Revenue generated by Archant from running adverts from the British National Party in the run-up to the local elections in London will be donated to charity.

The community publisher ran advertisements from the BNP in a number of titles including the Hampstead and Highgate Express.

Some Archant newspapers, including the Hackney Gazette, declined to carry the ad, which was appealing for voters ahead of next month’s London Assembly and Mayoral elections in the capital.

The content of the adverts didn’t breach any laws or guidelines.

But the company has no plans to run any more of the ads.

Company spokesman Keith Morris said: “The BNP is a legally constituted political party, advertising in the lead up to the May 1st elections in London.

“In making the decision to publish we took input from our editors and balanced the liberal principles of free speech against the potential impact on the communities our editors serve.

“Where we ran the advertisement in the Ham and High we also ran an editorial column from editor Geoff Martin, who said: ‘Don’t get me wrong. I dislike the BNP and all it stands for. I’d rather chew off my right hand than use it to cast a single vote in its favour.’

“In other areas we felt that it would be better to refrain from publishing.

“Any revenues generated from the BNP adverts will be donated to local community charities.”

Comments

Fred Jones (17/04/2008 10:02:34)
Hillarious – the grasp, power and tyranny of the liberal internationalist elites over our press couldn’t be better illustrated by the cowardice of Archant to accept BNP money. As are the letters from people with foreign sounding names condemming the BNP in the latest Ham & High.

DawMaMa (17/04/2008 20:02:23)
I’ve nothing in particular to say about the BNP advertising revenue story, but I would like to ask Fred Jones to explain why it is hilarious to read letters from people with foreign-sounding names, condemming the BNP, in the Ham and High. Why are the names funny? Did the writers sign themselves ‘Hu flung dung’, or were their names even ‘funnier’ than that? Do tell.

Robert Furness (19/04/2008 22:51:03)
Revenue generated by Archant from running adverts from the Labour Party should also be donated to charity.

robert gilmour (23/04/2008 11:29:50)
YOU have to ask yourself why the main political parties are constantly making innuendos about the British National Party.
They say that nobody will vote for the BNP.
If this is the case why not just ignore the fact that a BNP member is standing for election? Or is it the case that mainstream politicians have lost their way in this politically-correct society?
They need to stick their heads above the parapet and look at what’s happening in this country with regards to immigration-related problems. Good luck to All the BNP people standing.
If they are unsuccessful in this attempt of being elected, at least they will have the satisfaction of knowing that they shook them up.