Worker sacked in ‘British jobs’ row

Friday 13th February 2009, 12:04PM GMT.

Ben DoyleA Shropshire worker has been sacked for putting up a poster at his workplace calling for British jobs to be saved.

Ben Doyle today denied he was racist and said he had only displayed the poster at Structural Glazing Limited, in Telford, urging “British Jobs for British Workers” as a “laugh”.

The 29-year-old was hauled before bosses at the Stafford Park-based firm on Tuesday and sacked for gross misconduct after a disciplinary hearing.

The firm told the father-of-two that the poster, which he got out of a national newspaper, had caused distress and harassment to a foreign employee with the legal right to work in this country and had resulted in the worker fearing for his safety and resigning.

Mr Doyle, of Brookside, who said he always got on well with his work colleagues and bosses, said today: “I’m far from being racist. I have not got a problem with people as long as I can do my job.”

He said he had appealed the decision and wanted the chance to go back to work for the company.

“I don’t feel angry, I feel shocked and disappointed. I was expecting to go into the disciplinary hearing and maybe get a warning. I don’t think it would have been fair, but I would have taken that if it meant carrying on with the job.”

The warehouseman, who has worked for the firm for seven months, said: “I’m sorry for my actions if they caused offence. I’d just like a chance to have my job back.”

The slogan was used by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who said it was important to do everything possible to give British workers the skills necessary for them to be able to get jobs that are available in the UK.

John Richardson, chairman of Structural Glazing, said: “Ben still has another couple of days left to appeal for another hearing so we cannot say anything about that.

“I have written in detail to the Daily Star because they should have known what they were publishing was racist, and to the Commission for Racial Equality about the Prime Minister, who also must have known that the slogan was racially inappropriate.”

By Lisa Rowley


  1. 1
    Fletch

    No doubt he will be replaced by a Polish worker at £5.73

    From what I can see he has everyright to place such a poster up.

    My double glazing orders will be going elsewhere!

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  2. 2
    Matt

    “The firm told the father-of-two that the poster, which he got out of a national newspaper, had caused distress and harassment to a foreign employee with the legal right to work in this country and had resulted in the worker fearing for his safety and resigning.”

    Doesn’t sound likely.

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  3. 3
    me

    i do not see the problem with foreign workers i work with several and they are no cheaper to employ than a british worker the thing is they want the jobs and others dont

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  4. 4
    chunky munky

    Why only British jobs for British workers Ben? You are being far too wishy washy – get a grip man.

    Don’t muck about with only a half closed mind. Shut it fully, Ben.

    How about Shropshire jobs for Shropshire workers, or Structural Glazing jobs for people from your street only?

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  5. 5
    kieran

    He should have been sacked for supporting spurs.

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  6. 6
    Drewp

    You forget! we live in a Police state!

    PC brigade and Europe are our masters.

    Not so Great Britain

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  7. 7
    John

    Would the outcome have been the same if a “foreign Worker” had placed up the sign and iy would be interesting to see the comanies policy on this issue and how they let staff know this is not accetable.

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  8. 8
    Brian Jones

    why on earth did he think that it would not have been wrong to put it up. ‘national newspaper’ no prizes for which paper it would have been.

    Maybe the father of two should read different newspapers and get a more ’rounded’ view of the world.

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  9. 9
    Nelson

    There’s nothing racist about the slogan ‘British jobs for British workers’- but when a corrupt, anti British liar such as Gordon Brown uses it, then it becomes a complete farce.
    I doubt Brown will be in such hurry to steal a slogan from the BNP next time.

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  10. 10
    merc

    I want a brickie who will work for £10 an hour {their actual worth in the grand scheme of things} and give me a full working day. Not £25 an hour with six teabreaks and an early knock-off and the automatic right to let me down at the first hint of drizzle. Ring any bells? It should. This recession is going to change a lot of things including the British attitude to graft.

