwell council have been in touch to say that story was blown out of proportion by the media and that they haven’t made a decision yet. The confusion is over a plan that has been produced by them to keep politics out of the St Georges Day parade and to monitor the people who attend the parade. A slight improvement for patriots who want to celebrate St Georges Day, not so good for anyone remotely interested in free speech and civil liberties. The statement is in the comments.
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Councillor Bob must be well pleased….
November 3rd, 2008 at 12:23 pmThe parade should proceed even without approval from Sandwell council. Let the police make arrests. Genuine English paraders could then go to court and argue their case, not that it would get that far. What would be the reason for making an arrest? Illegal marching. They wouldn’t dare!
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:25 pmAny BNP or left wing rent a mob troublemakers would be identified in court.
We cannot allow our civil liberties to be eroded to such an extent that it becomes illegal to celebrate England’s patron saint.
Despite popular belief the British National Party are far from trouble makers and give full support to St. Georges day. Any member who was to bring the Party into ill repute would be ejected. This comment was taken directly from Deputy Leader of the BNP Simon Darby’s blog 3 Nov. ( http://www.simondarby.blogspot.com/ )”St George’s Day celebrations in West Bromwich. I am pleased to be able to report that Tipton BNP councillor Russ Green has made urgent inquiries and had it confirmed that the funding is in place for this event and he has had assurances that it will be taking place. Thankfully this would appear to be the end of the matter as to cancel this event would have been an extremely foolish and destabilising thing to do. I hope this will allay any fears of cancellation.
Best Regards Bedfordshire Beacon
November 6th, 2008 at 1:45 pmCOUNCIL PLEDGES TO LOOK AT WATCHDOG REPORT ON ST GEORGE’S DAY
Sandwell Council chiefs have pledged to look closely at recommendations from the authority’s watchdog body about the borough’s annual St George’s Day parade.
The council is committed to celebrating St George’s Day and currently spends around £34,000 on St George’s Day events for local people.
This includes nearly £10,000 to fund health and safety requirements
for the Stone Cross St George’s Association’s parade.
Currently St George’s Day is celebrated in Sandwell by the parade, followed by a council-organised fun day in Dartmouth Park and an evening concert at West Bromwich Town Hall.
The Scrutiny Management Board – which is made up of councillors from the three main political parties in Sandwell and acts as a watchdog body on the council’s activities – reviewed the St George’s Day parade at a meeting earlier this month (October 16).
A number of recommendations resulting from the Board’s discussions have now been finalised and will be presented to the council’s Cabinet to consider when planning future St George’s Day events.
Councillor John Edwards, chair of Scrutiny Management Board, said: “The recommendations are designed to help the Council and all stakeholders in the planning of future St George’s Day celebrations that are safe, fun and enjoyable for everyone in Sandwell.”
Sandwell Council Leader Councillor Bill Thomas said: “We are very proud in Sandwell to celebrate England’s patron saint’s day. Sandwell people are patriotic people and this was demonstrated by Sandwell Council being one of the first nationally to hold official St George’s Day celebrations.
“We are absolutely committed to celebrating St George’s Day in Sandwell.”
Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for culture and leisure, Cllr Linda Horton added:
“There have, however, been a number of concerns raised and the Scrutiny Management Board has rightly looked into these.
“Cabinet will now look very closely at the recommendations made by the Scrutiny Management Board.
“These recommendations are not Council policy at this stage and we are committed to celebrating St George’s Day for everyone.
“We will work closely with all stakeholders, including the Stone Cross St George’s Day Association, on planning for St George’s Day events in 2009 which, as in previous years, starts in November.”
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM SCRUTINY MANAGEMENT BOARD (OCTOBER 16):
1. The Scrutiny Management Board notes that there is clear evidence of far-right political extremists infiltrating the 2008 St George’s Day Parade in Sandwell, with no apparent observation or record of this by any of the stakeholders.
