Solidarity Splitters!
Solidarity, the right nationalist ‘trade union’, might not be nearly as much use to their members as a real union, but they are at least excelling in one area - splits and squabbles.
Over the past week, a very entertaining story has been emerging. It seems that Pat Harrington, General Secretary (and occasional commenter to this blog), has been suspended from his post by the President Clive Potter and Vice-Prez Tim Hawke, amidst allegations of financial irregularities. Apparently, the accounts the union needs to supply to the Certification Officer are delayed, after Potter believed the version of the accounts Harrington showed him was too unclear, and refused to sign them without seeing the full accounts. Hawke claims that an un-named Merseyside BNP member has been appointed Acting GS, until a new GS is found, and that the BNP are planning a hostile takeover of the union.
Harrington unsurprisingly has a different take on this, and as he still has the keys to the website, he’s letting everyone know about it by calling for an EGM in July to appoint a new (and larger) executive (Hawke is amusingly reduced to getting his message out via the Lancaster Unite Against Fascism blog). Harrington says that he and the BNP leadership believe that the troubles, and a leadership challenge, are being orchestrated by well organised far-left undercover saboteurs within the union. The BNP has in the meantime stopped recommending members to join the union.
What is going on? Both these explanations sound a little fishy. If there’s been any embezzlement going on, it’s rather cheap stuff, given the union has at most 100 subs paying members and can’t have any cash to speak of. Otherwise, Sherlock Holmes’ maxim could have us believing that any far-left groups are well organised enough to have done this.
And what does this bode for Harrington’s claims that Solidarity are BNP independent? If the BNP are now considering a takeover, maybe they were indeed more separated than most people thought (though won’t be very soon if the EGM goes ahead). Though how to square this with his claim on the union’s site that the accounts were audited by Kenny Smith (head of BNP admin) yet not shown to Hawke and Potter, and Harrington’s objection that the new AGS is not a BNP member of good standing?
Hat tip: Lancaster UAF
Bonus entertainment: Clive Potter is in the news again - from Unity
Tags: BNP Solidarity, BNP union
June 30th, 2007 at 4:47 pm
Hey, at least it’s not as bad as an ASLEF barbecue!
The situation within Solidarity is complex. As a fan of your site I thought I would try to give you some insight.
The accounts which have yet to be signed off by Hawke and Potter have been published on our website. They relate to the first year in which very little activity took place. During this year expenditure was very small and covered PO Box rental, Webhosting, printing and postage mainly. The only payment to an individual during the period was in fact to Clive Potter to reimburse him for travel expenses to an Exec meeting and to repay him for opening the PO Box. I offered to meet Tim Hawke and show him the receipts, bank statements and accounts the weekend prior to handing them in to the Certification Officer. I offered to travel from Edinburgh to Suffolk in order to do this. He told me he was to busy to meet me.
The Certification Officer granted an extension to enable me to persuade either Clive Potter or Tim Hawke to sign. I have sent them copies of receipts and bank statements and invited them once more to do so.
These accounts were prepared by a professional firm of accountants and independently audited according to the law. Yes, one of the lay auditors is a BNP official (the other is a Barrister). I choose a high-ranking BNP official as we have a number of members from that Party and I wanted them to understand that everything was above board.
As you may be aware Trade Unions are very regulated. Our accounts have to be audited, submitted to the Certification Officer and published to our membership. As you point out the sums of money involved are small. There is no truth whatsoever in the allegations made and this will be established.
My objections to Mr McLinden don’t relate to the fact that he is not a BNP member of good standing. It is his conduct as a member of our Union that gives me cause for concern. It is noteworthy, however, that he has a record of disruption in other groups.
I’m interested to note that the timing of our difficulties coincides with a leadership challenge to Nick Griffin. It intrigues me that the attack on Solidarity and his handling of it is being used to attack him. It’s funny too how he is also being accused of having his fingers in the till (without the provision of any evidence of course). Life is certainly full of coincidences!
You will be delighted to learn that we continue to work for our members. On Thursday I was dealing with an unpaid SSP claim and on Friday represented a member at a grievance hearing. I draw your attention to the case of Mark Walker who I am personally representing.
The BNP has now reinstated advertising for the Union (as has Third Way) and in fact we are involved with a major recruitment campaign. This has resulted in a flood of applications. Curiously, even the current controversey seems to have boosted our profile and recruitment.
Our membership is very steadfast and knows the score. Only two members have thus far resigned as a result of the anti-Solidarity campaign. They will probably rejoin later.
At our EGM I’m confident that a wider Executive will be elected. Those who have sought to disrupt our work will have questions to answer before the membership.
Pat Harrington
June 30th, 2007 at 10:05 pm
Thanks Pat. Yes, best avoid the barbies for a while! Mind you, should be safe on that front with this weather.
So what’s your take on why Potter and Hawke are holding you to ransom? Is this as you suggest possibly part of a wider attempt to change leadership at the BNP?