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  11. 11
    Andy

    Go to a lawyer immediately…

    If the material caused the reaction which is alleged, then the daily newspaper is equally liable as publisher.

    Sounds like you will be getting offered your job back and compensation…

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  12. 12
    H. St. John Peasbody

    Sounds like a major error of judgement that Mr. Doyle has made in this modern day environment. Or did his employers have something else on him?

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  13. 13
    Rodney Nosnail

    Genuinely sorry to hear that the foreign worker resigned – I know that I’d feel intimidated if the Italians where I work in Italy did the same thing, but they have a more rounded, tolerant attitude to people, fortunately.

    Anyway, the good thing that comes from this is that two long-term benefits claimants won’t be forced to stay in bed all day watching Jeremy Kyle any more – they can go to Job Centre Plus and put their names down for an interview and hopefully, my council tax will be reduced because they won’t need to continue claiming (housing) benefit.

    Don’t all rush at once.

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  14. 14
    lee

    an absolute disgrace this innocent bloke lost his job!
    BRITISH WOKERS FOR BRITISH JOBS……. join the group on facebook

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  15. 15
    lanemeyer

    reading between the lies (sorry lines)

    im sure “agency” worker Ben is enjoying his Warhol bit of fame before finally admiting what a div he is.

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  16. 16
    worried wife

    my husband works there we have 3 small children.i work part time.if this man sues s/g or gets compensation i dont think anyone wil be left with a JOB.we wil lose our homes as we wount have any money to pay the bills.there is no british jobs for british workers as there is none out there anyway. WHY DONT PEOPLE THINK WHAT THEY ARE DOING B4 DOING IT. THANKS

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  17. 17
    Fran

    British people can no longer be ‘Proud to be British’ and say so without upsetting someone none British. Be British and be proud of it. British jobs for British workers first! If foreigners dont like us being proud and saying so then move out.

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  18. 18
    dee

    Andy…you can be sacked for Gross Misconduct! and thats how his company view it, and at the end of the day some people jump on the bandwagon with things and dont think about the consequences, British Jobs for British Workers….if that was the case our Dole offices would be empty yes?? Go figure

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  19. 19
    devon salopian

    rule 1, do not put any posters anywhere unless you have a good trade union behind you

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  20. 20
    confused

    Andy, get the facts befor you make big statments! Im sure any company is within their rights to decide what “posters” are a nd are not put up in their workplaces!
    Kieran, I agree 100% !

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  21. 21
    Codsallman

    Ben, don’t mess about, take them to court and sue these politically correct idiots.
    Good Luck.

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  22. 22
    sense

    “kieran said: He should have been sacked for supporting spurs.”

    Hahaha brilliant!! Nice to see some people can still have a sense of humour!

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  23. 23
    Brian

    So being patriotic is now a crime in the UK!
    You look after your own family before you look after the family next door.
    Nothing wrong with a poster that says British jobs for British workers.
    I’m not against foreign workers. When jobs can’t be filled by British workers.
    Nearly two million unemployed! I’m sure we have plenty of British subjects that can fill jobs foreigners are doing right now. Think of how much money that would save the British tax payer on dole money.

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  24. 24
    andrew finch

    Did’nt take a long for some one to pop up with COMPO .
    As for the qualified brickie at £10 per hour behave being selemployed myself (not in building trade thank god ) you may as well go and be an employee and get full holiday pay etc if you have that as an hourly rate.
    I became selfemployed 2 years ago my accountant said your a small business it was just 2 of us then, you must look at making £250 per day at least or part there of in order to make money and pay your insurances etc etc other wise go and work for some one .
    I have had a few customers say im not paying that and it is simple i do not do the work for less , saying all that i only stop for 15 min dinner break etc but i am amazed when some one says YOU FINISHED ALL READY ?? WE THOUGHT YOU WOULD BE HERE ALL DAY .It is made clear from the start they are paying for the JOB not by the hour .ONe customer said my wife dose’nt earn that much WHATS THAT GOT TO DO WITH ME.
    There is plenty of work out there people pay for a good job. Some who like the 10 pound an hour require an employee not a self employed contractor who in the long run WILL work out cheaper than an employee.
    Just becouse we have a credit crunch people should not go on the scrounge for a cheap job but i admit they should pay a fare price for a good job.
    I know what my garage would say if i turned up and said i want my car given a full service plus parts for £100 quid even though he has no customers it would be sling your hook mate .
    Some brits will bleed you dry if you let them many are free loaders and scroungers thank fully the decent ones out way them.

