Bob Piper has been a Labour Councillor for the Abbey
Ward in Sandwell, West Midlands, for nine years. He is a lifelong supporter of Aston Villa Football Club and a follower of Yorkshire County Cricket Club.
The views expressed here are mine in a personal capacity, not those of the Labour Party, Sandwell MBC, Aston Villa or Yorkshire County Cricket Club. Get it! Mine... just mine!
Sandwell Councillor Gurcharan Singh Sidhu ('Sid' to everyone) is one of the nicest men I have ever met in my life. When I first got on the Council, Sid was one of the first to come over to me and extend a hand of friendship and give an offer of help if ever I needed it. Last night, amongst warm tributes from his fellow councillors, Sid became the borough's first citizen.
When I say warm words from his fellow councillors.... there were exceptions. Two members of the fascist BNP turned up to the meeting, but refused to take part in that section of the meeting which elected Gurcharan Singh Sidhu to the position of Mayor. As Councillor John Edwards said during his speech nominating Sid, during the local elections the fascists put out a leaflet saying "Do you want an Asian Mayor in Sandwell?". This, despite the fact that Sid has been a British citizen for 44 years and a councillor for 20 years. The people of Greets Green and Lyng Ward replied to the fascists with a resounding yes, giving Sid nearly double the number of votes the fascist polled.
One of the fascists, Carl Butler, is quoted by The Stirrer as saying he believes that even people who are born in this country should be disqualified from public life if they are of African or Asian heritage. "That’s not racist it’s realist”.
No, Butler... that is racist!
I know there is talk of taking the fascists to the Standards Board for their behaviour, but I think my views on the uselessness of the Standards Board are well documented. I am confident that everyone who comes into contact with Sid during his Mayoral year will be massively impressed by his quiet dignity, and the best message the people of Sandwell can give to the racist BNP is to kick them out at the earliest possible opportunity.
Sandwell BNP are actually out of step with the great leader's plans. The BNP PPB featured a Sikh guy laying into Muslims did it not? And they've been trying to appeal to African and Caribbean heritage people too on their Islamophobia line.
We have BNP in by-election action in Mcr next month ... their candidate got to almost 25% from a zero start in the last ward he tried to poison.
Hercules, you remind me of Hitler's comments that Jews were "Untermenschen". He certainly didn't consider Jews to be "fellow human beings" either!
If educational standards were improved in Britain's schools, maybe the BNP would get fewer votes! Clearly some people favour the BNP in preference to Labour, the Tories, UKIP or Respect!
Hopefully those educated in the last decade under a Labour Government will have better standards. No hope for those poor buggers who suffered the years of decline under Thatcher & Major though I suppose.
What makes me think Snafu's sympathies lie with the BNP (apart from the fact that he jumps up and down evertime they are criticised).
I would suggest the peaceful protest made by the BNP is far removed from the rowdy and disgraceful efforts by the UAF. Who in Broxtowe chanted all the way through the leadership ceremony and the minutes silence for a lost councillor.
Also in Corsham rowdy protests with insults and language which would incite violence was used by the UAF and more is planned with a day of action on June 11th.
I would suggest before you attack the democratically elected councils who make peaceful protests you look at the actions of those who wish to bypass the ballot box and hound people for their political view point.
Or don't you believe in the Ballot box Mr Piper and support vigalante actions of the UAF.
Sandwell Councillor Gurcharan Singh Sidhu ('Sid' to everyone) is one of the nicest men I have ever met in my life. When I first got on the Council, Sid was one of the first to come over to me and extend a hand of friendship and give an offer of help if ever I needed it. Last night, amongst warm tributes from his fellow councillors, Sid became the borough's first citizen.
May 23, 2007 8:10 PM | permalink
I'm a realist. The BNP lost. I wouldn't waste a penny on what the Butler saw, it never was very revealing anyway...