Update on Ham and High BNP advert row 3

Lots of activity over the weekend, not least by BNP trolls on this and other blogs. While I have no doubt that some libertarians support the Ham and High's line, the BNP's 'cyberactivists' have been at work on many sites, including this one.

On our side, activists have contacted Labour MPs Jon Cruddas, Frank Dobson, Diane Abbott, Glenda Jackson, and George Galloway from Respect as well Labour Groups across north London.
I spoke to Frank this weekend - he expressed his astonishment at Archant's short-sightedness in this matter and backed Camden Labour's position.

A cross party letter is being drafted to the local press, which will solidly show the support of all party leaders in this - and act as a warning for Archant should they decide to take BNP cash right up to the election.

King's Cross Cllr. Jonathan Simpson has set up a Facebook Group, "Stop the Archant Newspaper Group from taking paid advertising from the BNP", which has already grown to over 250 members and there continues to be press coverage via Sunday Telegraph and The Voice (page 3). [Monday] Stephen Pollard in the Spectator takes issues with the Ham and High.

Certainly everyone I have spoken to says that Archant sponsorship of the Camden 'EPIC' awards - rewarding local people who have done voluntary work for the community - should be reviewed: we shouldn't take tainted Archant cash.

There is a good deal of organising going on in Hackney, to stop Archant forcing the paper there to take the BNP ad they refused last week, next week.

I leave you with this comment on my blog, if you haven't seen it, from Ham & High editor Geoff Martin, sent to me just after 10am on the day of publication to illustrate what we're up against (remember, this is the editor of one of the most well known local papers in the country):

Leo [sic], is it possible to have an intelligent debate with you? I fear not as you seem determined to cement your reputation as a reactionary idiot.The placing of the BNP ad is not about profiteering, it is about being part of an open and inclusive democracy, a concept you seem to struggle with.You recognise that we 'don't need the money' so didn't it also enter your sadly chaotic thought process that there might just be another principle at work here? If you are in the business of censorship, let me reiterate that I am not. And as you well know, we previewed the Billy Bragg event on March 27 a salient point you chose to ignore in your usual style of trying desperately to make unrelated facts fit your personal viewpoint.

While Martin's pursuit of a Hampstead dinner-table-discourse on the limits of freedom of speech for the BNP might be lauded by some of that ilk, it will not be welcomed by those from the Jewish, Muslim or wider BME communities who have experienced organised racism of any kind.