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  25. 25
    Wilhelm Scream

    Without knowing the facts of the disciplinary case (which nobody does from this article, we know he was sacked for gross misconduct, and that a co-worker resigned in fear, but that’s it) – all anyone can do is comment with a slant based on their own prejudices …… something I can see in abundance.

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  26. 26
    Capt Chaos

    I can just see the headlines in the Nations top comic oops I meant paper er on second thoughts comic suits better, he will be a good little earner bemoaning our PC nation.

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  27. 27
    kev

    i put the same poster up at my work, the next nay it was taken down because we have two polish workers , its so proud to be british or maybe not in some cases!!!

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  28. 28
    andrew finch

    kev why do you wish to bully your fellow workers?it has nothing to do with being proud to be british your attitude and people like you make us brits look like a bunch of narrow minded thickos.
    Lets hops the spanish and others abroad do not start kicking us brits back over here then you will see a turn of face , british jobs for british people who havent worked abroad.

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  29. 29
    Myopinion

    Our Grandparents fought to save us from persecution and to keep the freedom of speech, so why can’t we be allowed this anymore. Foreign people are allowed to say what they feel but we are accused of racism at every turn. Jobs for the British is right because how many of us have been refused financial help if we lost our jobs, but foreign people are coming over here and automatically getting help and housing. This means we must work regardless of the rubbish minimum wage. I don’t need any double glazing, but if I did I wouldn’t be buying it from this firm. They put a young father out of work, maybe he will lose his home, but he won’t get social housing because its being reserved for immigrants – it stinks!

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  30. 30
    allan

    I am no racist, i have worked abroard with all manner of races.
    Look round almost every town and village in Britain….and read the cenotaphs….Go to Dunkirk, look at all the graves stones.
    These people gave their lives, so the people of Britain could have freedom of speech.
    There is no doubt that foreign workers in this country, work hard and contriute to our ecconomy.
    I have recently been made redundant after 18 years with the same company, so the company could relocate abroard, for cheaper labour.
    I have to beg and crawl to the state, for a meager handout, after having paid a smaal fortune in tax during my working life.
    The PC people in this country, should get real, what this guy said, is what the majority of the British people are saying……How would they feel if their jobs were less secure.
    If they were replaced by a foreign worker, and had to try and survive on a state handout.
    I wasnt even allowed to use my redundancy payout, to pay a portion of my mortgage off….
    I have to use it to live on…..And at the age of 54, try to find a job that isnt taken by a foreign worker.
    Wake up and smell the coffee…….

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  31. 31
    john thornicroft

    nanny state gone mad, i blame gordon brown and the EC and labour for this, get the conservatives back in, so we can be british and proud again, lets not be afriad to be racist

