"I am writing to you to share some good news. A few weeks ago BNP leader Nick Griffin boasted that he and two other fascist MEPs were going to share €289,266 with the prospects of much more to come. This morning Griffin woke up to the realisation that this funding is in jeopardy and future funding is incredibly unlikely.Griffin, and two MEPs from the Front National (France) and Jobbik (Hungary), formed a political grouping within the Parliament called the European Parliament for Alliance of European Nationalist Movements (EAMN). They applied for money from the European Parliament from a pot put aside to help political parties carry out their work. Shockingly, their bid was accepted.
As soon as we learnt about this HOPE not hate began contacting MEPs and journalists to try to reverse the decision. This helped set in train a series of events which culminated in the case being heard by the Council of Presidents yesterday and a decision being taken to review the rules for funding parties and to investigate the possibility of getting back the money it has offered EAMN.
This is great news. Our money should not fund fascist parties.
This is great news. Our money should not fund fascist parties.
At issue was that the BNP, the FN and Jobbik – all fascist parties – do not comply with the funding rules which clearly state that political parties have to abide by “the principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law.” We all know that the BNP, with its racist agenda, does not.
Politicians from across the political spectrum spoke out against the EAMN funding, especially several Labour MEPs from Britain who were at the forefront of calling for the decision to be reversed.
HOPE not hate is proud of its role in working with MEPs and journalists to ensure taxpayer’s money does not fund fascist parties. Griffin was relying on this funding to prop up his sinking party. This money is now in question and he is certainly unlikely to get any more."
