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BNP helping to establish church group based around racial ideology

By staff writers
March 16, 2006

BNP helping to establish church based around racial ideology

-16/03/06

A clergyman has confirmed that the British National Party (BNP) is helping in the establishment of a new church in Lincolnshire.

In an interview on Three Counties Radio tonight (Thursday) 'Reverend' Robert West said that the BNP were ëfacilitatingí the establishment of the church going under the name of the Christian Council of Britain (CCB).

The confirmation followed speculation previously reported by Ekklesia, that members of the British National Party (BNP) were involved in setting up a ëChristian front.'

West told the presenter of the G Focus programme Howard McCalla, that the Christian Council was still in the process of being set up.

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ìThe Christian Council of Britain is a group set up to represent Christian values and the Christian Heritage of the countryî West told the programme.

ìA big problem with the institutional churches is that they seem to have lost their way.î

When asked who he was referring to, West said he was referring to The Church of England, The Methodists and a ìlarge number of Baptists.î

ìThey have almost become extinct in their faithfulness to holy scriptureî he said.

Both the Methodist Church and the Church of England spoke out strongly against extremist parties in the run up to recent local, national and European elections.

Asked how many members his church had, West said; ìat this stage there arenít very many but that is always the way when you are beginning something. You have to believe what you are doing is right.î

The presenter then asked him whether there was a link between his church and the BNP.

ìThere is a link in that the BNP has encouraged and facilitated the formation of the Christian Council of Britain. They are working as facilitators. They are supporting what we doî West said.

He denied however that he himself was a member of the BNP. But, he said, the church ìarose in connection with the Nick Griffin trial.î

The presenter then asked him whether his views coincided with those of the British National Party.

ìThe CCB believes in the biblical teaching of nations. We should live in nations as nationsî West said.

ìIf we are to exist as nations then we are to have our own national homelands. In our own national homelands in which our own identity has priority. The BNP doesnít want the British people to be homeless. Each race should have its own space.î

When asked whether he would support the view of the BNP that people should be repatriated he said; ìYes. Provided it was by consent. Not by force.î

He said that he believed that the BNPís repatriation policy was ìin line with the scriptural doctrine that races are divided into nations and homelands.î

ìThe mixing of races challenges the glory of Godî he said.

On the show West was referred to as a "Councillor". There was initial speculation that Robert West was a member of Lincolnshire Community Council, which lists someone by that name as one of its members. However the Council later informed Ekklesia that this 'Robert West' had nothing to do with the Lincolnshire Community Council whatsoever.

The news that the BNP is helping to set up the church, comes after BNP members joined conservative Christians in protesting against Jerry Springer: The Opera.

Last month the BNP placed online a video of a speech by West, who stated that a multiracial society is "a transgression of Godís will."

The religious thinktank Ekklesia has previously exposed and challenged religious arguments put forward by the BNP - something which the thinkntank warns is happening with greater frequency.

In the run up to the European elections, Ekklesia's director Jonathan Bartley went head to head with a BNP press officer during a debate on BBC Radio 5 Live.

A clergyman has confirmed that the British National Party (BNP) is helping in the establishment of a new political church group in Lincolnshire.

In an interview on Three Counties Radio tonight (Thursday) 'Reverend' Robert West said that the BNP were 'facilitating' the establishment of the group going under the name of the Christian Council of Britain (CCB).

The confirmation followed speculation previously reported by Ekklesia, that members of the British National Party (BNP) were involved in setting up a 'Christian front.'

West told the presenter of the G Focus programme Howard McCalla, that the Christian Council was still in the process of being set up.

"The Christian Council of Britain is a group set up to represent Christian values and the Christian Heritage of the country" West told the programme.

"A big problem with the institutional churches is that they seem to have lost their way."

When asked who he was referring to, West said he was referring to The Church of England, The Methodists and a "large number of Baptists."

"They have almost become extinct in their faithfulness to holy scripture" he said.

Both the Methodist Church and the Church of England spoke out strongly against extremist parties in the run up to recent local, national and European elections.

Asked how many members his church had, West said; "at this stage there aren't very many but that is always the way when you are beginning something. You have to believe what you are doing is right."

The presenter then asked him whether there was a link between his church and the BNP.

"There is a link in that the BNP has encouraged and facilitated the formation of the Christian Council of Britain. They are working as facilitators. They are supporting what we do" West said.

He denied however that he himself was a member of the BNP. But, he said, the church group "arose in connection with the Nick Griffin trial."

The presenter then asked him whether his views coincided with those of the British National Party.

"The CCB believes in the biblical teaching of nations. We should live in nations as nations" West said.

"If we are to exist as nations then we are to have our own national homelands. In our own national homelands in which our own identity has priority. The BNP doesnít want the British people to be homeless. Each race should have its own space."

When asked whether he would support the view of the BNP that people should be repatriated he said; "Yes. Provided it was by consent. Not by force."

He said that he believed that the BNP's repatriation policy was "in line with the scriptural doctrine that races are divided into nations and homelands."

"The mixing of races challenges the glory of God" he said.

On the show West was referred to as a "Councillor". There was initial speculation that Robert West was a member of Lincolnshire Community Council, which lists someone by that name as one of its members. However the Council later informed Ekklesia that this 'Robert West' had nothing to do with the Lincolnshire Community Council whatsoever.

The news that the BNP is helping to set up the church group, comes after BNP members joined conservative Christians in protesting against Jerry Springer: The Opera.

Last month the BNP placed online a video of a speech by West, who stated that a multiracial society is "a transgression of Godís will."

The religious thinktank Ekklesia has previously exposed and challenged religious arguments put forward by the BNP - something which the thinkntank warns is happening with greater frequency.

In the run up to the European elections, Ekklesia's director Jonathan Bartley went head to head with a BNP press officer during a debate on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Although the views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Ekklesia, the article may reflect Ekklesia's values. If you use Ekklesia's news briefings please consider making a donation to sponsor Ekklesia's work here.