More intimidation tactics by Peter Tierney and Merseyside BNP

Today, activists from Liverpool Antifascists delivered leaflets in Halewood. The event was an overall success, but once again Merseyside BNP revealed that they rely more on intimidation tactics than on politics to get their point across.

As we set off from the Summerfield on Hillfoot Avenue, there was a brief encounter with a BNP supporter. Mistaking the antifascists for the BNP, he had joined us and asked whether Peter Tierney would be turning up soon. One activist explained to him that he was in the wrong group, whilst grabbing the opportunity to offer him a leaflet and explain why the BNP were not the party for anybody genuinely concerned with the plight of the working class. Events later in the day suggested that an antifascist making a similar mistake would have gotten more than a leaflet.

Despite the gloomy weather, there was a good turnout of activists, who managed to cover a significant area and deliver 500 leaflets in the surrounding working class estates. The event was extremely succesful and, as with a leafleting session around the shops the previous week, the response from the public was an overwhelmingly positive one.

Peter Tierney, owner of the Quiggins AttiQue in Aigburth and "super activist" for the BNP
On the way back to the original meeting point, however, we encountered Peter and Andrew Tierney. The brothers, along with an unidentified third fascist, had been delivering leaflets of their own and were just about to leave in Peter’s Land Rover. When they recognised several of the antifascists, however, they were quick to grab their cameras and start taking pictures.

Within moments, they were circling around the tired group of leafleters, taking photos as close as they could and chasing around those who tried to turn their face away. Their clear aim was to intimidate and provoke a small group of passers-by (at this point, they had distributed all their material and had nothing on them to identify their allegiances) which included two women, one of them elderly. At one point Peter, still awaiting trial for assaulting an antifascist back in April, referred to one man as a “shithouse” for not rising to the provocation. His brother Andrew, whose photographs and videos have emerged on Redwatch and various other neo-Nazi hate sites, suggested instigating a third-party assault. “Let’s get some local lads in, nothing to do with us, of course,” were his exact words, after feigning gangster-status by declaring that the leafleters should leave because “this is our territory.”

However, Liverpool Antifascists held our ground. If we had left, we risked being followed, which left individuals particularly vulnerable once they had to part ways. And if we had arisen to the provocation, it looked as though more BNP supporters would have emerged from the nearby pub to support the Tierney brothers. Instead, we stayed where we were until the two thugs got bored, seeing they weren’t getting a rise, and scuttled off.

To those familiar with the BNP, or indeed the Tierneys, this incident will come as no surprise. It also serves as a timely reminder that the party remain, despite their propaganda line, violent goons willing to threaten and intimidate anybody who dares oppose their fascist politics.

We must make sure, no matter what, that these thugs are not allowed to gain ground in Liverpool, Knowsley, or elsewhere.

¡No Pasarán!

Liverpool Antifascists

More intimidation tactics by Peter Tierney and Merseyside BNP

Today, activists from Liverpool Antifascists delivered leaflets in Halewood. The event was an overall success, but once again Merseyside BNP revealed that they rely more on intimidation tactics than on politics to get their point across.

As we set off from the Summerfield on Hillfoot Avenue, there was a brief encounter with a BNP supporter. Mistaking the antifascists for the BNP, he had joined us and asked whether Peter Tierney would be turning up soon. One activist explained to him that he was in the wrong group, whilst grabbing the opportunity to offer him a leaflet and explain why the BNP were not the party for anybody genuinely concerned with the plight of the working class. Events later in the day suggested that an antifascist making a similar mistake would have gotten more than a leaflet.

Despite the gloomy weather, there was a good turnout of activists, who managed to cover a significant area and deliver 500 leaflets in the surrounding working class estates. The event was extremely succesful and, as with a leafleting session around the shops the previous week, the response from the public was an overwhelmingly positive one.

Peter Tierney, owner of the Quiggins AttiQue in Aigburth and "super activist" for the BNP
On the way back to the original meeting point, however, we encountered Peter and Andrew Tierney. The brothers, along with an unidentified third fascist, had been delivering leaflets of their own and were just about to leave in Peter’s Land Rover. When they recognised several of the antifascists, however, they were quick to grab their cameras and start taking pictures.

