OK... we all know that these people ARE racist scum, however, changing the law to cover what they did is NOT the answer. Effectively, making it illegal to be Nick Griffin is an erosion of freedom of speech for us all. Did he call anyone a racial epithet? No! He ventured opinons that I personally don't agree with... but I can't say I'd change the law to prevent someone sharing them. that is a the thin end of a wedge I don't believe is part of a modern democracy.

[quote] BNP leader Nick Griffin and party activist Mark Collett have been cleared of inciting racial hatred after a retrial at Leeds Crown Court.

Mr Griffin, 46, from Powys, Wales, had denied two charges of using words or behaviour intended to stir up racial hatred in a speech in Keighley.

Mr Collett, 26, of Leicestershire, was cleared of four similar charges.

Chancellor Gordon Brown has told the BBC race laws may have to be revised in light of the acquittal.

Mr Griffin and Mr Collett were charged in April 2005 after the BBC showed a secretly-filmed documentary The Secret Agent in 2004.

The party leader smiled and nodded as the foreman of the jury read out the unanimous not guilty verdict.

They can take our taxes but they cannot take our hearts, they cannot take our tongues and they cannot take our freedom
BNP leader Nick Griffin

Outside court, Mr Griffin and Mr Collett were greeted with chants of "freedom" by about 200 supporters, some of whom waved the union flag.

A small number of anti-Nazi protesters shouted as Mr Griffin addressed the crowd on a megaphone.

He said: "What has just happened shows Tony Blair and the government toadies at the BBC that they can take our taxes but they cannot take our hearts, they cannot take our tongues and they cannot take our freedom."

Mr Griffin said his co-defendant had worked "incredibly hard" for the BNP but had been living under the threat of a prison sentence since the age of 23.

BBC 'cockroaches'

Mr Collett, the party's head of the publicity, said: "This is the BNP - two, BBC - nil."

He branded the BBC "cockroaches" and added: "The BBC have abused their position.

"They are a politically correct, politically biased organisation which has wasted licence-fee payers' money to bring two people in a legal, democratic, peaceful party to court over speaking nothing more than the truth."

In a statement, the BBC said its job was to bring matters of public interest to general attention.

"In this case the matters raised in The Secret Agent were seen by a large section of the public and caused widespread concern," the statement read.

"The BBC has an important role in doing this.

"However, the question of whether criminal offences have been committed is of course a matter for the police, prosecuting authorities and the courts and not for the BBC."

'Divide society'

Speaking to the BBC after the acquittal, Chancellor Gordon Brown said race laws may have to be tightened.

He said: "I think any preaching of religious or racial hatred will offend mainstream opinion in this country and I think we've got to do whatever we can to root it out from whatever quarter it comes.

"And if that means we've got to look at the laws again I think we will have to do so".

The Crown Prosecution Service said it was satisfied there had been sufficient evidence for a "realistic prospect of conviction" and it had been in the public interest to proceed.

During the trial, the jury heard extracts from a speech Mr Griffin made in the Reservoir Tavern in Keighley, on 19 January 2004, in which he described Islam as a "wicked, vicious faith" and said Muslims were turning Britain into a "multi-racial hell hole".

At the same event, Mr Collett addressed the audience by saying: "Let's show these ethnics the door in 2004."

In his closing argument, Nick Griffin's barrister said his client's words were part of a "campaign speech of an official and legitimate party".

Story from BBC NEWS:
news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/england/bradford/6135060.stm

Published: 2006/11/10 18:01:50 GMT

Totally agree. The whole cases were a waste of time and money plus I always thought that any appeal, if found guilty, could have put the BBC in a lot of trouble over the entrapment issue.

I'm not certain of the UK laws on entrapment...

Hell, our self incrimination laws don't apply a lot of the time (moving traffic offences...)

I'm thinking along the lines of the Rachel Nickell murder... the fact is we don't know what was "missing" in the footage from the BBC journalist leading up to whatever Griffin said on tape.

