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."