Home Secretary bans EDL march

The fascist English Defence League’s (EDL) proposed march that was due to take place in Leicester has been banned by Home secretary, Theresa May.

The march was due to take place on Saturday.

A planned march in Bradford last August was also halted by the Home Office in a clear signal that while the government respects the right for individuals and groups to protest peacefully racial hate mongering and violence will not be tolerated.

Although they dispute it many believe there are strong ties between the BNP and the EDL. While the BNP have grown significantly over the last few years-partly due to voter apathy and partly due to hater mongering made easier by the recession-few doubt the intentions and origins of the BNP as Nazis who mask themselves as Democrats.

The move by Theresa May will be welcomed by anti-racist campaigners and organisations. An official spokesperson for the Home Office speaking about the decision said:

“Having carefully balanced rights to protest against the need to ensure local communities and property are protected, the home secretary gave her consent to a Leicester city council order banning any marches in the city on 9 October.”

EDL spokesman Guramit Singh said

"We will be having a meeting tonight and decide what to do then. There are a lot of options open to us."

The EDL claim to be non-violent.  However, in March it was clear to see at an anti racist rally outside Parliament that they are anything but. Given the recent infighting the BNP very survival seems under threat. The next objective will be to vote their MEPs out at the European elections in 2014.  Let's see if they last that long...

By Richard Sudan