Campaigners protest at BNP leaflet handout
The move by Unite Against Fascism comes after the BNP handed out leaflets in Exeter's Bedford Square — before being moved on by police.
Members of the anti-racism organisation say they are "extremely worried" that the BNP took to the streets of Exeter.
They have been given permission by city centre bosses to hand out leaflets aimed at discouraging people from supporting the right-wing group.
The BNP claims it is "standing up for the rights of British workers" in light of the recent furore over jobs at the Lindsey Oil Refinery in North Lincolnshire being given to Italian workers.
City centre manager John Harvey said the BNP had not been given permission to use Bedford Square and would not have been permitted to use the area had it requested to do so.
He said: "The BNP did indeed come to Bedford Square on Saturday, January 31, and started to leaflet. As soon as operational commitments allowed, the police were contacted and moved the BNP on.
"No formal booking for the space was made by the BNP and had they sought the booking they would have not been given consent to use the square.
"Any organisation that is likely to cause offence to shoppers or businesses or could raise potential public order concerns is not appropriate for Bedford Square. For both of those reasons there would be a problem with the BNP using the space."
Lizi Allnatt, a member of Unite Against Fascism, who will be handing out leaflets tomorrow, said: "From our point of view, it is extremely worrying that the BNP took to the streets.
"The BNP has jumped on the bandwagon about British jobs for British workers.
"Most people can see that they don't have a history of supporting workers. They are just using this as a way of pushing themselves forward.
"Having the BNP on the streets of Exeter is very dangerous and we are hoping to redress the balance tomorrow."
Mike Turner, Exeter organiser for the BNP, said: "I told the policeman who moved us on that we are a bona fide organisation and that we have the right to be on the street.
"We had plenty of people coming up to us and asking us questions — it was very well received by the public.
"We certainly didn't jump on the bandwagon of supporting British workers — we have been saying that for a long, long time.
"We weren't allowed to use the space because they are anti-BNP. Nobody else gets bullied on the streets like we do."
















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