July 1st, 2007 at 4:19 pm
Nominations closed recently in the BNP leadrship elections. There is a challenge to Nick Griffin which appears to involve manipulation from external groups.
According to the Press Statement issued by the rival Jackson camp they were expecting a three month campaign. This was based on a misreading of the BNP Constitution which states that the election must be held “within” three months. In fact the poll will be held in just over three weeks.
The Press Statement (not so cleverly issued on the day Tony Blair left office!) attacks Nick Griffin for his handling of finances and makes a number of unsupported allegations.
I believe that the disruption of Solidarity was intended to be used as a further stick to beat Griffin with. The style of making vague accusations about finances without providing evidence is remarkably similar.
Looking at the email from Hawke is instructive. It indicates that this is not someone acting from any principled position or from genuine concern. He says that disciplinary action was started at a meeting at which I was present. This is a blatant lie intended to get round the fact that the secret meeting at which they actually voted to suspend me was inquorate. Fortunately, I keep good records of all my dealings (particularly with those I don’t trust) and will have no difficulty proving to any Court the truth of what I say. He goes on to state that I am being investigated by the Certification Officer. Again this is not the case.
There are some attempts on blogs and postings to use the Solidarity disruption against Nick Griffin. In fact, however, he is likely to gain support for the decisive action he has taken in denouncing the would-be wreckers and traitors. Speaking to members of Solidarity who are also in the BNP I am told that Griffin will win overwhelming support.
I find the incompetence displayed by those involved in both the anti-Griffin campaign and the attempt to disrupt Solidarity astounding. It is one of the things that convinces me that it is not State run but the work of some unprofessional, political outfit.
July 18th, 2007 at 11:49 pm
Why is everything that Patrick Harrington touches turns to dust? Why is there awalys trouble and dissession when he gets involved? Why all the splits when Patrick is about?
(comment edited)
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:56 pm
(comment edited)
On a factual point Third Way was formed in 1990 and has never split.I have only been in one organisation that split - the National Front which I left in 1989. It was splitting on a regular basis long before I joined it!
I can assure Kevin that I always make time for my Union work.I continue to represent those who need it as disciplinaries and grievances and write on Union topics (all thus far on a voluntary basis).
I am well aware that the media is used to punish dissidents in our great democracy. If you advocate alternative policies to the establishment consensus you should really expect vilification. It has little effect on me as I am quite capable of defending myself and answering smears.
It doesn’t upset me that Third Way is “treated with suspicion by many in the political establishment”. We don’t entirely trust them you know…
August 3rd, 2007 at 10:24 am
As someone busy grinding an axe on another blog, it seems Mr Harrington likes to believe what the papers say when it suits him. Someone who seems to know so much about how the press work and how smears are readily created to suit the political stance of the paper, it seems strange that he still revels in libellous ‘exposes’ when it suits. As long as it’s not Mr Harrington himself in the firing line, it’s okay is it? I’m surprised Harrington has any time to do union work after spending hours on all the blogs he frequents.
August 18th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
(comment edited)
I regard answering attacks on our officials and Union as part of my work Kevin. You’ll be delighted to learn I also have a lot of help. I am involved in many areas of work for our Union on a purely voluntary basis. As far as your serious point is concerned I do distinguish betwen press reports and matters I have some personal knowledge of.
September 17th, 2007 at 7:37 pm
I suggest you take down your defamatory comments about me or i will pursue litigation against your blog. You dont know all the facts so u should keep your mouth shut. Check out facts if you are encouraging this feed then you are encouraging domestic violence towards women. You are also discriminating against a persons sexuality/sexual orientation and violating against a persons human rights and privacy. I am not political and you are using me as a tool to have a go at patrick. My ex Mark Stewart, sold his defamatory stories, to detract away from him and his violence, which was up at court for an interdict. Mark is a former member of The James Connolly Society in Edinburgh, formerly in their flute band. His Uncle is the right hand man to Jim Slaven, running the organisation. Mark Stewart was also convicted ten years ago for drug dealing, a five year sentace and served 3 years. So before you go spreading malicous gossip check out the facts first. I dont think you should be helping encourage Mark Stewart so he can gloat over the damage he has caused, and by the way i dont see any photos in newspapers about him assaulting women or being a drug pusher.
Therefore i kindly ask you to take down your comments about me, i am not political and dont have an axe to grind about anyones politics. I am merely putting the record straight.
September 18th, 2007 at 8:38 am
Thanks Jacqueline, and sorry for distress caused to you. I’ve edited three user comments and deleted one, to remove the detail discussion of the Express article mentioned.
I don’t agree with you about all this encouraging domestic violence and discriminating against people’s sexuality, but accept that the Express are only marginally more reliable a source than Solidarity, and most of the discussion on this is just cheap sniping at your ex at your expense.
