22nd October 2011 A village hall planning to host a speech by British National Party (BNP) leader Nick Griffin could have its rate subsidy cancelled by its local council if the event goes ahead. Hastings Borough Council has told the people running the hall in St Leonards, East Sussex, it will have to pay back a rate relief it was given as a charity if the event goes ahead - because it could undermine community harmony. Mr Griffin is due to give a talk at the Baldslow Memorial Hall tomorrow. But the local authority told them to withdraw the booking or give back the £376 subsidy. Controversial: Nick Griffin's planned speech in St Leonards is at the centre of a storm between a village hall and its local council However the council has been accused of trying to 'blackmail' the village hall. Council leader Jeremy Birch, leader of Hastings Borough Council, said the local authority was 'committed to equality of opportunity and to community harmony. He added: 'We have no intention of providing financial subsidy to those who aim to undermine these principles.' BNP party spokesman Simon Darby said: 'It's quite beyond belief what they are trying to do. Payback: The people who run Baldslow Village Hall (pictured) have been told if they do not withdraw the event they will have to repay a rate subsidy 'They're basically seeking to tax people who don't agree with the Labour Party, which is not really the British way to do things. 'It's effectively blackmail, putting a gun to the people that run the hall by giving them a financial penalty if Nick is allowed to speak there. He's an MEP, he's not some person off the street.' 'Beyond belief': Simon Darby accused the council of trying to blackmail the village hall Councillor Birch said he had been approached by members of the community who were unhappy at Mr Griffin's appearance. He went on: 'We have discretion about providing an element of business rate relief to charities. 'Here we have a charity that is providing a platform within its community building to the national leader of a political party committed to challenging these principles. 'If the charity wants to run a community facility for genuine community groups like Cubs, Scouts etc then it can withdraw the booking from the BNP and the council will reconsider the business rates.' Earlier this month Trinity College Dublin was forced into a U-turn on plans to have Mr Griffin join a debate on immigration. The university said it could not guarantee the safety and wellbeing of staff and students and warned the party leader he would not be allowed on its campus.Village hall told it could lose funding if it lets BNP leader Nick Griffin's speech go ahead
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2052212/Village-hall-told-lose-funding-lets-BNP-leader-Nick-Griffins-speech-ahead.html#ixzz1bX25nWTp
Saturday, 22 October 2011
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