Sponsored by
Meeting will warn of BNP threat
AN anti-fascist public meeting has been called ahead of a possible by-election in South Tyneside after the death of a much-respected councillor.
South Tyneside Unite Against Fascism will hold the meeting at the Ben Lomond pub, in Grange Road West, Jarrow, at 6pm on Tuesday.
The meeting has been sparked by concerns about BNP activity after the death just before Christmas of Coun Barrie Scorer, who represented the Primrose ward in Jarrow for many years.
Coun Scorer, 63, a former Mayor of South Tyneside, served as a Labour member in the town for almost 40 years.
Hundreds of people attended his funeral at St Peter's Church, Jarrow, on Christmas Eve, including the town's MP Stephen Hepburn, Lord Don Dixon and Coun Iain Malcolm, leader of South Tyneside Council.
South Tyneside Unite Against Fascism's Peter Murray said: "The main aim of the meeting is to warn people about the BNP, who have been very active in the Primrose ward.
"They also attracted a fair share of the vote in the ward at the last local election."
South Tyneside Unite Against Fascism, which is part of a national anti-fascist organisation, has been operating for about five years in the borough.
Group members are concerned about canvassing in the Primrose ward by right-wing activists.
Mr Murray said the meeting is public, but added: "Everyone needs to be united to keep Jarrow BNP and fascist-free."
The secretary of Jarrow Constituency Labour Party Wilf Flynn said: "No by-election has yet been called following the sad death of Coun Barrie Scorer.
"We would hope people would have the decency, out of respect for
Coun Scorer, not to call for a by-election and to wait until the local elections in May to contest the Primrose ward."
Tuesday's meeting was originally going to be held at Jarrow Community Association, but the venue was switched after organisers were told such an event would be contrary to the constitution of the association.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for South Shields
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -3 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: -2 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South
