Monthly Archives: August 2003

NF: Booth bottles ballot

Newcastle NF chief, Kenneth Thomas Booth, failed to enter his party for the Walker (East Newcastle) bye-election on September 4th.

Booth, a member of the NF’s National Directorate and organiser of one of its few functioning branches in the country, was behind the NF’s North Tyneside Mayoral campaign in June when the NF held its deposit.

Cock-a-hoop at not losing their £500, Booth gave the impression that the NF would contest any and every bye election in the North-east. Clearly the NF is not capable of doing this and Booth seems happier designing pretty flags for use on the NF websites.

There has been some sporadic NF activity e.g. Booth and a handful of his travelling circus were in Hexham town centre on Saturday, 26th July.

Contesting Walker for the BNP is Jonathan Keys of St. John’s Road, Benwell.

Keys is back in court later this month to find out how much he will have to pay to those Benwell Labour Councillors whom he libelled in the course of the May local elections. One can only hope that Jonathan will be more temperate in what he includes in his leaflets this time around.

At the same time, we are sure that those of his comrades who have come into money within the past year will do the decent thing.

Burnley BNP Councillor, Luke Smith, a Convicted Soccer Hooligan

Luke Smith, Luke Smith BNP Councillor BurnleyBNP councillor for Lanehead ward in Burnley, was convicted of using threatening words and behaviour outside a Burnley pub. His offence took place on the day the Burnley Clarets lost 2-0 to Manchester United in the Worthington Cup – December 3rd 2002.

Smith is reported to have pleaded guilty and was fined. A lifetime ban was imposed by Burnley football club at their Turf Moor football ground.

Smith failed to reveal his criminal past during his Burnley election campaign in May 2003.

Photo: BNP Councillor Luke Smith

This is Lancashire: Councillor banned from Turf Moor matches

Burnley Soccer Firm – Burnley Suicide Squad

Cross of St GeorgeSmith is not alone in maintaining a lifestyle of public disorder and BNP activism. Another local hooligan, a member of Burnley’s soccer hooligan firm, the Burnley Suicide Squad, has recently been convicted of the killing of a 17 year old Nottingham Forest fan, Nathan Shaw.

Barely a week after Smith’s offence, the killing took place outside the Yates Wine Lodge pub in Burnley. 19-year-old Andrew McNee and other Squad members were abusive to Nathan and his friends who were drinking inside. They left the pub and were followed by McNee who struck Nathan on the back of the head with a broken glass – a blow that lead to his death.

McNee was similarly subject to a lifelong ban by Burnley FC.

Rossendale Free Press: Football hooligan is jailed for fan death

The Suicide Squad, along with the BNP and other far right groups, were prominent in causing Burnley’s race riots in 2002. They also made a bid to rampage through Asian areas of their home town following an England World Cup game in the summer of 2002.

Searchlight: Racism in football

Burnley BNP Councillors Condone Soccer Violence

In January 2003, Burnley BNP continued with a policy of condoning the behaviour of violent local activists, when their three local councillors failed to vote in favour of a motion of support for Burnley Football Club’s policy of life-long bans for football hooligans.

This is Lancashire: BNP man defends racist soccer chants

BBC: BNP abstain in anti-racism vote

Elsewhere in the UK, soccer hooligans play an important role in BNP local campaigns, providing a useful supply of violent street activists.

Oldham people suffered racist violence from soccer thugs during their troubles in May 2001. Football hooligans “The Fine Young Casuals” from Oldham itself and then supporters from Stoke were drawn to these events and played a major part.

Searchlight: Hooligans United in racism

Burnley BNP Electoral Fraud

Burnley is a flagship BNP Burnley organiser Steve Smithlocal council for the BNP, who’s local organiser, Steve Smith (Luke Smith’s uncle), is a convicted electoral fraudster. The fraud was perpetrated in Burnley during the May elections in 2001, and involved six BNP council candidates. A number of local people denied having signed BNP candidate’s nomination papers and the candidates were then excluded. Steve Smith was later sent to prison for three months for his involvement in the fraud.

Photo: BNP Burnley Organiser Steve Smith

Despite examples of their own criminal behaviour, the BNP in Burnley stress law and order issues. A leaflet states “Crime is out of control – Time for zero tolerance” and Luke Smith’s May election leaflet demands action against ‘anti-social elements on housing estates’.

The BNP electoral platform is also strongly anti-Moslem. Whipping up fears against aslyum seekers, their message encourages street thugs to prey on the vulnerability of local refugees and is blamed for an increase in local racially motivated attacks.

Burnley FC Continue fight against soccer thugs

Burnley Football club continues to step down hard on hooligan elements at football matches.

Blitz on soccer ground thugs

Related news and facts:

BBC: Lib Dems beat BNP in Burnley

  • The Burnley Asian community numbers just under 5,000 in a town of 90,000.
  • BNP national organiser, Tony Lecomber, is a convicted bomber.
  • Luke Smith lives at 124 Brunshaw Road, Burnley, BB10 4BY
  • BNP in Burnley: ‘democracy@burnley.gov.uk’

Councillor banned from Turf Moor matches