Riots town warned 'poison of hatred' threatens

Former Labour leader Neil Kinnock today warned a town ravaged by riots last summer against the ‘‘poison of hatred’’ that threatens to split its communities once again.

The European Commissioner told anti-racism campaigners in Oldham, Greater Manchester that the policies of the British National Party - canvassing in the town ahead of May’s local council elections - were ‘‘economically, socially and morally ruinous’’.

And he warned voters in the town that such ‘‘fascists’’ need to be resisted by all communities if Oldham was to avoid a repeat of last year’s violence.

The town was torn apart last May by three nights of running battles between white and Asian youths.

The BNP, whose national chairman Nick Griffin was a parliamentary candidate in the town at the General Election, was largely condemned for stoking up racial tensions.

Today, Mr Kinnock paid a private visit to Oldham to show his support for the town’s campaign to stop the BNP winning seats on the town’s council.

And he told campaigners from the Coalition Against Racism they had his backing.

‘‘Those who promote racism are seeking to poison the whole of society with hatred,’’ he said.

‘‘No normal people from any ethnic background or political beliefs can benefit from that. It is economically, socially and morally ruinous,’’ he said. And he added: ‘‘Fascists therefore have to be resisted by the decent majority through democratic means.

‘‘Bringing people together from every background in active coalition against racism serves the whole community in Oldham and gives a great example to all of Britain,’’ he said.

But Phil Edwards, a spokesman for the BNP, said that negative campaigning against any particular party was ‘‘undemocratic and illegal’’.

Mr Kinnock disagreed, saying: ‘‘They’ve got a right to run and they have got a right to be beaten, what they have not got is a right to disguise themselves as a conventional political party because they are not.’’

Mr Kinnock, who was joined by North West Euro MP Arlene McCarthy, then made his way to watch Oldham Athletic, to show his support for the club’s Unity In The Community campaign as they take on his side, Cardiff City.

He said: ‘‘I think one inspiring example being shown by the football team here, The Latics, is the way they are very deliberately seeking to provide sporting opportunities but also direct backing for children in the community which is an excellent way of beating alienation and isolation and stretching out to demonstrate that football is an inclusive sport.’’