Mum takes kids out of village youth club led by BNP member
A MOTHER is taking drastic action to protect her children from political influence after the Echo revealed the British National Party held a secret rally at Broadclyst Victory Hall, near Exeter.
Around 100 BNP members went to the covert meeting along with controversial party leader Nick Griffin, as reported in Monday's Echo.
The Broadclyst resident, who was scared of being named, said her "primary concern" was the involvement of youth club leader Colin Fribbens, who helped organise the BNP gathering. She will no longer allow her children to attend the youth club or go out without direct supervision.
However, Mr Fribbens has strongly denied involving politics in the youth club.
Policies of the BNP include calling a halt to all immigration, deporting all those who commit crimes and whose original nationality is not British, withdrawing from the European Union, restoring corporal punishment and abolishing anti-discrimination laws.
The mother said: "My fear is that the BNP will target, albeit indirectly, bored teenage boys who are numerous in the village.
"My son came home the other day upset that people were saying horrible things about Chinese people and asking if it was okay to like them.
"You couldn't live in a more insular community — most of the villagers were born here and we have an almost exclusively white, working class population — so my son coming home with concerns about racial issues is a bit of worry.
"I do not want my children exposed to the insidious, twisted logic of far-right groups before they are old enough to be discerning about the prejudices that they are being exposed to.
"Knowing about this meeting will affect my life directly, as it does now mean that my children will not be attending the youth club and will not be able to go out without our direct supervision."
The BNP's deputy leader, Simon Darby, previously told the Echo the meeting was kept secret to prevent "lefties" turning up and causing trouble.
The Broadclyst mum was "very concerned" it was not made public.
She said: "It's unfair to say that advertising the event would have attracted leftie loonies. I think that if any political party is to hold meeting in a small community that we really ought to have the chance to at least come and hear what they have to say for themselves.
"Far from being a leftie loony, I am in fact horribly conservative but believe extreme views, in either direction, can be disastrous for a community."
Youth leader and parish councillor Mr Fribbens, said: "Children weren't invited to the meeting — politics do not and should not come into the youth club.
"I never discuss politics with children, they should make their own minds up when they're old enough. My political feelings are for myself.
"The club is about giving kids something fun to do where there's nothing else. If people have concerns then they should get in touch with the clerk to the parish council and get involved. We're looking for volunteers.
"There's so much interest towards the BNP. It's the face of the future.
"I'm just a normal guy and we want to keep Britain a nice, pleasant place to live. Most of what we say is common sense stuff."
Vicky O'Hara, from Ottery St Mary, went to the meeting last month with husband Stephen.
She said: "I've realised that things are in such a terrible state in this country and we've been along to quite a few BNP meetings.
"I think people would be surprised at who the members are. They're really nice ladies and gentlemen. The meetings are really peaceful. It's a common-sense party with good morals and people don't realise that. We're proud to be British."
East Devon district councillor for Broadclyst Peter Bowden said: "I distrust BNP politics but I support the rights of free speech and any organisation is perfectly entitled to hold a meeting.
"The parish council and management of the Victory Hall are apolitical. Opinions don't come into the running of them.
"I would be concerned if I felt the politics of the BNP were entering youth groups. Politics should be kept out of it.
"I don't agree with Colin Fribbens' political stance but he has done a lot for the youth club."
3 Comments
by dace, right there
Monday, March 22 2010, 12:58AM
“Just like the old day's eh, easy target country village's. A message to all the southwest parish folk, do you know about the blackshirts in Devon? It's history repeating it's self. May aswell just ask Moseley..er Griffin, when he's going to be starting up the next holiday CAMP! Come on people, see through it!!”
by Martin Irons, Broadclyst
Friday, August 15 2008, 6:39PM
“My name is Martin Irons, I am a resident of Broadclyst, a former parish councillor and currently run the youth club here in the village with my very good friend, Colin Fribbens.
I would like to let all parents, and in fact, ALL residents of the village know a few important things. First, I am not at all involved in the BNP, I do not see eye to eye with their political stance, I am probably more of a 'lefty' than anything else.
Second, Colin has NEVER even mentioned his political affiliations, ideals or opinions at the youth club. In fact, I have worked closely with him for over two years and only found out about his membership of the BNP a couple of months ago. Whats remarkable is we have managed to remain friends even though we have different opinions!
Second, any parent who wishes to stop their child attending the youth club should ask those who attend the youth club what happens there. Not ramble on about how frightened you are by the thought of 'sinister indoctrination' in the local newspaper, that is helping nobody. I am very sorry for the 'Nameless' parent whos life will be so greatly affected by the fact that they now have no choice but to spend time with their children.
If you are so concerned by the political wellbeing of the village, why not get involved and try to do something about it? I urge you, please come out from behind your sofa, climb down the stairs from your ivory tower and have a look around. I think you will find that in the background there are an awful lot of civic minded people working for you to try to improve the parish. They may be Labour, conservative or even BNP but it really doesnt matter because they are all working together.
It is worth mentioning that I am a parent too, my son attends the youth club and he is inevitably going to formulate his own political ideals as he grows up regardless of my opinion on them, but he will not formulate them as a result of attending the youth club.
Finally, I think you will find that the O-LYMP-ICS are being held in China, it is just possible that the local children have heard about this and discussed it with your son. Believe me, it is not because the BNP are whispering 'insidious twisted' remarks from a hedge. I would think the BNP would avoid discussing the olympics altogether, since we the British are so bloody poor at them!
Stop the mud slinging and leave the village alone. It was fine last week, it will be fine next week, but you will probably notice this, while you are out, constantly supervising your children in it !
Oh, and I agree with one thing you said, you do sound horribly conservative!”
by Connie Briton, Exeter
Friday, August 15 2008, 11:04AM
“What's all the fuss about? These people have a British right to promote their very British beliefs. I thank the Express and Echo for bringing their policies to my attention. They do make common sense but I don't agree with everything they say however I love their slogan. "Not far right but not far wrong!"
When's the next meeting?”