2. The Scrutiny Management Board recommends that Cabinet and other stakeholders:
(a) Examine the evidence of the events that took place, particularly in the context of the responsibility of all public bodies to promote good race relations and develop community cohesion in Sandwell;
(b) That all stakeholders give early consideration to how, and if, political extremism can be eliminated at any future St George’s Day events in the borough;
(c) That all stakeholders give consideration to developing the St George’s Day celebrations into a static park event with the aim of providing a family-friendly event in a safe environment;
(d) That an analysis of the members of the public who attend future events is undertaken by stakeholders;
(e) That intelligence is gathered on any future events by all stakeholders in order that early de-briefings can identify issues and concerns;
(f) That no politicians be invited by stakeholders to speak at any future St George’s Day events and that no political parties be able to display banners or promotional materials;
(g) That West Midlands police officers undergo training to develop an awareness of the covert signs of any political extremism at future events.
November 7th, 2008 at 7:22 am[...] might not be quite so successful though – despite assurances from Sandwell MBC, it is still our understanding that the parade in Sandwell is not going ahead because the BNP [...]
December 21st, 2008 at 9:38 am[...] November it was reported that the St Georges Day parade – one of the biggest in the country – was going to be cancelled [...]
January 25th, 2009 at 8:59 amI WILL BE MARCHING WITH OR WITHOUT COUNCIL APPROVAL,I AM A HARD WORKING ENGLISH WOMAN,AND ITS MY RIGHT TO MARCH,I HAVE MARCHED EVERY YEAR,I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANY TROUBLE,I AM FED UP WITH HAVING MY FEELINGS DISREGARDED IN MY OWN COUNTRY,BY PEOPLE WHO THINK THEY KNOW WHATS BEST FOR EVERYONE ELSE,HAVE THE COUNCILLORS THAT DECIDED TO BAN THE PARADE EVER BEEN ON THE MARCH,OR AS USUAL DON’T THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT,ALL THEY SEEM TO HAVE DONE IS CONVINCE MORE PEOPLE TO VOTE FOR THE B.N.P…….IT IS MY GOD GIVEN RIGHT, IN MY OWN COUNTRY, TO MARCH AND CELEBRATE WHAT LITTLE WE HAVE LEFT OF ENGLAND,CAN YOU IMAGINE THEM BANNING ANY OTHER ETHNIC GROUP FROM CELEBRATING,NO ITS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN (ONLY IN ENGLAND) WE ALL NEED TO STAND UP AND BE COUNTED,NOT JUST TALK THE TALK, WALK THE WALK.LET THEM ARREST ME IF THEY LIKE,WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO CHARGE ME WITH,ITS A FREE COUNTRY ISN’T IT!,EVERYONE I KNOW IS STILL MARCHING. COME ON ENGLAND DO US PROUD.
February 13th, 2009 at 6:49 pmIf the council want to get difficult people should just turn up and call it a day out like a walk in the park out then any legal costs wont need to be paid to the authorities as a parade, or the council should ban everyone who does not support England and the ethnic English like the BNP (British) and/or anything other than the saint George symbol or white dragon. If anything people are being racists against the English in their own country. Nationalism is on the horizon and the Scots are determined to hold pole position as they show in their attitude and policies towards the English and ENGLAND.
February 14th, 2009 at 12:15 amI am sick and tired of pacifying these people who preach hate, death, and destruction on our streets. Sorry “Angie”. It isn’t a free country any longer. Not if you are white English it isn’t. Our human rights HAVE being whittled away. Every Englishman and Woman should parade on St Georges Day
February 17th, 2009 at 9:14 pmTHIS IS OUR COUNTRY, AND IF THESE FOREIGNERS DON’T LIKE IT, THEY KNOW WHERE THE AIRPORT IS.
Its so sad that the BNP try to hijack English patriotism.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4tFPp3wrcs
It is more amusing that the BNP are so keen on St George. He would certainly have been hated and despised by the BNP as he was not white.
February 20th, 2009 at 9:50 amThe BNP are far more keen on the Union Flag – it is their flag and part of their logo. The Saltire, Welsh Dragon and Cross of St George are all flown at their rallies, but the Union Flag takes pride of place. The BNP is, after all, BRITISH, not English.
February 22nd, 2009 at 8:55 pm