>> Read our full report here

Thanks to Mark Kerrison for the pictures.

Richard Howitt, the MEP for East of England (centre) and Luton North MP Kelvin Hopkins (right) with placards from the Unite trade union

Left: Luton student Sanum Ghafoor (top) and Luton South MP Gavin Shuker (below) address the antifascist rally. Right: Hitler turns out for the EDL.

The TUC chief said:

Luton may be the town that the EDL claims as its birthplace but the town does not belong to these vile racists. For years people from all parts of the globe, of all races and religions, have lived quite happily side by side, allowing the town to genuinely claim that it represents multi-culturalism at its best.

In these difficult times, the thousands of ordinary men and women who live in Luton could well do without an invasion this weekend from hordes of angry thugs spouting their anti-Muslim hatred.

We support Unite Against Fascism’s attempts to show the residents of Luton that the overwhelming majority of people in the UK do not have any truck with these extremists and their attempts to bring hatred and division to our communities. We urge the police to think again about the decision to allow the EDL demonstration to go ahead on Saturday.

Luton MPs, local councillors an the town’s Muslim organisations have also thrown their weight behind the antiracist, antifascist demo. Kelvin Hopkins MP said:

I have been a life-long antiracist and we have to support the overwhelming majority of the people of Luton, my home for 43 years, in opposing racism and division. We should celebrate our diversity. We are one community and we must stand together in opposing the EDL.

Gavin Shuker MP adde:

Luton’s diversity and vibrancy makes it a great place to live. Luton in Harmony demands that we oppose all those that divide us. The people of Luton have so many different backgrounds – let us celebrate our unity. I am proud to say that I support equality for all members of society and oppose all forms of discrimination.

And Qadeer Baksh, chair of the Islamic Centre Luton said:

For the first time we will witness Lutonians of all faiths and colors standing up together, united in declaring: ‘We don’t accept the hate filled lies of the EDL.’

>> More about the demonstration against the EDL

The BNP’s vote collapsed to its lowest ever in the poll for he Greater London Assembly. This was the main target for the fascist party, which aimed to regain the seat it took in 2008 through the ‘top-up list’ vote for London-wide assembly members.

But the BNP received just 2.1% of the poll, with only 47,024 votes – it’s lowest vote ever for the GLA. This total is less than 36% of the votes it won in 2008 and is even lower than the previous low of 47,670 in the 2000 elections.

The London result follows a complete wipeout for the BNP, which lost every seat it defended in the 5 May local council elections.

3pm update, Friday 4 May: The BNP has now been booted out of all the council seats it was defending in this year’s local council elections.

>> Where the fascists were standing

2.45pm update: And following the removal of Burnley’s last BNP councillor comes the happy news that the Nazi party has also lost its seat in neighbouring Pendle, where Adam Grant came second.

In Calderdale, former BNP councillor Tom Bates has failed to get re-elected as an ‘independent’, while David Jones of white power party the BPP has come in fourth.

Former BNP councillor Seamus Dunne has failed to retain his seat in Ashridge ward of Three Rivers council, Herts, by standing under the English Democrats flag.

2.30pm update:The BNP’s Pat Richardson has been booted out comprehensively in Loughton Broadway ward, Epping Forest, Essex, coming in fourth on just 11%. BNP running mate Tom Richardson has done even worse on 5%.

Elsewhere in Epping Forest, English Democrats Party leader Robin Tilbrook has also failed miserably, on 13%. His party is the new home of disaffected BNP members, with more than a quarter of EDP candidates this time having previously stood for the BNP. Tilbrook’s EDP running mate, Eddy Butler – formerly the BNP’s national organiser and architect of its ‘rights for whites’ campaign – has crawled in last with 12% in Loughton Fairmead ward.

11.30am update: The BNP have lost their council seat in Hapton with Park ward, Burnley, Lancashire – on a council that was once a notorious stronghold.

We have some early results for areas where the fascist British National Party was trying to hang on to its clutch of council seats – and so far they have been kicked out in all of them.

The BNP has lost its seats in both Heanor East and Heanor West wards, Amber Valley, Derbyshire. Its candidates were knocked well back into third place in each.

The BNP trailed in last with a poor vote in Barpool ward, Nuneaton and Bedworth. Another seat lost – and they also failed to regain the Camp Hill seat they lost in a 2009 byelection.

The BNP’s seats in the Brinsworth & Catcliffe and Maltby wards, Rotherham have gone too.

More results in areas where the BNP were defending seats are expected later today, along with results in areas contested by fascist candiudates from the BNP, English Democrats and National Front.