When ghastly Blunkett was Home Secretary I wondered whether the blind were leading the blind.

I agree entirely. Merely mentioning the BNP gives them the publicity that they crave - even Griffin admits that this case has been a recruiting sergeant for them.

Did anyone see the footage filmed at the meeting that was the centre of this case? A small upstairs room in a pub ! Hardly 20 nutters there in total.

On another forum used mainly by younger guitaristd this has sparked quite a measure of debate - from that view it's is a good thing that's happened.

It has certainly brought issues forward that need exposure.

Ah right...

From a mate of mine in one of the larger police forces, they could have got a load of people on conspiracy to commit GBH and attempted murder if the BBC had given them the tapes before broadcast... so the BBC actually screwed an investigation.

When you have to legislate against a single group, you are restricting freedom of speech for all...

[quote] Tougher race hate laws considered
Ministers are considering whether race hate laws should be revised after BNP leader Nick Griffin was cleared of charges relating to speeches he made.

A jury decided speeches by Mr Griffin and party activist Mark Collett in 2004 had not incited racial hatred.

Home Secretary John Reid said he would consult ministers after Gordon Brown said current laws may need reviewing.

Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer said Muslims were offended and must be sure that the law would protect them.

But Lib Dem MP Evan Harris said tighter laws could create "extremist martyrs".

Mr Griffin, 46 and from Powys, had denied at a retrial two charges of using words or behaviour intended to stir up racial hatred .

Secret filming

Mr Collett, 26 and from Leicestershire, was cleared of four similar charges.

The pair were charged in 2005 in the wake of the secretly filmed BBC documentary The Secret Agent, which had been broadcast a year earlier.

The Leeds Crown Court jury heard extracts from a speech Mr Griffin made in the Reservoir Tavern in Keighley, West Yorkshire, on 19 January 2004, in which he described Islam as a "wicked, vicious faith" and said Muslims were turning Britain into a "multi-racial hell hole".

Mr Collett addressed the audience by saying: "Let's show these ethnics the door in 2004."

A Home Office spokesman said Mr Reid would "think carefully and take time to study and reflect on this [court] judgement and its implications, including taking soundings from his ministerial colleagues".

But the minister believed the "poisonous politics of race" could be defeated only by argument, politics and community engagement, the spokesman added.

Legislation banning the use of threatening words to incite religious hatred came into force earlier this week.

"Parliament has only recently discussed and decided on new laws in this area," the spokesman said.

"But obviously we want to make sure legislation is effective and even-handed."



In the wake of the BNP pair's acquittals, Chancellor Mr Brown said: "Any preaching of religious or racial hatred will offend mainstream opinion in this country.

"We have got to do whatever we can to root it out from whatever quarter it comes.

"And if that means we have got to look at the laws again, we will have to do so."

Lord Falconer later told BBC Radio 4's Any Questions? that the government had to show young Muslims that Britain was not anti-Islamic.

"We should look at them in the light of what's happened here because what is being said to young Muslim people in this country is that we as a country are anti-Islam, and we have got to demonstrate without compromising freedom that we are not," he said.

He said there should be "consequences" from saying Islam is "wicked and evil".


Story from BBC NEWS:
news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/uk_politics/6137722.stm

Published: 2006/11/11 12:39:46 GMT

I do like the BNP Party Political Broadcasts, you know the ones where the muslims carry the banners threatening to blow the world up.. OH... hold on, that's the news!

<<< I do like the BNP Party Political Broadcasts, you know the ones where the muslims carry the banners threatening to blow the world up.. OH... hold on, that's the news! >>>

Yep - it's a nice counter-balance to the governments that DO constantly threaten anyone who does not support them ... the only real difference is that these governments DO blow up the world !!!!

To know them is to love them... or else...

and @ MikeMacca

Caveat, old bean.. they'll change to law to stop you being able to share that opinion...