Within moments, they were circling around the tired group of leafleters, taking photos as close as they could and chasing around those who tried to turn their face away. Their clear aim was to intimidate and provoke a small group of passers-by (at this point, they had distributed all their material and had nothing on them to identify their allegiances) which included two women, one of them elderly. At one point Peter, still awaiting trial for assaulting an antifascist back in April, referred to one man as a “shithouse” for not rising to the provocation. His brother Andrew, whose photographs and videos have emerged on Redwatch and various other neo-Nazi hate sites, suggested instigating a third-party assault. “Let’s get some local lads in, nothing to do with us, of course,” were his exact words, after feigning gangster-status by declaring that the leafleters should leave because “this is our territory.”

However, Liverpool Antifascists held our ground. If we had left, we risked being followed, which left individuals particularly vulnerable once they had to part ways. And if we had arisen to the provocation, it looked as though more BNP supporters would have emerged from the nearby pub to support the Tierney brothers. Instead, we stayed where we were until the two thugs got bored, seeing they weren’t getting a rise, and scuttled off.

To those familiar with the BNP, or indeed the Tierneys, this incident will come as no surprise. It also serves as a timely reminder that the party remain, despite their propaganda line, violent goons willing to threaten and intimidate anybody who dares oppose their fascist politics.

We must make sure, no matter what, that these thugs are not allowed to gain ground in Liverpool, Knowsley, or elsewhere.

¡No Pasarán!

Liverpool Antifascists

More intimidation tactics by Peter Tierney and Merseyside BNP

Today, activists from Liverpool Antifascists delivered leaflets in Halewood. The event was an overall success, but once again Merseyside BNP revealed that they rely more on intimidation tactics than on politics to get their point across.

As we set off from the Summerfield on Hillfoot Avenue, there was a brief encounter with a BNP supporter. Mistaking the antifascists for the BNP, he had joined us and asked whether Peter Tierney would be turning up soon. One activist explained to him that he was in the wrong group, whilst grabbing the opportunity to offer him a leaflet and explain why the BNP were not the party for anybody genuinely concerned with the plight of the working class. Events later in the day suggested that an antifascist making a similar mistake would have gotten more than a leaflet.

Despite the gloomy weather, there was a good turnout of activists, who managed to cover a significant area and deliver 500 leaflets in the surrounding working class estates. The event was extremely succesful and, as with a leafleting session around the shops the previous week, the response from the public was an overwhelmingly positive one.

Peter Tierney, owner of the Quiggins AttiQue in Aigburth and "super activist" for the BNP
On the way back to the original meeting point, however, we encountered Peter and Andrew Tierney. The brothers, along with an unidentified third fascist, had been delivering leaflets of their own and were just about to leave in Peter’s Land Rover. When they recognised several of the antifascists, however, they were quick to grab their cameras and start taking pictures.

Within moments, they were circling around the tired group of leafleters, taking photos as close as they could and chasing around those who tried to turn their face away. Their clear aim was to intimidate and provoke a small group of passers-by (at this point, they had distributed all their material and had nothing on them to identify their allegiances) which included two women, one of them elderly. At one point Peter, still awaiting trial for assaulting an antifascist back in April, referred to one man as a “shithouse” for not rising to the provocation. His brother Andrew, whose photographs and videos have emerged on Redwatch and various other neo-Nazi hate sites, suggested instigating a third-party assault. “Let’s get some local lads in, nothing to do with us, of course,” were his exact words, after feigning gangster-status by declaring that the leafleters should leave because “this is our territory.”

However, Liverpool Antifascists held our ground. If we had left, we risked being followed, which left individuals particularly vulnerable once they had to part ways. And if we had arisen to the provocation, it looked as though more BNP supporters would have emerged from the nearby pub to support the Tierney brothers. Instead, we stayed where we were until the two thugs got bored, seeing they weren’t getting a rise, and scuttled off.