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  32. 32
    Stuart

    Bloggers, there seems strong feelings on this subject but you watch, the real culprits for bringing us to this situation will still be a strong contender (if not win it) in the next election. Labour allowed this uncontrolled mass migration into our country be they EU citizens or pseudo asylum seekers. The fact remains, our little country is now utterly swamped and still they are allowed to come.
    We had the right when the EU was expanded, to put a bar on all and sundry from other EU states having an automatic right of entry and employment in this country, this Labour Government did not exercise that right as did France and Germany and we are where we are.
    They (this Labour Government) are the only ones to blame – nobody else and, as for the left wing liberal bleeding hearts who draw a comparison with the number of foreign workers over here with the number of British workers over there and the consequences for our workers in Spain etc. Utter rubbish, there is no comparison at all. As far as I can see, half the British in Spain are either bar owners, fish and chip shop or all the traditional “British” things which go to make Britons abroad think that they are still in Britain. I don’t see many Brits in Romania, Bulgaria, Sweden and the Eastern EU states.
    In principle, if the circumstances in a country are such that foreign workers can be catered for without problems, I see no objection to them ie the size of France can put up with a few more million of them but unless we wish to live on solid concrete or tarmac and see no sign of green fields and the natural things that go to make a quality of life and live like sardines in a packed automobile hell – then it is time to draw an immediate total and complete halt to people entering this country for any purpose other than what we want.
    I look to this country in 30 years time, I groan in despair, wonder what sort of life my grandchild and her family will have and I curse this Labour Government from every fibre of my being. What thousands of years of Britishness brought about, Labour destroyed in just over 10 short years.

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  33. 33
    Lucy W

    Would this have happened in the Robinson’s jam factory?

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  34. 34
    Andy

    Dee, yes you can be sacked for gross misconduct, and in this case what would that gross misconduct be? Putting up the poster? or the content of the poster? If it is the content, then the publisher that put it into the public domain is equally liable.
    Just because a boss sacks you for gross misconduct doesnt mean they were right!

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  35. 35
    Peter Morris

    There are a lot of British people who are unemployed because they simply can’t find a job they consider “good enough” for them.

    I have no problem with foreign workers as long as they are filling jobs that idle British people wont do. Rather than kicking out the hard working foreigners I’d rather kick out the spongers who think they can sit on their backsides all day doing nothing and still be fed, clothed, and housed by the government; as if they have some kind of right to a free life just because of where they were born.

    As for this case I think he *should* have been fired. Imagine being a foreign worker in that company and seeing that poster up on the wall. I’d have been pretty frightened to feel I was being alienated like that.

    If this guy feels so strongly about his cause he should put the poster up in the window of his home. Whether or not he can put it up at work is up to the owner of the company, or their nominated representatives.

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  36. 36
    Chris

    Gordon Brown can now guarantee ‘British dole for British workers’. Three cheers for Gordon!

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  37. 37
    Michael

    Well you know know what double glazing company not to use. Nice to know too that John Richardson, chairman of Structural Glazing,thinks that displaying a poster from a national is “racist” Pratt is a word that comes to mind.

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  38. 38
    john king

    of with the governments heads

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  39. 39
    warren

    unfortunately there are too many doo gooders in this country and they will be its downfall,some of them are posting negative comments against ben on here.

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  40. 40
    Becky

    i think he was totally out of order, im not sure its gross misconduct, perhaps less minor but he certainly deserved to be repromanded for this act as it is unprofessional to bring his politics to work like this

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  41. 41
    british is best

    This country is going to the dogs. other countries control the numbers of foreign workers – we should do too…….there isnt enough to go round and it is getting worse

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  42. 42
    charlie barnes.

    This is the age old tactic of a government on the run? Make examples of all workers who dare to oppose them. “A direct order to all capitalist pigs”
    A government who fear the power of angry workers because, “they know they have lost the respect of the people as a result of overzealous greed”
    Now, is the time to rise up and fight, fight for what is yours by right. Fight for your families future, your Children and their Children.
    You must not lose sight of the fact, our Country is on the brink of bankruptcy, if the Country goes under, we all go under?
    As a child I well remember the horrific days of the thirties, “poverty and starvation” Such terrible times are about to become your future?
    “Do not allow it to become reality” Only you,
    “people power” can avert imminant desaster. FACT.

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  43. 43
    van

    Like most of the good commentators on this item, I am appalled. I don’t not live in thae area but if I did I would complet boycott this company and persuade any and all to shun it completely. Send it, its’ owners and its’ products to coventry. Let the weasels know that there is a price to pay for such behaviour. Stand up for Mr Doyle and for yourselves. It could be you next time!

