Powell urges vote against BNP

[Ultra]

City defender Chris Powell has joined a series of other sports and entertainment stars in backing the Hope not Hate campaign.

He urges voters to spurn the British National party in today's's European and local elections.

In a letter published in the Guardian, signed by Prime Minister Gordon Brown and stars from the world of entertainment and sport, Powell says that voting for the BNP "is a vote against everything that makes this country great".

I'm proud that Powell has signed the letter in the name of his employers (and presumably with their backing) rather than in his capacity as chairman of the PFA.

I trust that City fans will heed his call. Whatever issues you may have with the political system, or the European Union, a vote for the BNP is not the answer.

Burying your head in the sand and abstaining, or spoiling your ballot paper, are not feasible options either.

This weekend we will commemorate the sacrifices made by thousands of soldiers from various nationalities during the D-Day landings.

The best way of celebrating their efforts is by standing up for democracy, and denying the heirs of Hitler the right to speak for us at European or local level.

DON'T VOTE BNP!

Text of letter in full:

We love Britain precisely because of its tolerance and diversity. The British National party and its allies are a threat to everything that makes us proud of this country we love. The BNP is working hard to conceal its extremism because it knows that people in Britain totally reject the politics of racism and hatred.

But the BNP's record is clear: its 2001 manifesto wanted mixed-race relationships to be outlawed and for any black person who commits a crime to be thrown out of the country, even those who were born here.

Nick Griffin, the leader of the BNP, was found guilty of inciting racial hatred in 1998. He denied that the Holocaust ever took place and believes that Jews are conspiring to brainwash white British people. We consider Griffin's views to be not only racist but fascist: he has previously described the BNP as "a strong, disciplined organisation with the ability to back up its slogan 'defend rights for whites' with well-directed boots and fists. When the crunch comes, power is the product of force and will, not of rational debate".

A vote for the BNP is a vote against everything that makes this country great. We are determined to vote on 4 June: please join us in voting for a great Britain.

What the Grauniad didn't reveal is that thousands of people, from various parties and backgrounds, have also signed this letter.

So can you..

[Guest Bilo]

I fcuking love Chris Powell, a thoroughly decent professional and a gent off the pitch as well. His work against racism in football has been absolutely top notch and everybody regardless of what team they support should respect that.

Personally, I feel that Powell is both eloquent and intelligent enough to build a career for himself in public speaking or politics. A great bloke and I for one hope that his words are heeded by the people of Leicester and football fans in general.

[accessory]

I fcuking love Chris Powell, a thoroughly decent professional and a gent off the pitch as well. His work against racism in football has been absolutely top notch and everybody regardless of what team they support should respect that.

Personally, I feel that Powell is both eloquent and intelligent enough to build a career for himself in public speaking or politics. A great bloke and I for one hope that his words are heeded by the people of Leicester and football fans in general.

Hear hear!

[Ultra]

Agreed.

[potter3]

Best reason yet.

[Tommeh]

He may aswell just run himself. GOD.

[Matt]

He may aswell just run himself. GOD.

I have no doubts he'd do a better job than the current wasters.

[Cat Burger]

Hero.

[stez]

i'm not voting bnp, or anyone else for that matter (as i stand at 7.43am)

[Head Honcho]

For many people they see immigration as a major cause to this countries problems, and who can blame them really?

Only on Monday The Sun ran a centrespread of Britains most wanted and 23 out of the 40 featured were foreign.

With the rise in support for minority parties I see this article as no coincidence and a cheap shot by The Sun.

I will be voting later but haven't decided who for yet. I know it will not be one of the big three though.

[Steven]

i'm not voting bnp, or anyone else for that matter (as i stand at 7.43am)

Vote Liberal.

[Jon the Hat]

For many people they see immigration as a major cause to this countries problems, and who can blame them really?

Only on Monday The Sun ran a centrespread of Britains most wanted and 23 out of the 40 featured were foreign.

With the rise in support for minority parties I see this article as no coincidence and a cheap shot by The Sun.

I will be voting later but haven't decided who for yet. I know it will not be one of the big three though.

I can blame them. Me. People who vote for the BNP are either ignorant or racist and that is their fault.

What people fail to realise is that without immigration this country would never have achieved the economic growth we have seen in the past 50 years. We were out actively recruiting people from all over the world becuase we needed workers. To take the BNP line and try to go back to some all white utopia is just ignorant racist crap.

[Matt]

I can blame them. Me. People who vote for the BNP are either ignorant or racist and that is their fault.

What people fail to realise is that without immigration this country would never have achieved the economic growth we have seen in the past 50 years. We were out actively recruiting people from all over the world becuase we needed workers. To take the BNP line and try to go back to some all white utopia is just ignorant racist crap.

(Before I carry on, I won't be voting BNP

Shame we never stop recruiting people and tightened out immigration laws in the country when we had what we wanted and realised we were too full, e.t.c, again i'm bleeting on about Australia again but they take no shit, They had a 'critical list' of trades needed, e.t.c, for example Carpentry/Joinery, I am led to believe Carpentry/Joinery is now over populated so they have took it off the 'critical list' and anyone who trys to apply through those means for that job is on a waiting list or have to be something special to be let in, someone I know has apply to emigrate over there with the trade of Carpenter/Joiner, and his rent was running out but the landlord said I want a you to sign a years contract or your out, so this bloke contacted whomever to do with his emigration and their reply was basically "Look if you pressure us, We don't want you, let it take it's cause and we will contact you when we want you".

We did need to people, we did need to open out culture, but we never close our open arms, even now we are welcoming people into the country...

[Head Honcho]

I can blame them. Me. People who vote for the BNP are either ignorant or racist and that is their fault.

