Nick Bourne AM’s personal blog was our blog of the week recently and a post attacking the BNP has reportedly produced 180 complaints to the Welsh Assembly’s standards committee. The leader of the Welsh Tories described the British National Party as a “nasty, mean, distasteful and grubby bunch of sub-human flotsam and jetsam”.
Mr Bourne was unapologetic in a statement to Wales on Sunday:
“I have no intention of withdrawing any of the comments I made about the British National Party and its membership. Nor will I apologise for making them. The BNP is a divisive, dangerous organisation which exists to spread fear, hatred and bigotry. There is no place in a civilised society for their views and people from all political parties and none should stand together against them.”
I wouldn’t use Mr Bourne’s language but my guess is that 99% of those 180 complaints were from BNP activists. Mr Bourne writes an excellent blog and I hope he’ll continue to express his views with passion.
Yesterday Plaid and Labour agreed to form a ruling coalition in the Welsh Assembly. Mr Bourne will lead the opposition to that coalition. The Welsh Conservatives had hoped to form their own governing alliance with Plaid and the LibDems.
12 July update from the BBC: Bourne cleared by Assembly standing committee