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  44. 44
    minnijaf

    if i was boss there i would have just told the foriegn worker just to get over it.
    people get too offended
    fear for his own safety? yeah, if the poster had knifes coming out of it maybe

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  45. 45
    Mark

    ”nanny state gone mad, i blame gordon brown and the EC and labour for this, get the conservatives back in, so we can be british and proud again, lets not be afriad to be racist”

    The Conservatives! soft on crime like Labore… if your a British National there’s only one vote…

    Report abuse

  46. 46
    perksy

    im not a racist but i believe in my country and the “people of my country and from my country”.
    im a proud BNP member and voter. i have a good well paid solid job and a family.
    its time the british people had their say on foreign workers and immigrants.
    we dont want the euro and we dont want foreign workers!! so keep our people out the dole office and in work!!!

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  47. 47
    James Whittall

    Another example of the discrimination faced by indigenous people, free speech is a fast dissapearing concept unless you happen to be an islamic hate preacher whereby that is apparently above the law.

    Report abuse

  48. 48
    Nelson

    Labour and the tories are equally to blame for the mess we’re in right now. They’ve both been selling us out to the EU and betraying the British worker for years.

    The British National Party is the only political party that truely believes in the slogan ‘British jobs for British workers’.

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  49. 49
    David

    How can you be sacked for just repeating our Prime Ministers own words? Perhaps Mr Brown should speak with this company?

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  50. 50
    j thomson

    Having read most of the comments on this article,it seems most people have missed the point,if someone has an opion on a subject and demonstrates this by putting up a poster from a national newspaper a perfectly legal poster,and has it removed and then sacked,because a fellow worker took exception to his perfectly legal action then this was wrongful dismissal.If he was dismissed because a worker of a different nationality complained, that was racist,on part of the worker complaining and the employer

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  51. 51
    richard feather

    With reference to the remarks made by Stuart on 14 feb, I agree with almost everything you said, apart from the bit about brits living in Bulgaria,as it happens I and about 50,000 other brits live here,english is the official 2nd language and all offficial forms are bilingual. I left 5 1/2 years ago, and I wont be coming back.So those of you who can, vote with your feet and come to a nice place,Bulgaria.

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  52. 52
    WelshFromTheWest

    most people dont have a problem with foriegn workers until they take their jobs for gods sake gutless britian stand by colleges its your job next

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  53. 53
    Lucy W

    I was wondering if the Press Complaints people have had any complaints about the newspaper that printed this poster?
    And did the Parlimentary Ombudsman have any complaints when Gordon Brown said it?

    I knew it was the end of this great nation the day they took Gollywogs of jam jars!

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  54. 54
    a g bell

    First point. Lucy W’s comment, No 33, wouldn’t be a reference to the Carol Thatcher issue would it? If so she had better explain herself now before a certain authority get’s called in.
    Second point. Why has the Star put a photo of the England flag of St George on it’s home page at the head of the original article and not the Union flag of Greta Breat Britain, another sinister reference?
    Third point. It’s a serious worry that (a) employees feel they have a right to put posters of this nature up in their workplace without first getting permission from the very person who employs them there and (b) they cannot work out for themselves the effects it may have on fellow employeesand what it says about themselves.

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  55. 55
    perksy

    quote “its time the british people had their say on foreign workers and immigrants.
    we dont want the euro and we dont want foreign workers!! so keep our people out the dole office and in work!!!”

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  56. 56
    Stuart

    Hi Richard, I will go with that but Bulgaria is a lot larger than our cramped little island and I would imagine that the Brits living over there contribute a great deal to the country, socially, economically and in every other way. I sometimes wonder what the many who reciprocate over here do which is of benefit to us. A generalisation I know, but the Brits who went to Bulgaria didn’t go penniless and if they ended up that way they surely came back.
    I could go on but won’t – I don’t think it is a good comparison Richard, same applies to Romania as well.

