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news item
 18/1/07
ENB must investigate whether Simone Clarke’s membership of the BNP and her comments to the Mail on Sunday contravene the Race Relations Amendment Act
Simone Clarke, a principal dancer with the English National Ballet (END) was recently exposed by the Guardian newspaper as a member of the fascist British National Party (BNP) and has since used her position in the publicly funded English National Ballet to justify her beliefs and promote her membership of the BNP in the Mail on Sunday.
Around 60 people protested outside the Coliseum where Clarke was performing Giselle. The protest included trade unionists, students, anti-fascists and anti-racists and people who came out during there lunch hour to support the demonstration. One patron 62 year old Judy Chan gave in her ticket and joined the protest saying “I couldn't go in there and clap and enjoy the performance, knowing that she is a member of a fascist organisation”.
UAF understands that there are clearly different views and misconceptions about our position on this matter, which need to be clarified.
UAF believes that the Race Relations Amendment Act applies to the English National Ballet (ENB) as a publicly funded organisation. We think that Simone Clarke’s membership of the BNP and her comments to the Mail on Sunday contravene this. We accept that some people disagree with us. However regardless of what one’s views are on the outset the only proper way to resolve this matter is for the ENB to conduct an investigation.
UAF believes that Clarke should be suspended pending this investigation and that she should be removed from her position as principal dancer.
Historically fascists have destroyed freedom of speech, expression, artistic expression and other liberal freedoms. UAF supports freedom of speech and expression. However there is no such thing as total freedom of speech. There are various legislation against discrimination including incitement to racial hatred laws and race relations laws. We are simply calling for an investigation under existing legislation.
The BNP is using Clarke’s membership to court respectability and disguise the true reality of their politics of hate and to make themselves appear to be respectable. This was proven by the attendance at the performance of several BNP members including the leader of the BNP group on Barking and Dagenham Council Richard Barnbrook.
UAF believes this is further example of why the ENB must investigate Clarke and her membership of the BNP, as the BNP’s presence at Friday’s performance is likely to put off black, minority ethnic, Jewish, Muslim, lesbian, gay communities, disabled people and other communities that the BNP and fascists target, from participating in ballet.
Many have claimed that the BNP is a not a proscribed organisation in Britain, and is therefore a legitimate political party. However it is clear that the BNP do not act as legitimate parties do.* The BNP try to hide and prettify their true nature they remain a fascist and violent party who are opposed to democracy.
We have communicated our views to the ENB both verbally in our meeting and in writing. We were told that our views would be communicated to other board members. We will contact the ENB to discuss progress in this respect. UAF will continue to campaign for public clarification from the ENB.
*The true nature of the BNP was twice exposed in the week before Friday’s protest. The BNP Parliamentary candidate for Hull Brian Wainwright was found guilty after a campaign of hate mail against the local mosque a Muslim councillor and a local anti-fascist activist. The mail in which he claimed “Muslim blood will be spilt” which included ‘SS’ scull and cross bones imagery and also a letter to a local anti-fascist activist threatening that combat 18 (the Nazi terrorist organisation who take there name from Hitler’s initials) would visit. A BNP activist in Swindon Mark Bulman (who has used the pseudonym Bullock) has also been sentenced to five years having attempted to firebomb a local mosque using a BNP leaflet as a fuse Bulman has attended rallies and meetings of the party as well as acting as a spokesman for the Swindon Branch. He also daubed swastikas and racist graffiti on local shops and businesses which he believed to be ‘ethnic’.
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