EDL faces ban over safety fears

Local Councillors in Luton have written to the Home Secretary ahead of a march by the rightwing extremist group the English Defence League (EDL) planned for February 5th.

The leaders of the Labour, Tory and Conservative groups wrote to Theresa May on Friday, asking for her support should they choose to pursue a ban on the march.

Councillors Hazel Simmons, David Franks and Michael Garrett wrote: “We recognise that a ‘banning order’ on the EDL and counter demonstrators, would not prohibit them from holding a static demonstration.

“However a march is – in our opinion – provocative and not conducive to the public good at this time and would risk serious disorder.

“Further to this, the presence of the EDL processing through Luton has generated significant plans for visible and voluble counter-protests by other groups.”

The letter prompted the EDL to accuse the council of “trying to silence free speech and democracy”.

But Dr Fiaz Hussain from the Luton Council of Mosques said ordinary Muslims were “living in fear” at the prospect of the EDL coming back to the town.

He said: “People are wondering what they have done to deserve this. Some people are living in very deprived areas and the last thing they want is groups coming to town and throwing abuse and hate around. People here just want to get on with their lives.”

Other groups including Unite Against Fascism and the Muslim Defence League (MDL) are planning counter-protests on the day.