What people fail to realise is that without immigration this country would never have achieved the economic growth we have seen in the past 50 years. We were out actively recruiting people from all over the world becuase we needed workers. To take the BNP line and try to go back to some all white utopia is just ignorant racist crap.

That is utter bollocks!

There is a requirement for some immigration I agree but it isn't vital to whether a country is a success on the world ecomonic stage.

South Korea and Japan have both managed quite well without the need for mass immigration

It's one of those agruments that if you say or hear it enough times you'll actually start to believe it!

[Head Honcho]

(Before I carry on, I won't be voting BNP

Shame we never stop recruiting people and tightened out immigration laws in the country when we had what we wanted and realised we were too full, e.t.c, again i'm bleeting on about Australia again but they take no shit, They had a 'critical list' of trades needed, e.t.c, for example Carpentry/Joinery, I am led to believe Carpentry/Joinery is now over populated so they have took it off the 'critical list' and anyone who trys to apply through those means for that job is on a waiting list or have to be something special to be let in, someone I know has apply to emigrate over there with the trade of Carpenter/Joiner, and his rent was running out but the landlord said I want a you to sign a years contract or your out, so this bloke contacted whomever to do with his emigration and their reply was basically "Look if you pressure us, We don't want you, let it take it's cause and we will contact you when we want you".

We did need to people, we did need to open out culture, but we never close our open arms, even now we are welcoming people into the country...

[Jon the Hat]

(Before I carry on, I won't be voting BNP

Shame we never stop recruiting people and tightened out immigration laws in the country when we had what we wanted and realised we were too full, e.t.c, again i'm bleeting on about Australia again but they take no shit, They had a 'critical list' of trades needed, e.t.c, for example Carpentry/Joinery, I am led to believe Carpentry/Joinery is now over populated so they have took it off the 'critical list' and anyone who trys to apply through those means for that job is on a waiting list or have to be something special to be let in, someone I know has apply to emigrate over there with the trade of Carpenter/Joiner, and his rent was running out but the landlord said I want a you to sign a years contract or your out, so this bloke contacted whomever to do with his emigration and their reply was basically "Look if you pressure us, We don't want you, let it take it's cause and we will contact you when we want you".

We did need to people, we did need to open out culture, but we never close our open arms, even now we are welcoming people into the country...

Have you lived in Australia? Or read their press? They have exactly the same debates. They are also a multi racial society. And we have pretty much copied the Australian points based system for skilled migration from outside the EU.

[Red Leicester]

And we have pretty much copied the Australian points based system for skilled migration from outside the EU.

Stop trying to throw facts into irrational arguments

[Jon the Hat]

That is utter bollocks!

There is a requirement for some immigration I agree but it isn't vital to whether a country is a success on the world ecomonic stage.

South Korea and Japan have both managed quite well without the need for mass immigration

It's one of those agruments that if you say or hear it enough times you'll actually start to believe it!

For a start the Midlands would not have had the economic success it did without workers from India and Paksitan to work in the engineering and textiles firms.

[Ultra]

For many people they see immigration as a major cause to this countries problems, and who can blame them really?

Who indeed?

What have immigrants ever done for us?

[Matt]

Have you lived in Australia? Or read their press? They have exactly the same debates. They are also a multi racial society. And we have pretty much copied the Australian points based system for skilled migration from outside the EU.

No, just visited, I have read some of their press, They are obviously a multi racial society the original society were obviously the aboriginals and all other cultures and races joined, I haven't got a problem with other cultures and races, what I have problems with is people joining countries now, when our country is on its knees, everyone is struggling for jobs as it it, and so on.

And I am half tempted to be hypocrytical and just as bad as the people i'm preeching and try or attempt to look at going to other countries, what does this country have left?

Again as I said in another thread last week sometime though, no doubt it'll be a case of 'The grass is always greener on the other side' and once in another country and working there no doubt you'll come across problems just as this country has.

For a start the Midlands would not have had the economic success it did without workers from India and Paksitan to work in the engineering and textiles firms.

And now, partly, you can't place 100% blame on them but thanks to the current government we are losing that economic success to India, Pakistan and other countries because all that money the government and MP's have stole of us could have been pumped into the country and into industry helped companies and saved jobs.

For example LDV are almost bust (Maybe are bust i'm not quite sure) a foreign person is coming in and buying it, the owners of LDV have no choice but to accept, If it all goes through, we are going to lose the manufacture, industry, e.t.c because these foreign owners will be taking LDV to another country.

[Jon the Hat]

Who indeed?

What have immigrants ever done for us?

You should know that that is ok becuase they are OUR immigrants. You know, like we had OUR black players in the 70's and they were alright. It is them others ones which are the problem.

[welck12]

Have you lived in Australia? Or read their press? They have exactly the same debates. They are also a multi racial society. And we have pretty much copied the Australian points based system for skilled migration from outside the EU.

The difference being, if you make it in to our country at any point you never have to leave, the aussies kick you straight back out if they have even a sniff of you not suppose to being there

[Jon the Hat]

The difference being, if you make it in to our country at any point you never have to leave, the aussies kick you straight back out if they have even a sniff of you not suppose to being there

I suppose you have personal experience of this? No? Just read it in the papers? We have some very tough immigration laws in this country, and we often backdate changes as well. Living on a visa in Britain is not a fun experience.

On the other hand we could hose down boat loads of people and send them back into internaitonal waters where they drown.

You probably also think immigrants can claim benefits.

[Head Honcho]

For a start the Midlands would not have had the economic success it did without workers from India and Paksitan to work in the engineering and textiles firms.

Says who?

[Fosse Boy]

My already undying love for Chris Powell just increased tenfold.