A good time to put everyone here on notice probably, as I’d felt one of the comments was a bit out of order as a personal insult, though I didn’t do anything about it at the time as Patrick actually beat me to it with a reply. In short: Feel free to have a go at Patrick and his ‘union’ as much as you like, but please do it in words you wouldn’t mind your gran reading
September 18th, 2007 at 7:43 pm
Thank u very much, you seem a fair chap! and sense of reason. Good luck with your blog site and ur hard work u put into it.
November 27th, 2007 at 7:58 pm
THIS IS A LEGAL NOTICE - Asking Johninnit Blog Archive - Solidarity Splitters to Take Down Comments about Ms Jacqueline Sharp
I am writing to inform you to take down your defamatory comments about me immediately.
A correction went into the Daily Express on 26th November 2007, regard the article you refer to.
Your comments on you blog are now discredited and seen as defamatory and malicous content.
Your content must be taken down immediately, all content referring to this article, including the anonymous content, along with comments from me.
Action will be taken through the Courts, if you ignore this request for damages.
If you have any guilt over your contribution to making defamatory comments about me, you may help ease the situation if you felt in a generous mood and donated to a charity of my choice. Perhaps donate as a form of recompense to the Citizens Advice Bureau in Leith, Edinburgh or The Rights Office, Southside Community Centre, South Bridge, Edinburgh. Or donate to a childrens charity.
It would be great to have an apology from you and you could quote you donated to a charity.
Ms Jacqueline Sharp
November 30th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
Dear Jacqueline,
Thanks again for your comments, and I’m glad you managed to get redress from the Express for the false story. I’m taking out the title of the article from one of the comments, so there’s no mention of what the Express article concerned, and the bulk of one of Patrick’s comments which could be associated with the article if you knew about the issue. Again, I’m sorry for distress you’ve been caused over this incident with the Express.
I know you’re justifiably very distressed about this issue - no wonder if a false accusation of that kind is being circulated in national print, and I have a lot of sympathy for your predicament, but after you seemed happy with the last resolution I suggested, you really don’t need to be pretending to set lawyers on anyone, and could have just asked for further changes to be made.
Most people (myself included) don’t take kindly to threats, even empty ones. So no, much as I do regret the fact that commenters on my blog referred to a national press article about you that was untrue and proven so, I won’t be making any donations to the CAB, worthy as I know their work (and, I imagine, your own voluntary work there) is.
April 7th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Thank you John, you are sensible and i agree with what you say. I thought that people should know about this, as it is importanat to outlaw Mark Stewart, the person who started all this in the first place, by giving his silly interviews to the press.
Jacqueline
PRESS RELEASE
VICTIM OF ASSAULT TO INJURY, SPEAKS OUT, ON BEHALF OF WOMEN, TO PUT AN END TO DOMESTIC ABUSE
Some of you may have received a press statement, or telephone call, last year from a Mr Mark Stewart, aka Quinn, age 33, of Edinburgh, formerly Prestonpans, concerning an ex-girlfriend Miss Jacqueline Sharp.
Mr Mark Stewart, conned, three national newspapers (Sunday Mail, Daily Express and News of the World), into printing a salacious story, deliberately, to take the heat off himself, with intent to cause embarrassment to Miss Sharp and her family.
Two of the newspapers had interviewed Mr Mark Stewart and printed word for word his allegations, failing to go into detail about his criminal convictions, and ignoring any mention about two separate interdicts being in place at the time, against him.
Miss Sharp, say’s “It is time to set the record straight, about Mr Stewart, the public, especially women, need to know the truth about him, for their own safety”.
The Press Complaints Commission has upheld complaints, on behalf of Ms Sharp, that the allegations were unproven, and indeed were later withdrawn by Mr Stewart.
All three newspapers printed corrections to put it right, but failed to address his shady criminal background. Mr Stewart stepped up his campaign, which escalated into more serious incidents, against Miss Sharp.
Miss Sharp has claimed all along that the story was part of a campaign steered by Mr Stewart, with intent designed to cause her stress and embarrassment.
As evidence of this, on Thursday, 3rd April, Mark Stewart, aka Quinn, pled guilty in Edinburgh Sheriff Court, for the charges brought against him for assault to injury and breach of the peace, to victim Jacqueline Sharp.
Sharp says “Violence and harassment should not be tolerated; it is time for victims to speak out and women to be the voice for an end to domestic abuse”.
Mr Stewart will face the Sheriff for sentencing over the above case and others, in Edinburgh Sheriff Court, on Tuesday, 8th April 08.
If anyone is interested in hearing Miss Sharp’s side of the story please contact her at Sharpscotland@aol.com
Miss Sharp will not receive money, but asks that donations should go to Wellspring, Centre for Psychotherapy and counselling, towards helping victims of domestic violence and abuse. http://www.wellspring-scotland.co.uk. Tel 0131 553 6660