To those familiar with the BNP, or indeed the Tierneys, this incident will come as no surprise. It also serves as a timely reminder that the party remain, despite their propaganda line, violent goons willing to threaten and intimidate anybody who dares oppose their fascist politics.

We must make sure, no matter what, that these thugs are not allowed to gain ground in Liverpool, Knowsley, or elsewhere.

¡No Pasarán!

Liverpool Antifascists

Another Comrade Dead....Moscow.

Yesterday evening Monday 16th, 26 years old Ivan Khutorskoy aka Vanya-kostolom was shot dead at the entrance of his house. This name is not well-known among general public, but he was a colossal figure among Russian antifascists and left activists. First of all he is known as one of informal leaders of youth antifascist movement, and one of founders of R.A.S.H. (Red and Anarchist skinheads) – community of skinheads-antifascists adhering to the left political views. It’s obvious for the most of his friends that the murder has been committed by Russian neo-nazi.Ivan’t initials, photos and home address, as well as ones of many other antifascists like Fedor Filatov and Timour Dzhaparidze were repeatedly published on nazi-websites in order to call nazi-bastards for his destruction. It was the 4th attempt on Ivan’s life. First he was assaulted by nazi in 2005. This incident was fixed by a camera and was shown in a documental program “Ordinary antifascism”.

Then attackers waited for Ivan in the entrance of his house, stubbed him in the neck with a screwdriver, and inflicted several blows by a baseball bat — he miraculously survived. The third attack was carried out on January, 2009 – Ivan was stubbed in the stomach during a street fight, this wound was also almost lethal but he survived again. And now, when everything else had failed,

Nazis decided to try guns.It was a kind-hearted and responsive man, he was always ready to help his friends in any situation. Ivan was an example of indomitable will and courage for all of us. He remained faithful to his convictions till the end. With Ivan, any such claims post-mortem would be a misrepresentation any way around, as every clique and crew in the scene considered him as one of them, and he was respected and loved by absolutely everyone. Ivan considered himself a RASH skinhead, which did not bothered apolitical and patriotic Moscow Troyan Skinheads to consider him as one of them. And anarchists of course considered Ivan one of the anarchists, and it is true that Ivan had anti-authoritarian and social positions and was always ready to provide security for anarchists events. But he did not lived for activism – he lived for the streets and for the punk rock.Perpetrators will be prosecuted – we will do all our best for it. Our duty is to continue activities started by him.

Source: Antifa Russia

Controversial Nazi historian suffers email hack (oh dear)

Activists steal account data from David Irving.

Author and historian David Irving has become the latest high-profile individual to suffer an email account breach. Details from Irving's accounts on AOL and his personal web site were obtained by self-described "anti-fascist hackers" and posted online on November 13.

Among the data is Irving's email archives on both accounts, as well as customer lists and attendeelists for three of Irving's planned speaking trips in the north eastern US.
"Hitler-loving Holocaust-denying David Irving's speaking tour is being attacked on the streets and on the internet as he makes his way to speak on Saturday in New York City," wrote the hackers.

"We did this to expose this Nazi-sympathiser for who he is and to shut down/disrupt any possibility of Irving rearing his fascist head in public during his tour."

Hacking and information disclosure have become increasingly popular mediums for those involved in political actions in recent years. Denial-of-service attacks by Russian hackers have played a prominent role in that country's recent conflicts with Estonia and Georgia.

In 2008, a political opponent hacked and posted the email archive of US vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, while opponents of the British National Party publically posted the party's complete membership list.

Source: Secure Computing

West Midlands Unity Adds: Solidarity to all those involved in bringing simple-minded fascist sympathising idiot to light!

Griffin’s words bring an echo of Mosley’s claims...

IT’S a pub now. On the corner of Wood Street and St Mary Street. On its walls, photographs and posters to remind us that once this was the Prince of Wales Theatre, that some of the country’s greatest actors strutted its stage.

But nothing to tell us that 75 years ago, the man who saw himself as Britain’s saviour stood upon that stage to bring his message to Cardiff. Dictators were on the rise in Europe – and Sir Oswald Ernald Mosley hoped to join them.