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  57. 57
    Y Mab Darogan

    If people wish to stick posters up in there own home then yes that is acceptable. To stick a newspaper clipping up at work is unacceptable no matter the subject ie race, page 3 girl, sport etc.

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  58. 58
    Peter

    It saddens me to see that we have an issue here that sets worker against worker, when the real culprits in these situations are typically greedy multi-national employers who will cynically exploit sensible labour laws to maximise their profits.

    In this case, the worker should have known better than to put up a poster which he must have known would likely cause offence to one (or more) of his fellow workers.

    That may or may not have been his intention, but the fact is that if he had a gripe about who the company employed he should have taken that up with his employers, rather than make some futile bullying gesture aimed at his co-workers.

    The employer probably does have a case for gross misconduct if he put up the poster without permission, and in any case, employers are looking for any excuse to get rid of people – why be foolish enough to play into their hands? Perhaps if the rights of workers weren’t so eroded by anti trade union legislation we’d all be in a better position.

    Funnily enough, like Peter Morris, I don’t see queues of British people lining up to take on the fruit picking jobs that foreign workers do, nor do I see many qualified builders amoingst the long-term unemployed who have been vying with Polish workers for their jobs (note the use of the words ‘long-term’ there – I appreciate the building trade is going through hard times at present but that will pass and genuinely skilled people will bounce back).
    If someone wants to come here and work hard, legally, then good luck to them – we have exactly the same opportunity elsewhere in Europe too.

    And as for the ‘I’m not a racist – but I vote BNP’ comments – I think you really need to understand the true nature of the party you vote for, and the sheer paradox of that statement…

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  59. 59
    Claire Bailey

    I totally agree with him, not only should British jobs be for British workers , Britain should be for British people. If you dont like the way we run our country and views then go home

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  60. 60
    Lucy W

    Bell: re 54: Who’s got to explain themselves? Me or Thatcher?

    Second point: If someone wants to put the St George Cross up, thats their right. Doesn’t mean there is any issue with the rest of the Union. I guess if they had put the Union Flag up, you would have complainted it wasn’t the EU Flag. And if they had put the EU flag up, you would take issue that it wasn’t the UN flag.

    Where will this nonsense and political correctness end? Well as far as I am concerned, commonsense ended the day they took Gollywogs off jam jars!!

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  61. 61
    charlie barnes.

    As a retired freelance features writer, I spend many hours comment reading, and of course I do add many of my own.
    In my days working as a trucker, I was a union representative for twenty years and proud to sit on our branch committee.
    I cannot help but ask, has every worker forgotten the word, “solidarity” When Ben Doyle was wrongfully dismissed, all of his so-called mates should have been standing on the gates, demanding his re-instatement.
    “The brotherhood of man, appears to have gone down the pan”
    Remember when our brave farmers and truckers set up the fuel blockade? Oh, the public outcry, how am I going to get to work? how will I pay my mortgage? They didn’t think of the old bike in the shed or, the bus at the end of their road. (Spineless, gutless, selfish
    cowards)
    Had they have put their brains in gear, and supported those brave lads; either the government would have been forced to resign or, petrol would have been reduced to seventy-pence a litre. (Poeple power is the most awesome power of all)
    Mark my words, by Christmas next,three-and-a-half million will be on the dole? close on one-million families will lose their homes? Selfishness, is exactly what brown is counting on, workers who haven’t got the guts to “stand up and be counted”
    You’re probably thinking, who is this old fool? Think on; next Christmas when your kids are frowning at their scant table, you’ll most likely remember my word? I am sorry to say,
    brothers’ and sisters’ “you will have blown it,
    missed the last bus”??

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  62. 62
    perksy

    so tell us all peter, whats wrong with voting BNP???????????
    its my choice and the choice of many many british citizens and the number is growing daily.
    what do you want? no britain?
    or do you want britain and keep britain british and british jobs for british workers.
    i rest my case.

