Yorkshire and Lincolnshire: Cloak and dagger

Len Tingle Political Editor, BBC Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

BNP kept media waiting

It was dark, cold and wet. For an hour I stood in the car park of a West Yorkshire pub waiting to be contacted. Two cars cruised by and the drivers checked that the coast was clear. A third car emerged out of the gloom, the driver pulled up and took me to a secret destination.

Not the first chapter of a cold war spy novel, this was the start of the British National Party's General Election campaign.

We were on our way to a press conference with the far right party's leader and candidate for Keighley, Nick Griffin.

What was now a convoy of around a dozen cars containing reporters and camera operators from the broadcast and print media were led to the secret venue.

BNP members applauded every word

Noisy meeting

A swarm of BNP "security guards" were waiting to direct us towards the first floor meeting room of a back street social club in Haworth.

There was a temporary stand off at the door when we refused to hand over our mobile phones but were eventually ushered in.

The room was packed with over 300 noisy supporters.

Most of them appeared to be middle aged men with shaved heads swigging from pints of beer.

They pressed up against us as we set up and remained at our shoulders throughout the event.

Nick Griffin: Leader given rousing reception

Nick Griffin entered through a side door to the kind of reception that a champion prize fighter would expect from his loyal supporters.

He made no speech and did not bother outlining his policies. Every question to him from the media was met with barely suppressed sneers from the crowd.

All his answers were heartily cheered.

Unfair portrayal?

The loudest hurrahs came when he accused the sitting Labour MP of doing far more for ethnic minorities than the white people in the constituency.

The sneering hit its height when he was asked whether he would be joining other political leaders marking the sixtieth anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

In getting on for three decades as a reporter I have attended countless press conferences put on by political parties. I can honestly say this one was unique.

The British National Party frequently complains of being unfairly portrayed as a shadowy organisation supported by narrow minded bigots who see intimidation as a legitimate political tool.

Did this "press conference" help the BNP cause?

Politics Show

Let us know what you think. That is Politics Show Sunday, 30 January, 2005 at 12.30.

Join presenter Cathy Killick for The Politics Show on BBC One on Sundays at Noon.

---