His followers shared his dream, and took to the streets.

Nothing new then when members of the self-styled Welsh Defence League marched through Swansea last month giving Nazi salutes as they protested about “Muslim extremism”.

This and growing BNP recruitment put that word “fascism” back into the headlines, though now Muslims and asylum seekers are used to stoke the fires of hatred.
Today’s “saviour” Nick Griffin is no Oswald Mosley. Here was an electrifying orator who had been a member of both Conservative and Labour parties, his admirers claiming he could have become leader of either, maybe Prime Minister, such was his magnetism.
But he was flawed. And impatient.
In 1931, he formed the New Party and Nye Bevan was among his admirers.

But Nye warned Mosley that it could end up as a fascist party and he was right.
In 1932, it became the British Union of Fascists, the Blackshirts, branches opening up in Cardiff and Newport, Swansea and the Valleys. Then on a night in 1934, Mosley himself came to Cardiff, to tell 1,000 citizens in what was then The Playhouse who the enemy was.

He looked down at his audience.

There should be more of them, he said, “but Jewish interests in Cardiff are allied against the fascists and prevented us obtaining a big hall”.
Blackshirts patrolled the theatre as Mosley claimed that his was a movement “of great spiritual appeal, so the Welsh character can express itself through fascism”.

He was not anti-semitic “but we will not allow a minority to organise against the state. I advise the Jews not to organise as they are doing today”.
Then a warning so eerily reminiscent of Griffin’s approach to the minorities of today: “They should choose between Britain and Jewry.”

More than 3,000 heard those same words in Swansea where Mosley assured them that “Government by fascism would mean a dictatorship in the modern sense of the word – control by a government which has been given the power to overcome problems, but not a dictatorship meaning tyranny”.

The Daily Mail agreed, trumpeting “Hurrah For The Blackshirts”.

Hitler had not yet unleashed the horrors that would bring the Holocaust.
But then came another reminder of Mosley’s real target: “No Jew need fear anything from Fascism – if he puts the interests of Great Britain first.”
Remind you of Nick Griffin? Only the targets have changed.
Hundreds protested in the streets around Swansea’s Grand Theatre and there were some scuffles, but the huge police presence swiftly controlled them, bringing the Echo headline “Tactful Police Restore Order in Street”.

In 1934, there was 60% unemployment in the Rhondda, two million jobless in Britain, fertile ground thought Mosley for recruits. Merthyr supplied him with some, ex-communists who turned to fascism as the only solution.
“We looked at Italy,” said one, “and felt that Mussolini was doing a good job. He made fascism very attractive.”

Even Winston Churchill spoke admiringly of Il Duce.

Some Blackshirts went to a “school for speakers” in London then returned to spread the message. Among the instructors, William Joyce, later known as Lord Haw Haw, who came to Cardiff to rally the troops.

Mosley used to stay at the Queen’s Hotel – now just a pub on Westgate Street – where he would sit, recalled one old Blackshirt, “smoking a penny pipe”.
He seemed, he added, “a nice bloke, not a Man of Destiny”.

Years later, Annie Powell, who would become Britain’s first communist mayor, spoke of the fascists coming to her beloved Rhondda in 1936. “We swore that not even one Welsh sheep would hear Mosley’s message,” she said. They didn’t.
When Mosley’s men set up stage on a patch of grass just off Pandy Square, they were driven away by hundreds of miners, Tonypandy and the Rhondda from then on a no-go area for Mosley’s men.

The Spanish Civil war began that year. Some of those miners went off to fight fascism in Spain, and never came back.
With news of Hitler’s persecution of Germany’s Jews, support for the man who targeted our own Jews dwindled. In 1939, he was interned but was back after the war with his Union Movement.
Though rejected again by the British people, he waited, an exile in France until his death in 1980, for the Call. It never came.

Now another generation of Fascists waits...

Source: Wales Online

Griffin Has Ditched His People And Has Set His One Eye On Westminster

Nick Griffin, the leader of the BNP, has decided to run for a parliamentary seat in Barking. Too many puns, not enough time.