Results for the Greater London Assembly – the key target for the BNP – are not expected until this evening.

He was one of two pensioners who were hospitalised when a gang of thugs attacked socialists and antiracist campaigners in Lewisham, south east London.

The EDL thugs began with shouts and racist heckling before laying in more violently.

Andrew told Socialist Worker newspaper:

They smashed up our Socialist Worker stall and one of them headbutted me.

I’ve got a possible fractured sinus and a tear to my retina. But I’ll be in Luton on Saturday — and everyone who opposes the fascists should be there too.

The Lewisham Anti Racist Action Group (Larag) reports that another pensioner intervened and was quickly surrounded and flung to the floor, receiving a knock to the head. Both had to receive medical treatment for their injuries. Larag chair Jarman Parmar said:

The actions of these racist attackers is shocking and strengthens our resolve to unite everyone who opposes these kind of behaviours and ideas which have no place in our society.

The attack follows events in Brighton last week, when around 110 marchers from ‘March for England’ – a group closely linked to and sharing members with the EDL – were humiliated and outnumbered by 1,000 antifascists who filled the streets and prevented the EDL’s attempts to reach the seafront.

The thugs were shouting about Brighton before they attacked Andrew. UAF joint secretary Weyman Bennett said:

Groups of Nazis tried to disrupt UAF members from leafleting on Saturday. We will not be intimidated. The BNP and EDL are desperate because they are not getting any real support so resorted to terror attacks.

Sabby Dhalu, joint secretary of UAF, added:

This vicious, cowardly attack by fascists on anti-racist pensioners, illustrates why we must all campaign against fascism. The police must take action and immediately arrest and charge the perpetrators of this vile attack.

We urge everyone to use their vote on Thursday 3 May and stop fascist and racist groups like the British National Party, English Democrats and National Front from getting elected; and join the peaceful demonstration against the English Defence League organised by We Are Luton and UAF on Saturday 5 May.

The EDL tries to stir up racism against Muslims wherever it goes – but Saturday’s attack is one of many directed by EDL thugs at other traditional targets of fascism. They have attacked socialist meetings, trade union buildings, anti-cuts campaigners, the Occupy camps and even a radical bookshop in Liverpool.

Make sure you’re in Luton to march against the EDL on 5 May. Let’s stand united against the fascists.

>> More about the demo
>> Read the ‘We Are Luton’ statement and initial list of supporters

Assemble at 11am, Wardown Park, New Bedford Road, Luton LU3 1LP and march to St George’s Square in the centre of town.

>> Download demo leaflet here
>> National transport to the demo

Pic by Guy Smallman

We will be touring London to get the vote out against the BNP, which is aiming to secure a seat through the ‘top-up list’ in the elections for the Greater London Assembly. The danger is that the fascist party could regain a seat on the GLA with just 5% of the vote.

This means it is very important to use your vote – casting your vote for other parties will help drive down the BNP’s percentage of the total poll.

We will be distributing thousands of leaflets to voters in busy parts of town and the cavalcade of vehicles will have live music from Love Music Hate Racism – including dhol drumming from the Dhol Foundation and
soul, gospel and rap from Blessed Souls.

We will be getting the message across loud and clear – use your vote against the BNP.

Join the cavalcade or leafleting along the route

The cavalcade will go from south London to west London on Saturday 28 April and across east London on Sunday 29 April.

You can join the cavalcade for the whole journey or part of it – phone UAF on 020 7801 2782 for more details.

You can join us to leaflet along the route of the cavalcade at the following times and places:

Saturday
11am – clock tower, Lewisham
12am – opposite Brixton tube station
1.30pm – in front of Southall Park, Uxbridge Road (near Southall police station)
2.30pm – opposite Uxbridge tube station
3.30pm – to be confirmed

Sunday
12 noon – top of Brick Lane, on Osborn Street
3pm – opposite Forest Gate police station, Green Street, Newham
5pm – opposite Barking tube station

>> For campaigning outside London, go here

Campaigning dates for the 3 May elections – get the vote out against the fascist camidates.

Antifascists will stage a mass leafleting against the British National Party and other fascist candidates at Kings Cross station from 5pm on Tuesday 17 April.

The campaigning event, aimed at ensuring Londoners use their votes to stop the BNP getting a GLA seat, and urging commuters to vote against fascist candidates elsewhere, is backed by the RMT transport union and the NUT teachers’ union.

If you are able to, please come along and join in the leafleting from 5pm, at Kings Cross station.

