Below is a letter to the editor sent by Susan Hilder. It’s about the removal of the BNP candidate from yesterday’s hustings debate in Delph, and I’ve reproduced the letter in full.
If you would like to respond to the points made in the letter, you can either leave a comment below this post, or send an e-mail by clicking on the Contact option at the top of this page. If you would like an e-mail published on this website then please mark it as a letter to the editor, and I’ll be happy to do so.
“I’m neither a member or supporter of the BNP, however I do believe in free speech for all. What happened is in my opinion shameful, complete censorship. We may not agree with another’s view but that person or party has an equal right to have his say.
“Our grandparents fought to keep this country free and to allow us to have free speech. It was Hitler who silenced the people. He would be proud of whoever censored the hustings.
“This country has far more to be concerned with than the views of one political party. In the words of the great Englishman Winston Churchill, the truth is incontrovertible, malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is.”
Susan Hilder
@Dr Jason Sturgess
FREE SPEECH is ok as long as we can control and censor it …
And I thought doctor’s had to have a reasonable IQ …
Seems not.
@Denny Tait:
Assuming you’re not being sarcastic, precisely who are “we”? Would they be the political elite who deny the people representation on any issue? Are you one of the anointed ones?
@Denny Tait:
Very sorry for the previous post. I read the actual comments afterwards and I agree wholeheartedly. My previous comment should have been addressed to “Dr” Jason, who clearly wears his learning very heavily.
I am not sure if I am living on the same planet as the good doctor Sturgess above. He talks of these militant leftist-extremist organisations that turn out as ‘rentamob’ to harrass anyone who objects to Global Marxist ideology. That ideology murdered over 100 MILLION human beings around the world in the 20th Century alone - and their blueprint particularly targeted those in society who were intelligent enough to see through their monstrous plans. He talks about battling fascists - perhaps he ought to have a chat with some of the generation of men and women who REALLY DID battle with fascists. Many of them would equate the UAF thugs with the Nazis rather than the British National Party - who seem to be quite benign by comparison. If the BNP are not allowed to state what they stand for how will we find out? It’s no good Dr Sturgess telling us what they stand for is it? There would always be the suspicion that he was bias and not representing their policies correctly. I am surprised that he had not noticed that we are already in a state of war - and that since New Labour came to power this country has been constantly deploying troops around the world on projects that do not appear to have any British interest. The insidious nature of the communist regime, disguised as New Labour, has seen all our institutions (including the EHRC) perverted into government pressure groups - and yes - Mr Phillips is quite capable of carrying out a government vendetta against a political rival. Mr. Trevor Phillips, by his own admission, keeps a bust of Lenin on his desk. How would Dr Sturgess feel if we all decided that there should be no TV, Media, or platform for the dangerous hard left?
Thank you for printing the ‘letter’. Its heartwarming to read the majority appreciate the importance of freespeech.
A message for us all, including the gentleman who has a Doctorate in Finance.
When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself.
regards Susan Hilder
For the narrow minded people who think i object to free speech you will see it is those who oppose it that most strongly use personal attacks.
Ignore the title of Dr, and answer my question of,if so many people voted for these Governments are they all marxist lunatics?
A time has to come when the people READ before commenting. Perhaps the BNP illiterate should take note!
If the BNP win in O&S I will send a cheque for £200 to support them , will you mugs match the bet?
Dr Jason Sturgess’ interpretation of democracy and freedom of speech is, in effect:
“You may say what you like and stand for election … as long as you think and vote as I do.”
Stalin would have been proud of Sturgess.
It’s amazing, isn’t it, that those most against liberty are those that shout “Liberty” the loudest.
Sorry, Doc., but you’re just another bovver boy for the State, and have been rumbled.
“Free speech has no place in our society where the BNP are concerned, and this shows with the backing we receive from the prime Minister, David Cameron and other influential politicians who realise democracy is to fragile to be left in the hands and words of the nazi BNP.” So said Dr. Sturges. How ironic that an organisation that styles itself “anti-fascist” embraces one the most important principles of fascism: the supression of free speech. To say “free speech except for people I disagree with” is a hallmark of totalitarianism.
Dr Sturges, when you look at the BNP, you are looking in a dark mirror.
What a lot of baloney. The BNP have targeted a small community group for this cheap political stunt.
Why didn’t they invade the stage of the Oldham chronicle hustings when only 3 candidates were invited ?
They saw the community groups as a soft target to push around with their threatening and menacing behaviour.
This has nothing to do with ‘free speech’ or party politics - ANY group that behaved in the way the BNP did would have been removed from the hall.Well done the police for their calm and professional behaviour in preventing a breach of the peace and preventing a small community group from being pushed around by a bunch of yobs.
dr sturgess , and when the bnp gain some form of control and say no platform for labour , the unions or leftwing journalists i bet you will some change your tune.
[…] […]