BNP responds to Religious Outcry on BBC Radio

On Thursday 10th June 2004, elections are taking place for the London Mayor, Greater London Assembly and European Parliament elections. This is the first ever combined national and local elections on this scale in the United Kingdom.

Extreme parties are targeting selected councils and European constituencies. Last week, the Methodist Church launched an online information resource for any church or any other groups that are also concerned about the rise of far-right political parties such as the BNP.

Rev. David Coffey, General Secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain and Moderator of the Free Churches, added his voice to calls by both churches in West Yorkshire and the Methodist church, and has urged Baptists not to vote for the BNP in the upcoming European elections.

Churches in West Yorkshire were urging people to vote only for those who show "a spirit of inclusive welcome" to all races and faiths in June's local and European elections.

The letter, from the West Yorkshire Ecumenical Council, is being described as a historic joint statement.

However the BNP has hit back at church leaders who denounced the party as “racist and fascist” scaremongers. On 3rd May, during a BBC Radio's Five Live phone in session, Jonathan Bartley, director of the theological think-tank Ekklesia, took part in a studio discussion at the same time that the BNP’s Phil Edwards called.

The BNP spokesman accused churches of "neo-marxism", being "confused" and insisted that religious leaders should stay out of politics.

Ekklesia's director responded by telling the BNP press officer that church had at times in history failed to speak out forcefully enough against political parties from the far-right. This was a mistake that churches must not repeat.

"We are in a privileged position in the UK and it is right that we look at sharing those resources with the rest of the world. This is orthodox Christianity." He added.