But my first thought is:

what about the people of the North West region he wanted to represent in Europe? They've already been ditched in favour of Griffin's bigger dreams, exposing him as the power-hungry politico that he accuses members of the Westminster establishment of being.

My second thought is: what about poor Richard Barnbrook?

The BNP's sole London assembly member came third in Barking at the last general election and had fancied running again. In fact he even unveiled massive posters claiming "Barnbrook for Barking" only weeks ago, with one picture in the style of Superman.
Bizarrely, there's no mention of the fact that the leader of the BNP has decided the area would suit his own plans to represent the people of Britain, and pushed out Barnbrook. The latter will now run for leader of the council in Barking instead.

And what will the election be about? Barnbrook said he would fight to clean our streets of knife crime, a nice but unfortunate sentiment given he was recently caught lying about murder claims in the area.

Griffin, on the other hand, wants to fight on the bread and butter issues: housing and education. Last time, they circulated a leaflet in the area called "Africans for Essex", claiming that the council leader was paying £50,000 to Africans to move into the area to buy votes. It was a blatant lie.
On the surface, Griffin's decision looks like a good once since that part of east London is seen as a stronghold for the BNP. But there are good reasons why the BNP will be even less successful this time.

First, Griffin is clearly banking on his increased media profile to give the BNP a boost. At the press conference he said "people vote for someone they recognise ... and respect". But his last media appearance, which brought a tonne of coverage, brought no bounce to the BNP.

Second, BNP councillors elected in the area since 2005 have received tonnes of bad press. That alone should depress some enthusiasm for their claims to improve the local area.

Third, the Conservatives are widely expected to win the next election. Given the party's hardline immigration stance – voters passionate about that issue are likely to vote Tory or not at all.

Fourth, the area has since 2005 become more racially mixed, which usually depresses BNP votes. Most BNP votes come from areas that have very low percentages of ethnic minorities.

A factor in favour of Griffin, however, is the local Labour MP Margaret Hodge. Her voting record was in favour of the war in Iraq, student top-up fees, ID cards, foundation hospitals and a range of issues that traditional Labour voters oppose. A percentage of them will stay at home. Her record for claiming expenses brings her down further and will be used by Griffin.

But worst of all she has repeatedly pandered to the BNP's talking points, once claiming the political class was not engaging on the issue of race (unless of course you read the entire rightwing press), and another time blaming new migrants for housing shortages (which also turned out to be untrue). With his narrative of white victimhood already legitimised by the sitting Labour MP, Griffin only has to repeat her words to point out that the only obvious solution is the BNP.
Either way, Griffin is looking ahead. The people who elected him as an MEP can get stuffed, clearly.

Source: The Guardian

Cry-Baby Griffin Has Yet To Make A Complaint To The Beeb

BBC has received no official objection four weeks after BNP leader made controversial appearance on politics showAlmost a month after he vowed to make a complaint to the BBC about his controversial appearance on Question Time, BNP leader Nick Griffin has still to make an official objection. Despite Griffin vowing to lodge a complaint at what he claimed was the "unfair" way the Question Time programme was produced, the BBC has not received a formal complaint.After he appeared on the BBC's flagship current affairs show in October, Griffin claimed he was treated unfairly by the panel and audience and complained that the show, filmed at Television Centre in London, was broadcast from a city which had changed beyond all recognition because of what he called uncontrolled immigration. "That was not a genuine Question Time; that was a lynch mob," he told Sky News.

A BNP spokesman also said at the time that it planned to put in "a freedom of information request to the BBC and programme-makers to ask about the process of changing the format of the whole programme". "[We want to know] why they felt they had to break with the usual format," the spokesman added.However, BBC sources confirmed that the corporation has still not received an official objection from Griffin."There has still not been a complaint by him or the BNP and we are not aware of any freedom of information requests by him either," said one.A BNP spokesman said he did not know what Griffin's plans were regarding any complaint: "I'm not sure. There are so many things going on at the moment, it may be that Nick's not done it yet."

Media Guardian

West Midlands Unity Adds: Seems your all bark no bite Griffin, infact you're mostly just bollox

Were the SDL sucessful in causing a race riot in Scotland?....erm..no..

