‘Wide Boys“R”Us’ - or BNP Finances?

Well, well well … Okay, say what you like but ‘Wide Boys“R”Us’ has nothing on the BNP; sailing close to the wind and just that all important one step away from indictable offences. Listening to this broadcast I had visions of street corner merchandisers with ‘Genuine’ (fake) Rolex watches, pirated CDs and copy-cat perfumes!

Okay we learned nothing new really from the broadcast. Well, nothing that hasn’t been bandied about on the various blogs and forums interested and concerned about the shenanigans of this 4th Major Party, the BNP - as Nicky Boy likes to call his piggybank. I did however learn one new thing. I never knew that there was such a creature as a “Forensic Accountant”. But I am getting ahead of myself …

I was hoping that the programme might address various issues such as the refurbished barn on the ole homestead – you know the one I mean. That barn that was refurbished using party funds for materials and the expertise of skilled artisans from among the faithful – all volunteers. Currently the party pays £19,000 a year ‘rent’ for the barn as detailed in their overdue but finally submitted accounts

(From the copy of 2006 accounts finally available from the Electoral Commission website)

But alas that was not to be. What was brought up though was with what little regard this ‘great white hope’ for the hard working and ‘down-trodden’ law abiding native inhabitants of this country regarded the actual Rule of Law. You know the one I mean, that one he is claiming is being submerged by Sharia Law.

At a conference organised by a former leader of the Ku Klux Klan Nicky Boy can be heard to ask people to … “throw money at the British National Party. Actually, you can’t throw money at the British National Party because it is against the law. But you can throw money at a group called ‘Civil Liberty’ and that is within the law. It is bizarre but there you are … the law is an ass” so sayeth Mr Griffin - quoting poor Mr Bumble completely out of context in the process. Incitement to circumnavigate the law? From such a fine upstanding honourable pig farmer?

Of course Mr Smith, Civil Liberty Treasurer, states that the organisation does not exist purely to help members of the BNP (Did someone forget to mention that fact to Nicky Boy) Though he cannot recall which non-BNP members the group has helped … Are there any or are those 'few low profile cases down South' an instance of ‘OMG!!! I wish there were some so I could counter-claim’. As of February 12, 2006 the Civil Liberty website listed only 3 individuals that it had supported in their fight against victimisation because of dissent:

• BNP councillor Arthur Redfearn
• Nick Griffin
• Mark Collett

It also mentioned concern for Tina Wingfield, another BNP activist and there is a mention of support from, rather then for Bradford BNP activist Darren Manby. Never Mind Mr Smith, I for one am willing to let you come back to us on that one. On the day a snowman rules in Hades.

But it seems that circumnavigation is about the kindest thing that can be said about the financial contortions of the BNP. What about those shredded document then? Now there is something really fascinating …

• Claim number one: There is no such thing – no paper records everything stored on computer.
• Claim number two: the shredded material included material such as "draft accounts that may have errors in dates and things like that. Because you are trying to reconcile the accounts, of course you shred documents."
  

Of course Mr Walker sir; now, I am no accountant but I would have thought that shredding documents is something you would do when you are cooking the books. Judging by the linguistic content of the submitted annual accounts, I don’t think that grammatical errors were the reason for shredding anything.

BNP as a brand name? Well, why not. I often go to the local supermarket and get a couple of pounds of Tate and Lyle sugar, a jar of Kenco coffee … oh and while I am at it I’d better have a packet of BNP. We are running rather low on racist xenophobia (Actually I do need to get some toilet paper next time I go shopping).

One other thing I shall await with eager anticipation. The sight of that bounced £20,000 (twenty thousand pound Sterling) cheque. There is no doubt about it but Nicky Boy, exultant from his narrow escape on the steps of Leeds Crown Court did speak of a single donation of £20,000. Of course it is very amusing that this cheque bounced Mr Walker. What I find incredible though is that you, as treasurer should not be able to access this bounced cheque and the letter confirming its ‘bouncing’. But again, I am sure that once your deputy returns from wherever he is lurking, that you will be only to glad to put all our minds at rest.

Oh, and before I put this post to rest. Remember I mentioned a ‘Forensic Accountant’. Well Chris Makins is one. The firm he is with has some expertise in uncovering money laundering. He is concerned by the two separate headings in the accounts:

• Meeting collections £80,000
• Donation income other £62,000
  
  

He feels that for a sum as large as £62,000 there really should be something more specific then merely ‘other’. Still Mr Walker holds that this is insignificant and as Mr Walker has so far managed to inspire me with complete confidence in his integrity …

Well, no not quite. But I am convinced of his utter loyalty to the Chairman; and his complete confidence in both the Chairman and other high officials whom he absolves from having to account for their spending when they are ‘out in the field’. In short, the programme left me with more questions then answers and I daresay the latter will not be forthcoming in any hurry.