By Waqas Ali: The makers of Marmite have refused to become embroiled in an argument with the British National Party after a row over the use of their product in an election video.
The Burton-on-Trent based company decided not to comment on criticism of their decision to take an injunction out against the BNP.
The row came to light as the party’s leader, Nick Griffin, launched their election manifesto in Stoke-on-Trent.
Marmite began injunction proceedings to remove the jar from the video, which could be seen throughout a five minute broadcast.
A posting on …

By Jon Gilmore, Kellie Hill and Joe Cuffaro: Police are warning protesters planning to attend the British National Party’s manifesto in Stoke-on-Trent to stay within the law.

Staffordshire University Liason Officer PC Keith Emery said that people should think carefully before attending any protest today (April 23) – and said that doing so could just add more publicity to the event.
“These things are a non-event unless there’s some sort of protest,” he added.
The advice comes as Student Union President Assed Baig announced that he will be leading anti-BNP protests at today’s …

By Jon Gilmore: The British National Party are set to launch their election manifesto at an undisclosed location.
With fears the launch will be disrupted by protesters, the BNP are not revealing the exact location of the event to the media until later today (April 23).
Support for the BNP has risen in Stoke-on-Trent steadily and the controversial party is fielding a number of general election candidates across the city.

By Andrew Stuart: Claims by the British National Party’s deputy leader that a lack of police had forced him to pull out of an event in Stoke-on-Trent have been rejected by Staffordshire Police.
Simon Darby had been due to speak at the youth hustings event at the Victoria Hall but failed to turn up.
However, he explained his absence on his blog claiming that a promised police presence had not been in place.
Mr Darby wrote:
I had been told that there would be a police and security operation and that I was to …

By Andrew Stuart: BNP deputy leader Simon Darby has explained his decision not to attend a question time event in Stoke-on-Trent.
He was supposed to attend the debate, hosted by My Place North Staffs, at the Victoria Hall in Hanley, last night (March 11).
Mr Darby wrote a blog post, explaining why he didn’t show up. He said that he had been told there would be a police presence at the event and that it wasn’t there.
He continued: “At 17:45 I parked on the carpark opposite and observed several Muslim demonstrators and …

By Kim Lishman: The BNP are back in court today to find out if the party’s decision to abolish its ‘whites-only’ membership policy has met race relation laws.
The sudden change to its constitution comes after the threat of a possible court injunction by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).
The far right party voted in approval to allow black and Asian people to become members in Essex on February 14.
Under the new membership policy, local millionaire businessman Mo Chaudry said he would join the party to “fight them from the …

By James Truswell: Millionaire businessman Mo Choudry has called the British National Party (BNP) a “racist organisation camouflaged by authenticity” after announcing he was currently trying to join the party.
Mr Choudry told StaffsLive: “I want to use this platform to actually expose them for what they really are which is a racist organisation camouflaged by authenticity.
“I just thought maybe it would be a good way to challenge the system and to assess where they really stand.”
The businessman said that he was having trouble joining the party because the BNP are …

By Robert Trigg and James Truswell: Stoke-on-Trent BNP leader Michael Coleman has warned of racial-incited street violence in Britain – and blames Labour for his party’s new multi-racial policy.
The BNP has voted to remove references of “indigenous caucasian” people in their membership rules, allowing Black and Asian people the chance to join their party.
Cllr Coleman, who represents Meir North and Weston, believes this will only lead to more racial conflict.
He told StaffsLive: “This will create the dynamics and motors in politics that will bring real conflict.
“There will be fighting on …

By James Truswell and Robert Trigg: Stoke-on-Trent’s British National Party is determined to fight on following Alby Walker’s shock decision to stand down as leader of the group.
Speaking exclusively to StaffsLive today, acting leader Cllr Michael Coleman said the party would not let Cllr Walker’s decision affect them.
“It will impact on us but it’s not going to stop us. We’re going to dust ourselves off, brush ourselves down and come back fighting as we always do.
“We’re a tough organisation. We’re not the WI. We’re the BNP. We’re used to the knocks.
“We’re going to …

By James Truswell: Stoke-on-Trent BNP leader Alby Walker has stunned fellow councillors by quitting his post.

He steps down as leader with immediate effect but will remain an Abbey Green councillor until May 2010.
He is currently deciding whether to run for his ward in the May elections, stating he has not yet made a “proper decision”.
Cllr Walker, 52, told fellow BNP councillors last night of his decision to stand down from the post he has held since being elected to Stoke City Council in May 2006.
Cllr Walker (pictured) wants to spend …