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  63. 63
    askeric dotcom

    Not to worry ..

    The way the economy is going ..

    There won’t be any jobs for anyone – British or otherwise.

    Trust me ..

    “You ain’t seen nuthin’ yet”

    (apologies to Bachman Turner Overdrive)

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  64. 64
    Peter

    Perksy, you have no case to rest, and I’ll explain why.

    The BNP are a party founded, like their predecessor parties the National Front and the British Union of Fascists, on nothing but hatred.
    They thrive, to a small extent, in times of economic hardship, by seeking to blame people with a different coloured skin and ethnic or religious background for society’s ills.

    Latterly it’s Muslims who are the object of their hatred. In the 1960s it was the Afro-Caribbean community, and in the ’30s and ’40s, as with the Nazi party, it was the Jews.

    As a party who seek to divide mankind on something as arbitrary as skin colour, they have no proper place in the democratic process – my parents’ generation fought a war against that sort of evil. Fortunately of course, their very divisive nature will always limit their prospects for success. It stands to reason that when you set out to alienate significant parts of the electorate, you’re far less likely to get support.

    As far as employing foreign workers, in targeting those workers, you are playing into the hands of the exploitative employers who cause the problem in the first place.

    The problem is that we now have companies who are not really British, or French or American or German, but global. As such they will seek to exploit cheap labour wherever they can find it – they have nothing in the way of a social conscience, and certainly no national allegiances. You should reserve your anger for their cynicism – not for the workers, both British and foreign, who are the victims of their greed.

    My suggestion to you is that you go away and study modern history, and in particular the history of your chosen party. Don’t forget that the current leader, Nick Griffin, referred to the extermination of Jews in Nazi Germany as ‘The Holohoax’ – do you really share those beliefs?

    I hope you use your vote more wisely than voting for the BNP – it’s far too valuable and hard-won to waste.

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  65. 65
    Stuart

    Charlie Barnes, Oh! how right you are, if we look back through history, “people power” has had earth shattering consequences for all manner of circumstances and issues.
    Apartheid in South Africa.
    American Revolution.
    Russian Revolution.
    Rise of Fidel Castro.
    French Revolution.
    The rise of Mao Tse Tung.
    The numerous revolutions in South America.
    Just a random few plucked from the air and what have we had in this country in circumstances where mass people power has been justified or exercised, virtually nothing. Why, because we were an orderly, law abiding, civilized people, slow to anger and with a stream that bound us together as members of a proud, cohesive country that set an example to the world. Could we now boast that same situation now prevails, I think not.
    The Poll Tax riots whatever the Politicians would say did away with that hated tax. The Miners strikes etc did not have the wholesale suppport of the people and they lost what they were fighting for. The Jarrow March of 1926, did that really accomplish anything, some would say so and others would not agree but certainly society took on a new approach to workers rights etc etc.
    Then, in more modern times, 1 million people demonstrated and marched to show their opposition to the war in Iraq and the lies that justified it, what happened, the war went ahead, the lies went unchallenged and a seeming dictatorship forced their will on the public.
    Then we were promised a referendum on the EU, that was promised before a general election and for many, it was the deciding factor in voting Labour and it involved one of the greatest and most serious issues in the history of this country and it’s future. It was disregarded, the promise was broken and lies tried to justify the breaking of that “sacred” promise.
    It is rare that “people power” brings about change from one specific issue, albeit there are exceptions, change brought about by people power usually results from “a slow burning fuse”, lying dormant for some time with seething resentment building up until, a flame is enough to ignite it.
    Certainly “economic” matters have been at the back of many cataclysmic changes in societies, in our case, couple this with unemployment, the perceived injustice of jobs being given to non idigenous workers and a build up of general dissatisfaction with politics and there can be little doubt that some sort of social unrest is inevitable unless this government starts righting the many wrongs that it has caused during it’s time in office.
    But again, “people power” needs a colourful, convincing, honest, articulate, charismatic leader if the “brotherhood of man” is ever to be re-established in this country Charlie.
    In the dreary show of politicians who have reduced this country to the dregs, do you see anyone of them coming up to that requirement. I certainly don’t.