Local UAF groups are organising campaigning against fascist candidates around the country. Local UAF groups are asked to get in touch with the UAF office with details of activity in their areas. This list of activities will be updated as more details come in.

>> Download election leaflets

London tube leafleting on Tuesdays

UAF will be leafleting tube stations every Tuesday evening before the elections. If you would like to leaflet a tube station contact UAF on info@uaf.org.uk or 020 7801 2782.

More campaigning dates

There will be a cavalcade of cars across London on the weekend of 28 and 29 April.

>> Go here for details about the cavalcade and leafleting along the route

West Midlands
Walsall – Saturday 21 April
Cannock Chase – Sunday 22 April
Email Norscarf for more details or if you need transport from Stoke.

Nuneaton & Bedworth – Sunday 29 April
Leafleting day in the Nuneaton wards. We will be based at the Jubilee Sports Centre, Greenmore Road, Nuneaton, CV10 7EZ from 10am till 3.30pm. People can come and go and join in for shorter sessions as well as the whole/half day. Food and drinks available.

Text 07766 900 443 if you would like to attend and need transport from Coventry.
Email Norscarf for transport from Stoke

Cambridge
Saturday 21 April, Market square from 11.30am till 1.30pm. Leafleting Cambridge United football ground from 2.15pm – Please email Cambridge UAF for details.

Leeds
Saturday 14 April, Middleton ward, 11am
Saturday 21 April, Morley ward, 11am
Saturday 28 April, Middleton ward, 11am
Contact Yorkshire UAF

Sheffield, Rotherham and South Yorkshire
Saturday 21 April, Sunday 22 April, Saturday 28 April Sunday 29 April – leafleting sessions.
Contact Sheffield UAF

Epping Forest
Sunday 22 April, 11am – leafleting Loughton Broadway. For further details contact Waltham Forest UAF.

Ken Livingstone said today:

I have long held to the belief in no platform for the far right. The far right want to destroy our democracy and stand for the elimination of our basic rights. They cannot be treated as a legitimate part of politics.

I am withdrawing from Monday’s mayoral debate on BBC London 94.9 on the grounds that I am not prepared to share a platform with the British National Party.

We have been in negotiation about a debate with the main candidates for BBC London 94.9 – but only now have we been informed that the BNP had been invited to take part in this debate, and this has been confirmed to us today.

I will not share a platform with the BNP and it is a point of principle to me that I never will do.

That the BNP candidate may have called for a second preference for me is clearly designed to disorganise progressive opinion and divide opposition to them.

Not only don’t I want their second preference but I will not share a platform with them. I urge everyone to use their vote on 3 May to vote to keep the BNP out.

UAF joint secretary Weyman Bennett said:

We would like to congratulate Ken Livingstone on his principled stand in refusing to share a platform with the BNP.

The BNP is a fascist party led by a convicted Holocaust denier, Nick Griffin. Everywhere it goes, it stirs up racist hatred against black people, Jewish people, Muslims and LGBT people. These fascists should not be given air time.

Ken is a founder member of UAF and we fully support his move to pull out of the BBC debate.

UAF is urging all voters to use their votes to keep the BNP out on Thursday 3 May. The fascist party is standing in the mayoral race and is also seeking to regain a seat on the Greater London Assembly through the “top-up list”. Antifascists are determined not to let the BNP sneak in again.

The number of BNP candidates is well down on the 268 it stood last year and less than a quarter of the 612 they stood when the same seats were up for election in 2008.

>> Last year’s fascist election candidates

Defeats

This low figure shows the parlous state of the BNP, after crushing electoral defeats in Barking and Dagenham in 2010 and Stoke-on-Trent last year wiped out the BNP councillors in what it thought were its heartlands. Since then, the fascist party has been wracked by internal warfare and financial scandal, with members leaving in droves.

These elections could see the final nails hammered into the BNP’s coffin.

But other fascist candidates are also standing in these elections – including 34 for the National Front. And many former BNP candidates have simply swapped rosettes and have reappeared under new party names.

The English Democrats – a new home for the BNP

The English Democrat Party is a right-wing nationalist party with a history of racist rhetoric. It has recently toned down its public statements a bit, although it still attacks multiculturalism and immigrants, who it contrasts with the ‘indigenous English’ – code for ‘white people’.

But the English Democrats have welcomed BNP fascists with open arms. The EDP is standing 86 election hopefuls outside London, plus a list for the GLA. Outside London, more than a quarter of the English Democta candidates formerly stood for election as BNP members. Former BNP parliamentary candiate Michael Barnbrook is now on the EDP’s list for the GLA.