A rabble of English neo-Nazi thugs were driven out of Scotland yesterday after failing in their bid to stoke race hatredHundreds of police hemmed in the pack of racists and BNP thugs - calling themselves the Scottish Defence League - as they gathered at a pub in the centre of Glasgow. The drunken mob left the Cambridge bar on Cambridge Street and moved to the city centre at noon where they were confronted by around 30 protesters shouting, "Nazi scum off our streets".Speaking to a 1500-strong counter-demonstration, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "These people have no right to be heard. Our right as ordinary, decent citizens is not to have to listen to the vile hatred spouted by these people. Our message to them is clear - we will not have it in Glasgow and we will send you packing from every corner of Scotland.A police helicopter circled as the SDL mob - many hiding their faces with hoods, masks and scarves - chanted Rule Britannia and No Surrender and brandished Scottish flags, Union Flags and Ban The Burka placards.The Sunday Mail revealed last month that members of the notorious English Defence League - who have caused violent scenes around the UK - planned to march at Glasgow's Central Mosque under the SDL banner. But their plans were thwarted by a massive operation involving hundreds of officers from Strathclyde Police and British Transport Police.Three men were arrested - including one for a racially-aggravated breach of the peace.

Source: Daily Record

Video:

Sir Ian McKellen in Birmingham to campaign against homophobic bullying in schools

Acclaimed stage and film actor Sir Ian McKellen visited a Birmingham secondary school today to highlight the issue of homophobic bullying.
Sir Ian, whose numerous roles range from Gandalf in Lord of the Rings and Magneto in the X-Men series to King Lear and Coronation Street, was at Perry Beeches Secondary in Great Barr.

The 70-year-old gay actor, who received a Variety Club award on Sunday night, was at the school in his role as a founder member and ambassador of Stonewall, which campaigns for lesbian and gay equality.
Perry Beeches head teacher Liam Nolan said he was delighted that Sir Ian had chosen to visit them as part of Stonewall’s Education for All campaign.
Mr Nolan said: “We are the most improved school in the country, we are a Birmingham Rep school, and I am an out gay head teacher and he is an out gay leading actor.
“It was only in September that a 50-year-old man was killed by teenagers in London for being gay. We can’t have that in this country. We have to be more tolerant and understanding.”
Sir Ian, who sat in on two GCSE lessons and also met members of the School Council during his visit, said there had been a “huge sea change” in attitudes to same sex relationships.
“We were brought up to be ignorant. When I was at school, our head teacher said he’d never met a gay staff member or pupil in 30 years. Now we have got people of the same gender in civil partnerships.”
Sir Ian said it was not up to him to decide what age children should start being taught about gay issues.
“I am not a parent, but I wish in my own case I had known about anything that was germane to what was going on.
“Once you get into relationships, some kids are going to know other kids whose parents are of the same gender. Kids are inquisitive and they have a right to an honest answer.”
The actor said Perry Beeches was “particularly good” at getting the message across to pupils.
“But there are some schools which would be frightening for me to go to. I wouldn’t get a good welcome at all.”
Head girl Taleisha Hutton, aged 16, said it was an honour to meet Sir Ian.
“In our school, there isn’t much bullying, but I think it’s still a good message that if you are bullied there are ways of dealing with it.”

Source: Birmingham Post

Glasgow North East by-election: BNP man finds his big talk contradicted by tiny vote

THE BNP's candidate in the Glasgow North East by-election, Charlie Baillie, was facing derision last night, after it emerged he had predicted the party's "best-ever result" an hour before he lost his deposit.

Mr Baillie, an electrical contractor from the south side of the city, told reporters just before 1am yesterday that the far-right party was about to make history.

"I am predicting that this evening we will produce the best result ever for the BNP
ADVERTISEMENTin Scotland," he said. "I confidently predict we shall easily save our deposit and possibly more. Tonight will be the best result ever for the BNP in Scotland."

But at 2am, when the result was announced, Baillie's party was declared to have been beaten into fourth place by the Conservatives, securing only 4.92 per cent of the vote. Parties need 5 per cent to keep their deposits.