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  66. 66
    Steve

    Just another example of “Pandering to the Immigrants” I’m unemployed – Laid off when Leisure Link of Stafford Park 12, Telford closed its depot there and unable to find anything else – No wonder when the Immigrants have priority over the British Nationals.
    Shame on this company for discriminating against a British Worker standing up for his rights to work in his own country.
    This country MUST stop PANDERING to the Immigrants and ASYLUM SEEKERS.
    I give him my full support, as do many other fellow BNP members, – the more these immigrants keep bleating “Racism”, the worse things are going to get for them, and eventually it will lead to race riots as tensions continue to build in this country.
    What this company has done has instilled real anger amongst many BNP members.

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  67. 67
    Steve

    I also second what Claire Bailey says – If these foreign immigrants do not like what they see here, then they should go back to the countries they came from. The BNP are the only viable party that stick up for good old BRITISH values. We would like this country to remain GREAT BRITAIN, and not become British West Pakistan.
    Most British workers find it difficult to interact with foreign workers, many of whom dont even speak English. The BNP DO NOT WANT MULTICULTURALISM forced upon us by the likes of Keith Vaz and Gordon Brown, whether we like it or not, and not all of us are prepared to integrate with foreign workers – That is our right.
    English Nationals should be supporting this man, not putting him down just for the sake of Political Correctness. Wake up people and see the big picture.

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  68. 68
    Lucy W

    Peter said: Feb 17th, 2009 at 4:55 pm

    The BNP are a party founded, like their predecessor ………. and in the ’30s and ’40s, as with the Nazi party, it was the Jews.

    Well Peter I have news for you. The UK Parliment passed the following Acts:

    Aliens Act 1905 & 1919 to prevent Jews coming to UK fleeing european persecution.

    The Aliens Restriction Acts 1914 & 1919 prevented Jews working in the Civil Service and being on a jury.

    Special Restriction (Coloured Alien Seamen) Order 1925 to stop “colured” seamen leaving their vessel in a UK port – heavens forbid they may have fratenised with the women on shore!

    Hiltler was still in short trousers when Britain, the Mother of Democracy, was dishing out the “race-relations” laws!!

    Now go and do some googling and let us know which political parties formed the majority governments to pass those Acts.

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  69. 69
    Peter

    Lucy,

    You’ve published this stuff before. Are you suggesting that because we were less enlightened way back then, that this excuses the bahaviour of the Nazis, or the racism of today’s BNP?

    What point are you trying to make?

    Steve,

    Can you offer any evidence at all to support your claim that immigrants are treated better than British nationals? N.B. ‘evidence’ from the BNP’s website doesn’t count!

    Report abuse

  70. 70
    Lucy W

    Peter: I am pointing out that decent society used the democratic process to control the immigration problems of the past.
    And decent society see’s the same problem arising and wants someting done about it. Whether the BNP will ever get the chance, I don’t know. I expect that mainstream parties will adapt to the popularist sentiment to keep in power. A good example is Brown using a popularist chant of “British jobs for British workers”
    Just as Enoch Powell was ridiculed for his so called racist views, in fact the government acted and placed restrictions on immigration.
    back then if you were in the Commonwealth, you were in Britain and Powell pointed out the socio economic problems and unrest that this was causing and it was stopped.No longer being a citizen of the Commonwealth entiles you to come to the UK.
    Surley the BNP are only doing the same where others fear the PC Brigade? I think you underestimate the political undercurrents that the BNP represent.
    In Mr Powells words “All I know is that to see, and not to speak, would be the great betrayal.”

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