EDP candidates include Chris Beverley, who is standing in Leeds and is also PA to the BNP’s die-hard Nazi MEP Andrew Brons.

They also include Eddy Butler, formerly the BNP national organiser and the architect of its ‘Rights for Whites’ campaign in the 1990s.

Butler (pictured, left, with his new EDP leaflets) is listed on Brons’ website as his political researcher – but he is standing for the English Democrats alongside their party leader Robin Tilbrook in Epping Forest, Herts.

Tilbrook and the EDP are clearly more than happy to offer a new home to these recently arrived BNP stalwarts.

Their campaign will be focused in the Yorkshire and Humber and East of England regions in areas that have previously been BNP hunting grounds.

In Barnsley, six of the EDP’s 12 candidates previously stood for the BNP. In Southend, Essex, the figure is five out of 10. There are many more BNP turned EDP candidates around the country.

The British Freedom Party – allies of the EDL

The elections will also see the British Freedom Party stick its toes in the water, with six candidates standing. The party was set up by former senior BNP members, who later discreetly removed themselves from its executive body in an attempted clean-up.

It has announced an alliance with the English Defence League, giving them the classic fascist structure with both electoral and street-fighting wings. Since then it has attracted a further slew of disgruntled BNP members too.

The BFP was not expected to stand many candidates this year – it is instead aiming at 2013-14. But its chief nominating officer Peter Stafford has nominated himself and two other members of the Stafford family to stand in Liverpool. All three are former BNP candidates, as is Peter Squire, one of the two other BFP candidates in Liverpool. The BFP’s only other candidate is standing in Basildon, Essex.

London – a key battleground

The elections for the Greater London Assembly will be a key battleground, as the BNP see to regain the seat that Richard Barnbrook took for the party in 2008, through the ‘top-up list’.

The BNP is standing Carlos Cortiglia as a candidate for mayor of London – a move that will mean that a BNP election address will be included in the election material put through every door in London. Their top-up list is headed by Steve Squire, who will be seeking to breach the 5% barrier that could get him elected.

The fascist parties are also standing in the GLA member elections in some areas, notably Redbridge and Havering, where the BNP’s Bob Taylor is joined by EDP candidate Mark Twiddy and the NF’s longtime Nazi Richard Edmonds, formerly a deputy leader of the BNP. Taylor is also standing in a Barking and Dagenham byelection on 19 April.

But it is the GLA list that presents the greatest danger – Barnbrook got in with just 5.3% of the vote in 2008. It is important that Londoners use their votes to keep the BNP out this time.

Yorkshire and Humber

This is the main target area for the EDP, with 33 candidates – more than a third of their total – standing in areas that the BNP has targeted in the past, with sunstantial slates in Barnsley, Leeds and Doncaster.

There are a clutch of BNP candidates in Rotherham, and the NF are putting up four in Hull. The BNP is standing in Bradford’s Queensbury ward, where it still holds a seat. But in Kirklees, where the BNP has had influence in the past, no fascists are standing this time.

North West

The BNP is standing 35 candidates across the region – a quarter of its total – with the EDP and BFP (in Liverpool) also putting in an appearance.

The BNP, EDP and NF are all standing in Liverpool’s mayoral election, seeking extra publicity.

In Salford, the BNP and EDP are both standing for mayor, with the BNP also putting up eight council candidates. Other areas with clutches of BNP candidates include Stockport (seven) and Burnley (six), where the remaining BNP councillor Sharon Wilkinson could be kicked out of her seat.

West Midlands

The BNP looks to have preserved more of its organisation here than in any other region. It is standing 48 candidates here, more than a third of its total nationally. These include 18 in Birmingham, 11 in Coventry and eight in Nuneaton.

There are also handfuls of NF and EDP candidates in the West Midlands.

But North Staffs antifascist campaigners were celebrating the absence of fascist candidates in Newcastle-under-Lyme, where the BNP had been expected to stand despite its wipeout in neighbouring Stoke.

The main threat in the East Midlands is in Amber Valley, where five BNP and one NF candidate are standing. BNP councillor Cliff Roper could be unseated here.

East of England

In the East of England, the EDP is having a notable push, particularly in Essex and Herts. Eddy Butler and Robin Tilbrook are standing for the EDP in Epping Forest alongside two BNP members – one of them current BNP councillor Pat Richardson. Five of the 10 EDP candidates in Southend have previously stood for the BNP, as has ‘independent’ candidate Geoff Strobridge.

A scattering of EDP candidates across the region are standing in areas once targeted by the BNP. But in Thurrock, the NF has put up four candidates, alongside one BNPer. The NF’s bunch include former Isle of Dogs Nazi Derek Beackon, who was pushed into fourth place when he stood for the BNP just last year.