The BNP has failed to keep its deposit in any election in Scotland. Its tally of 1,013 votes was only 93 more than it won in the 2005 general election, despite the huge publicity generated for the party by the appearance on the BBC's Question Time programme of the party chairman, Nick Griffin.

The candidates of all the other parties staged a silent protest when Mr Baillie made his post-result speech on Thursday night, all walking off the stage as he began to speak.

This meant that neither the Conservative nor Liberal Democrat candidate took up their opportunity to speak.

Amid heated exchanges afterwards, one BNP supporter was heard to shout at a black man watching the count: "Away hame. You'll never be British."

Source: Scotsman

West Midlands Unity Adds: "Away hame, you'll never British" -Yes & Nick Griffin is certainly not going to steal the most sexiest man alive award from Hugh Jackman and his party of nazi misfits are going nowhere in the next few years in terms of electorally by the looks of things.

An epic fail for BNP in Scotland

Ruth Davidson, the Conservatives' lesbian candidate in the Glasgow North-East by-election has just beaten British National Party's (BNP) Charlie Baillie in the race for third place. The Labour candidate Willie Bain comfortably won the seat that was previously held by former Speaker of the House of Commons Michael Martin.

The seat became vacant five months ago when the then Speaker, now Lord Martin, Baron Martin of Springburn resigned over his handling of MP's expenses.

The results were as follows:-

1) Willie Bain, (Labour) 12,231 votes
2) David Kerr (SNP) 4,120
3) Ruth Davidson (Conservative Party) 1,075
4) Charlie Baillie (BNP) 1.013
5) Tommy Sheridan (Solidarity) 794
6) Eileen Baxendale (LD) 474
7) David Doherty (Green) 332
8) John Smeaton (Jury Team) 258

There were five other candidates (full result below).

The BNP have never fought a by-election in Scotland before and some commentators credit their relative success at this election to the appearance on the BBC's Question Time by leader Nick Griffin. During the count, the BBC were reporting that the BNP had secured third place.

Willie Bain hailed the result, saying: "It's a great endorsement for Gordon Brown in his efforts to set the economy back on track and it shows the General Election is very much game on."

Later he said: "I want to thank my neighbours, now my constituents. You have placed your trust in me, I promise you that I will never let you down."

Conservative candidate, Ms Davidson just held her deposit for the election securing 5.22% of the vote. She lives with her partner in Partick and had promised that if elected she would not claim for food, furniture or household goods.

Ms Davidson said she does not often speak about her sexuality because "it's not the most interesting part of my life".

According to the Sun, she said: "I don't believe sexuality is an issue now. In terms of the Conservative Party, we saw in July of this year David Cameron standing up in front of Stonewall and saying, 'Look, we apologise for Section 28. We got it wrong'.

"It was an unequivocal apology on the subject.

"In terms of coming out I had my first female partner about four or five years ago. I was open about it at the time and I'm open about it now. But I don't tend to talk about it because it's not the most interesting part of my life, you know? Some people are gay and that's it."

Local police are investigating two alleged cases of voting fraud after the same voters turned up to vote on multiple occasions.

By-election SP:

Lab 12231 (59.3%)
SNP 4120 (19.96%)
Con 1075 (5.2%)
---lost deps----
BNP 1013 (4.9%)
Sol 794 (3.8%)
LDM 474 (2.3%)
Grn 332 (1.6%)
JTm 256 (1.3%)
SSP 152 (0.7%)
Hug 54 (0.3%)
SLP 47 (0.2%)
Ind 32 (0.2%)
ILT 13 (0.2%)

Turnout 33.02%

43 spoiled ballots.
20,638 valid votes.

Lab majority 8,111
Con saved deposit by 43 votes

Source: Lancaster Unity

West Midlands Unity Adds: The BNP vote has only increased by a total of 93 votes since 2005, & I'm going to say that pretty much of those are protest votes, this is well and truly a day of disaster for the BNP. Any hope for building ground in Scotland has failed miserably for the BNP