Are you a nationalist, or a Griffinite?

Former member of BNP lashes out at Nick Griffin

By Clare Hutchinson, Wales On Sunday

Feb 20 2011

A FORMER member of the British National Party in Wales has lashed out at party leader Nick Griffin.

Kevin Edwards, a councillor for Llandybie in Ammanford, resigned from the ultra-nationalist [sic] party after he claimed it failed to properly deal with a member who had been convicted of assault.

The party’s South Wales organiser Roger Phillips, of Cross Hands, was convicted at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court last month after he admitted assaulting Adam Margetts, a fellow drinker at Llanelli Workingmen’s Club.

When Cllr Edwards e-mailed party leader Nick Griffin he claims he was told: “He’s got to go. I’m shocked that this was not dealt with in South Wales ages ago.”

But when a meeting of party organisers chose to back Mr Phillips, Cllr Edwards said the party’s refusal to oust him had left him no choice but to cut all links with the BNP.

Writing on his blog, he said: “What can I say? I have always been a loyal Griffinite and have always believed in Nick’s integrity and honesty.

“That is now shattered. Nick is either a blatant liar, politically naive or just listens to some very bad advice. Whatever the reason he is definitely not serious when he says that the party has cleaned up it’s image.”

Wales on Sunday previously reported how police investigated Mr Phillips in 2009 after he allegedly threatened to kill Bristol man Mark Watson, but charges were never brought.

BNP deputy Simon Darby said of Cllr Edwards resignation: “It’s a minor thing and it won’t affect the huge effort we are going to put into winning seats on the Welsh Assembly.”