In the North East, the BNP’s main push is in South Tyneside, with eight candidates. There are a handful of BNP and NF candiadtes elsewhere in the region.

The South East and South West of England have been largely ignored by the far right, with just three BNP, two EDP and one NF candidate, all in the South East.

Scotland has eight NF candidates, with six of these in Aberdeen and two more in West Lothian. Another four are standing for the fascist Britannica Party. In Wales, the fascists have rustled up just two BNP and two NF candidates across the entire country.

UAF is mobilising nationally for this demo.

>> Why you should be in Luton on 5 May
>> Download demo leaflet here
>> National transport to the demo

Statement

‘We are Luton’ has produced a statement against the EDL, urging support for the march.

The English Defence League (EDL) has announced its intention to come to Luton on May 5th. When the EDL came here last year the lives of ordinary citizens were severely disrupted. We do not want this to happen again.

The EDL is a racist group dedicated to promoting hatred and intolerance in society. Islamophobia – bigotry against Muslims – is as unacceptable as any other form of racism. The EDL aims to create divisions in society by using diversity as a cause for hatred rather than celebration. There is no place for the EDL in Luton’s multiracial, multicultural and multi-faith community.

We urge all decent people in Luton, irrespective of colour, faith or beliefs, to join the peaceful ‘We are Luton’ multicultural celebration, marching from Wardown Park to St George’s Square on May 5th.

Signatories

Bury Park Youth Organisation, Mitalee Youth Association, Luton Council of Mosques, Inspire FM, Bangladeshi Youth League, Bengali Women’s Project, Luton Somali Forum, Ethnic Minority Project, Community Magazine, ASR Youth Project, Luton Bury Park Business Community, Pakistan Kashmir Youth Forum, Kelvin Hopkins MP, Luton NUT, Eastern Region Unite, Eastern Region PCS, Eastern Region CWU, Luton TUC, Beds TUC, Luton and Beds Green Party, University of Bedfordshire Unison

By UAF assistant secretary Martin Smith in Aarhus, Denmark

I don’t know why the racists chose Aarhus in Denmark as the venue for their European-wide conference, but they did.

Some of the most vile and racist organisations in Europe attended the gathering on Saturday 31 March 2012. They included delegations from Germany, Poland, France and of course the English Defence League.

No sooner was the conference announced than Denmark’s antiracists organised a coalition to stop the event. It included trade unionists, students, social democrats and revolutionary socialists – people from different political currents came together over one issue: they weren’t going to allow Nazis to meet unopposed in their city.

I was honoured to be invited to attend the protest and speak on behalf of Unite Against Fascism.

The local council, which opposed the plan to hold an antiracist event on the day the EDL and friends were coming, instead organised a concert the week before. According to the city newspaper around 1,000 people attended it.

Disappointingly, the council also urged people not to attend the antifascist protest, but instead put a lighted candle in their window on the day the Nazis came to Aarhus.

Fortunately most people ignored the council’s advice and instead joined the antifascist mobilisation.

Thousands marched

On the day, thousand marched – the turnout far exceeded the organisers’ hopes.

The march was determined, but it was also a carnival of hope.

Trade unionists and students, people with a range of political backgrounds and none, all marched together to oppose fascism. There were giant puppets, sound systems and flags all adding to the spirit.

It was great to see black and white people, Muslims and Jews standing shoulder to shoulder. As we snaked through the city a handful of racists hurled abuse at us. One was wearing a Combat 18 T-shirt. The police quickly bundled the fascists away.

The sound systems pumped out music by Rage Against the Machine and a version of KRS One’s Sound of da Police.

Finally we arrived in a huge square in the centre of town, the site of our rally. The square was full.

It’s hard to say how many were there, the police said 8,000 – others claimed 10,000. Whatever the true number, it was the biggest antiracist demonstration in the city since the Nazis killed a socialist activist in 1992.

There were speeches and music. When it was my turn to speak, I sent solidarity greetings from UAF, and spoke about the need to oppose the EDL and the necessity of taking a principled stand against Islamophobia. I hope I did UAF proud – we will have a copy of the speech online shortly.

When the rally ended, thousands of young people marched up to the site of the EDL conference to show their opposition to the fascists. Some protesters disrupted the racist convention. I really don’t believe there was more than 100 of the EDL’s cronies.

Denmark’s antiracists humiliated the EDL and their friends in Aarhus. Now our job is to do the same in Luton on 5 May.