A row has broken out between the Oldham Evening Chronicle and the British National Party after it called for local businesses to stop advertising in the paper.

The Chronicle has reported that around 200 letters have been sent out telling local companies that if they do not do as they say, party supporters will boycott them.

But responding in an article in the paper, editor Jim Williams said the move was typical of the BNP’s approach to freedom of speech.

He told readers: “We are appalled that the BNP has chosen to hold our customers to ransom, but we should not be surprised.

“The BNP leadership has often shown contempt for freedoms which most of us regard as precious.”

The letter also gives companies a deadline of August 28 to state that they disagree with comments in the Chronicle about the BNP.

It says a refusal to respond to the letter will also count against them.

The letter reads: “The BNP will launch a massive leafleting campaign informing supporters of the details of the companies that consider Williams’s anti-democratic comments and his policy of printing lies about the BNP to be acceptable.”

Jim said: “We have never told people how to vote. What we have done is explain to people why they should not vote for the BNP, but have left it up them to vote how they choose.

“Not every newspaper gives the BNP the publicity it gets in the Chronicle.

“In the 150 years that the Chronicle has been serving the people and advertisers of Oldham, no political party has ever attempted to blackmail its customers in that way, nor has any party tried to stifle free speech by threatening the newspaper’s advertisers.”

Mick Treacy, of Oldham BNP, said: “The Oldham Chronicle have once again tried to con the people of Oldham.

“There was never any intention to stop businesses from advertising with the Chronicle.

“Our aim was to allow any business who wished not to be associated with us to inform us and we would cease trading with them.

“The campaign has been a great success and our mailbox has been flooded with anti-Oldham Chronicle messsages.”

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